References / Feedback
 I am an Australian living in California, an enormous ocean away from my mother's apartment that needed to be cleared after her death. In America, professional organisers are often employed by folks who need a challenging job done. It was recommended to me I should find one in Australia who had been certified by the Australian Association Professional Organisers'. I had Karen recommended to me by another AAPO member as someone who was reliable and competent.
The job involved my coming to Sydney for a week and a half to clear an apartment with 20 years' worth of belongings--there was grief involved as well as pressure. I didn't know what I would find (the state of the apartment) or whom I could rely on to hire to clear rubbish, remove furniture, sell antiques, clean the place up, even dispose of an old car...or how to make sure it would and could happen..in a few days just a week before Xmas (the only time I could get off work).
All I can say was and is Karen was an answer to my prayers on so many levels. She is wise, sensitive, and discerning and gets what needs to be done, done. She is not afraid of mess and clutter that to me was daunting. She understood my need to respect Mum's things and make hard decisions about what needed to go. We moved all the goods in a few days, hired trucks, cleaners, removalists, and more--AND it seemed effortless.
I described the experience to my friends in America as near miraculous. I even had time to see elderly aunts and uncles and play on Bondi Beach. The trip I regard as an extraordinary success.
I still feel warm gratitude to Karen and her perspective that embodies wisdom, kindness, and compassion. The work she does in the world is invaluable in its impact. So many people struggle with clutter and disorganisation...the amazing thing is that changing the outside can help liberate what is going on inside to clear it and become free of it. I have seen that here in the US---from filing systems to bulging wardrobes. With some judicous help, people become freer to change and move on in their lives--they stop being stuck, held back by the weight of the junk of the past. Karen's work, I believe, is really significant.
My mother's apartment is now completely bare---the warm summer winds have cleaned it out and it has been passed in good order onto an agent to sell. This was taking care of my parents' legacy as well as looking after my future. Karen helped me with that and her help was invaluable.
I am recommending Karen to family members who face the daunting task of down-sizing from family homes to apartments, or who need to cope with removing the effects after the death of a loved one...or who are just sick and tired of chaotic surroundings or disorganization and wise enough to get help.
I recommend her to you. She is an angel--wise, worldly, kind, and forgiving. She has seen it all and more and grown in depth and breadth from what life has dealt out. She fervently believes people can change and can see the potential in everyone and every environment no matter what state they are in. I hope and pray her business thrives for I know that would mean many people are benefiting from her gifts and moving a lot more lightly and joyfully through their lives.
Sincerely,
Jann
(USA) Xmas 2009
I have had the pleasure of being helped in my work and personal life by Karen Perkins. Even though Karen was at my workplace (also my home) for just 90 minutes, I found her very helpful.
I was surprised how encouraging she was with what I have been doing myself to de-clutter. I had the conviction I was rather poor at organising. Karen enabled me to recognise the many effective actions I had set in place. This motivates me to implement the other practices she suggested.
I appreciated Karen’s manner of advising me. She really listened to me expressing my needs, before she offered alternative ways to achieve my goals . This applied to my work place and equally to my personal living space. Her advice was really practical, achievable and eminently helpful. I feel it will save me a lot of time, and give me satisfaction and pride.
One quality of Karen’s I found was exceptional was her willingness to tap into the essence of my work and life, and to offer suggestions which matched who I am with what I do. That was the most helpful part of her time with me.
I highly recommend Karen.
Tony O'Brien, Randwick Catholic Parish
I have known Karen Perkins for more than 15 years. Karen is a most creative and innovative person. She has a great capacity and enthusiasm for learning new things. Her gift for organising is evident through her volunteer work in our office, where everything Karen does is tidy, neat and easy to find. There is no wastage when Karen is here.
I have always found Karen to be helpful and kind to people. She has a very good understanding of character and can accurately judge each person's needs. I highly encourage anyone who may be considering re-organising their office or home to call Karen. You will be very happy with her warm and caring attitude and her expertise in decluttering.
