Professional helps organize spaces

Many of us would like to save time and money either at home or at the office.

Cindy Vanhoff, a professional organizer, thinks she can help make that happen for people.

Vanhoff is owner-manager of Reclaimed Spaces, a personal organizing service formed in Spokane last October.

A professional organizer for 15 years, she is affiliated with the National Association of Professional Organizers.

Most of Vanhoff’s working day is spent in people’s homes or offices, evaluating their workplaces. She does a walk-through with each client and evaluates what’s working and what’s not, she says.

She provides a preliminary assessment during the visit, then completes a proposal tailored to the individual within three days.

Clients can work with Vanhoff side by side or do their own home work. She also provides a follow-up visit to ensure satisfaction.

One of main things Vanhoff says she sees with people who want to reclaim space for easier working conditions is that they are encumbered by “too much stuff.”

“They have things they don’t want to part with, things they paid too much for or got as a gift.”

But there are ways to dispose of such items, such as by holding yard sales, donating them or selling them on the Internet, she said, adding that she is “a recovering pack rat.”

Vanhoff says she is working with several clients now.

Earlier, she found that the period just after New Year’s was a good time for her service as people made resolutions to get better-organized. She helped clients avoid putting off organization until next year, she said.