Franklin Park woman helps people organize their lives

Begin with the end in mind is the advice of Rachele “Rocky” Paulone, owner of All Things Organized LLC.

The Franklin Park resident helps people organize their things, which creates less stress in their lives. She does more than just clear out drawers or closets — she helps people move from one residence to another and has the resources to get pretty much any project done.

“I thought she would help me pack boxes,” said Tracy Brown, who moved from Pine. “I was wrong. She brought boxes. She came in and took charge and was like a household manager. She found movers. She brought in help. She orchestrated the entire move.”

Paulone might even sell your home or help you find a new one as she has more than three decades of experience as a Realtor.

An emotional process

“Clutter is an emotional process because people become attached to things,” Paulone said. “Clutter causes anxiety and stress and there are times you buy duplicates because you can’t find something. There is a benefit to being organized.”

Trained through the National Association of Productivity and Organizing Professionals, she is certified in home organizing, life transitions and workplace productivity. She also serves clients in Southwest Florida.

Clients find Paulone through word of mouth and on Nextdoor, HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List, now called Angi’s, and through social media.

“It is her personality,” Brown said. “She remembers where things are. You can call her and she will tell you. She gets so much stuff done. She gives you peace of mind.”

That peace of mind extended to Brown asking for Paulone’s assistance in planning a 90th birthday for her father-in-law. Paulone made a budget and the event went smoothly, Brown said.

“What she does is life-changing,” said Brown, who has brought Paulone back to do refreshers at her home. “She can figure anything out.”

Donate and re-purpose

Paulone also finds items to donate or repurpose.

“She touches different parts of the earth,” Brown said. “We are blessed to have her on the planet. I think of her as a person who, when I need someone who will bring calm and organization to anything, she will handle it. I have given her to my friends as a present. There is no greater gift to give a woman than a closet organizer.”

Some clients have become friends, said Paulone, who grew up in Greensburg. As a working mom, she wanted to be more productive and started studying how to do that. The more she researched, she thought this could be a business. About nine years ago, she was at a friend’s house and offered to help her organize her office.

Paulone said she especially likes to help seniors who may be moving and downsizing.

“I see people who are struggling to declutter and downsize and it has been rewarding to help them,” she said. “It’s like solving a big puzzle.”

So much stuff

American residences have so much stuff, according to “Life at Home in the Twenty-First Century: 32 Families Open Their Doors” by Jeanne E. Arnold, Anthony P. Graesch, Enzo Ragazzini and Elinor Ochs. It is based on a nine-year project at UCLA of what’s happening in the homes of a lot of people.

Regina Lark, a professional organizer for 17 years, said when asked how many items are in the average American home, she said 300,000.

“I have asked a few colleagues and clients to conduct an informal survey and we’ve concluded that it could very well be 300,000 if one were to count every single item — from underpants to office supplies to photographs to silverware,” said Lark, of Long Beach, Calif., who owns A Clear Path.

Lark said for some people, getting rid of things is about a fear of loss that if they let something go, something not good is going to happen or it will be a disservice to the person who gave it to them.

“If people had more clarity on the why, it may help in letting something go,” Lark said.

Paulone has followed Joshua Becker, author of “The Minimalist Home” on the “Oprah” show, YouTube and took his training. Becker said via email, “organizing what we own makes daily life easier — it saves time, reduces stress, and allows us to enjoy our spaces instead of feeling overwhelmed by them.”

Envision a space

Paulone said her work begins with talking with a client. Her price is based on what the client needs. She helps them envision a space and what purpose they have for a particular space. She suggests taking everything out and sorting by what to keep, relocate, donate or toss.

There is some psychology to this job, Paulone said. People may want to save items and she empathizes with them.

Karen Rasmussen was moving from Ross and was anxious about it.

“She knows not to fill a box too heavy so you can pick it up,” Rasmussen said. “She knows to put a trash bag over hanging clothes and then you can just hang them in the closet when you get to the new place.”

Rasmussen’s cousin, Elaine Ek, who was moving from Bradford Woods, said there were some things that were tough for her to get rid of, especially her children’s school projects.

“She is so helpful,” Ek said. “I liked her from the beginning. I trust her. She finds a place for everything.”

That is why Paulone recommends beginning with the end in mind.

“When viewing a space, have a vision of what you want it to look like,” Paulone said. “If you have more stuff than you have space, you need to decide what is the most important thing to keep. I can help with that.”

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