Brooklyn's Progress
June/July 2009

BY MICHAEL NG

She had the perfect name for the job.

Klara Carames has always loved organizing things, whether it was a closet, a room or a pile of random junk. Her talent for the trade has allowed her to start her own business doing just that.

“Being that my name is Klara, a lot of times people have jokingly said that I have ‘klarified’ them after I helped them,” said Ms. Carames. “So I thought, that’s how I’m going to name my company – Klarify.”

Ms. Carames officially started her business in 2006 when a friend hired her to help organize her home office.

“They knew that I was very efficient and very organized, so through some consecutive Saturday morning sessions we organized her office, not just for efficiency, but also how to process her work, paper, and her mail,” she said. “And from there, she suggested that I was really good and I should consider starting a business in that respect.”

A former member of the National Association of Professional Organizers (NAPO), Ms. Carames never took advantage of her membership. But as her interest in the business began to grow, she rejoined NAPO and took a more active role in learning about the industry.

“I realized this is something [I did] all the time – so why not get paid for it?” she said.

Ms. Carames offers a variety of services ranging from de-cluttering and organizing all areas of the home and office, as well as pre- and post-packing for moving and renovations.
 
“People who moved in or moved out of a new home or have gone through some major renovations, the idea of packing or unpacking everything is overwhelming,” she said.

Clearly Organized
Ms. Carames’ services are meant to remove the frustration involved with having a cluttered or unorganized environment, the negative effects of which are sometimes not realized until after the fact.

“I want clients to come away with this real positive feeling,” she said. “When I’m done with them, they have the energy, reduced stress, and time to enjoy the things they take pleasure in.”

“I’ve had a couple of clients tell me I’m better than their therapist,” she laughed. “When I come in and help them, they feel so much better. Visibly, they see a change, and by seeing this improvement they get this mental clarity as well.”

In her business, Ms. Carames comes across and tries to – yes – clarify all sorts of cluttered tendencies. Many people have things in their homes that have no meaning or significance, but are hesitant to get rid of them, such as gifts from relatives or friends who have passed away.

“I try to teach people how to honor the person’s memory without keeping all this stuff in their homes that, emotionally, they’re not attached to,” she said. “They think they are, but they really aren’t.”

As people open their lives and homes to her, Ms. Carames knows this work also comes with a certain level of professional responsibility. She adheres to the professional organizer’s code of ethics, promising confidentiality to all of her clients. And when she recognizes an extreme case of clutter, she can recommend clients to the National Study Group on Chronic Disorganization.

“There’s a deeper issue when you come into some of these homes where there’s really no place to walk, or when it becomes a safety or a hazard issue,” she said.

Ms. Carames works closely with her clients throughout the organizing process, and makes sure all her efforts are well suited to each person’s lifestyle and needs. Most call her back in for a second run when they realize another area in their home needs to be ‘klarified.’

Prior to striking out on her own, Ms. Carames was the executive assistant to the president at the Brooklyn Chamber of Commerce. She had ample opportunities to hone her trade, and took on the roles of office manager, human resources administrator and coordinator for special events.

For more information on Ms. Carames’ services and to learn more, go to http://www.klarify.net/.