Working With Clients – The Pros and Cons of Working Virtually

The pandemic has thrown a curveball at working with your clients–how to keep both you and your client safe.  If you are not comfortable working with clients in-person using PPE, you might want to consider working with them virtually.  Virtual organizing has its pros and cons to consider for both you and your client:

Pros – Client

• Saves time/money
• Shorter sessions easier to schedule on a busy schedule
• Not location dependent
• Can be used for maintenance sessions after onsite work is complete
• Suitable for people who can only focus for short periods of time
• Accountability
• Enables people who are ashamed of their home or uncomfortable with strangers in their home

Pros – Professional Organizer

• Another stream of revenue
• Less liability
• No commute/traffic
• A “greener” service delivery
• Fewer expenses (bankers boxes, etc.)
• Physically easier
• Can schedule more clients in a day because of no commuting
• Can work if you are a bit under the weather
• Avoid onsite health issues (allergies, pet dander, viruses)

Cons – Client

• Mentally tiring for the PO and the client versus physically tiring
• Mentally challenging for some clients (BTI, ADD, Alzheimer’s)
• The client needs to access organizing supplies
• Shorter sessions mean it can take longer in duration to complete a project
• Takes longer to go through sorting item by item
• Logistics of holding device (phone, tablet, or laptop) and stuff
• Comfortable with technology/do a pre-session to get client familiar with it

Cons – Professional Organizer

• Mentally tiring for the PO and the client versus physically tiring
• Areas inside of the client site where they don’t have connectivity
• May not be able to view the entire space; only what the client shares
• ADD clients will be challenging to keep focused
• Difficult to read nonverbal communication
• The client might not do the assignments
• Takes longer to go through sorting item by item
• Shorter sessions mean it can take longer in duration to complete a project

You can learn much more about working with clients virtually versus in-person and experience a virtual client practicum by completing our Layer Two program.