Sally Segal, Co-ordinator
Centre For Spiritual Learning, Retreat Centre, Leura
 It seems I am one of those people that attracts clutter. For years regardless of how hard I tried to keep myself organised and clutter free, before I knew it my neat desk would be piled high with papers, books, scraps of paper with little notes and lots of other stuff. Newspapers, junk mail, magazines and odds and ends seemed to magically appear as little piles of clutter overnight on kitchen counters. Closets were always bursting at the seams and it took so much time to find the things I needed.
I decided I really was a clutter-a-holic and made up my mind to take control over the clutter. The problem was I had tried unsuccessfully before. I searched the internet and was fortunate to find her website. Not only I found the tips and links on the website inspirational, I found Karen to be insightful over the phone.
I wish I was able to use her hands on organizational services but the distance made it impossible. If you live in the area served by Clear and Clutter Free, I highly recommend contacting Karen for help with organizational needs.
Shirley Hurley, New York
 After my grandfather passed away my family had the impossible task of cleaning out and finding a place for a house full of stuff. As if that wasn't hard enough, we found out shortly after that he also had a shed and storage lockers filled with things he kept from his five children and his many trips to the flea market.
My family was at a standstill because a lot of the stuff had sentimental value to one or two family members, most things were in good condition and could be used by someone and then the rest was just a mess of stuff that we didn't know how to deal with. Karen the owner of Clear & Clutterfree was enough to get us started. Before I knew it we were actually making progress. Karen helped us prioritize what items were worth keeping and what could be done away with. After all, it wasn't as if any of us had enough room for much stuff in our own homes anyway.
Since that time we have managed to clear my grandfather's home of everything that was in it so that we could clean, repair and put the home up for sale. The storage lockers took a little longer, but that was only because we had to find time to deal with them. I have since taken what I learned and Karen's "less is more" philosophy and used it in my own home and life.
Sophie S. Mark, Sutherland Shire
All my life I have been notorious for “keeping everything”. Recently I saw an article in a newspaper “find a professional organizer” and as I had recently moved into a new home, I decided this was the time. I chose Karen because she appeared to be the person I needed. She came and very efficiently sorted out all my paper work for me. I can confidently recommend her.
Wilma Varcoe, Mona Vale
.jpg) I found Karen’s guidance very helpful and practical. I was pleasantly surprised at how easy it was to get started. Karen remained calm, respectful and non judgemental and I am especially motivated to overcome my habits of procrastination.
“A Place for Everything and Everything in its Place” has become my motto!
Kamal S, Registered Nurse & Health Practitioner
Katoomba, Blue Mountains
 I have a special needs child and that means I have lots of paper work. I have papers from doctor’s appointments, therapists, school, and the insurance company. Until now, I have always just tossed all the papers in my file cabinet. Anytime I needed a certain paper I would spend an hour or more sorting through all the papers I had stashed in the file cabinet. This was very time consuming and sometimes I still would not find what I was looking for. I decided I had to become more organised. I needed some type of system to handle all of the papers I had to have.
I searched online for some information on organisation and I stumbled across http://www.clutterfree.com.au. If I were in Sydney, I would definitely use their services. I was sure to sign up for their free newsletter so I would not miss any great organisational tips. I am also now happy to report I have taken the steps to begin organising all of my paperwork.
Thanks.
Heather Shockney, Newcastle
.jpg) Thank you Karen for helping me sort through 10 years of clutter. Having you there kept me focused. I couldn't have worked through so much on my own and it is my great pleasure to recommend you.
Lorraine Mae, North Sydney
 I feel much better going through my wardrobe and getting rid of clothes I no longer need, use or feel comfortable in. I really had so many clothes I didn't use. It made such a difference having Karen there because she helped me let go of clothing I held onto for many years.
Michelle P, Riverwood
.jpg) Karen was responsive and helpful throughout the whole process. And, best of all delivered the results we needed for our quality certification process.
Hanif Khan, Managing Director, HK Calibration Services, North Rocks
I would like to thank you for the work that you did with me and my children to de-clutter their bedroom. With my son going to high school next year and my daughter holding on to things that she never plays with, they had accumulated so many toys that I didn’t know where to start, to my relief, we achieved in 6 hours what I have been unable to do in years.
Jennine Sutton, Mother of 3, Concord
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