About Oasis Professional Organizers and Marc

Hi, I'm Marc Rifkin, owner of Oasis Professional Organizers, LLC. We are a Seattle-based company whose goal is to provide organizing solutions for home and business to people living and/or working in the Greater Seattle area. I'd like to welcome you to our website, tell you a bit about Oasis and why I was motivated to start an organizing service.

As you know, we live in a fast paced society today, which means that we can easily become disorganized in the hustle and bustle of everyday life. It often seems that our organizing and time management skills are no longer adequate to deal with the increasing demands on us - both at home and in the workplace. This can lead to our becoming even more disorganized, and soon we are lost in the shuffle. Therefore, it is vitally important that we learn new and more effective organizing skills and time management methods. This is why I started Oasis - to teach you more productive ways to simplify and enhance your quality of life. As your Professional Organizer, I work with you personally to improve the way you use your space and time, and bring a sense of order and harmony to your home or office.

I believe that each of us has the capacity and desire to change and improve. I also know that we each have unique skills and talents. Some years ago, I recognized that I have the ability to organize, to see both the forest and the trees. Where others see chaos, I see order. Am I a 'natural born organizer'? Frankly, I don't know, and I am not even sure there is such a thing. What I can tell you is that upbringing, education, experience, interest and passion have all combined to enable me to be a motivational and effectual Professional Organizer.

People frequently ask me if I enjoy being a Professional Organizer, and the answer is a resounding 'Yes!'. Over the years, I've held positions of responsibility in a variety of organizations, such as: a Ford Motor Company marketing manager, downtown Seattle food bank manager, Fremont Fair sponsorship director, and a Bumbershoot project manager. I have also been a project and production manager for several of Seattle's theaters and events, plus I am a trained paralegal. Success in each of these endeavors was largely dependent on my ability to create and maintain simple organizing systems. Though I enjoyed each of these experiences, I discovered that my true passion is sharing my organizational knowledge and skills to help people enrich their quality of life. Through Oasis, I hope to share my skills and knowledge with you.

A client recently asked me, 'Do you just coach or do you actually get your hands dirty?' Well, let me assure you that I am a hands-on organizer, working with you side by side. Now of course I do the planning, figuring, calculating, measuring, revising and other mental tasks. But rest assured that I will be right there with you in the trenches.

Together we declutter and reorganize in a positive, non-judgmental, confidential atmosphere. I become your mentor, coach, cheerleader and motivator. I teach you how to 'think organized' using simple organizing methods, techniques and systems that work for you. As we progress, the burden of clutter and disorganization lifts from your shoulders. Once the project is complete, the satisfaction of being in control, combined with the confidence you will feel because you have new skills, gives you the incentive to remain organized.

Another vital service I offer is creating a home inventory for you. Especially in light of the Hurricane Katrina disaster, wherein so many people lost every single item they owned, you can see that having an impartial 3rd party conduct a comprehensive, professional home inventory means that although the loss is great, you will have the comfort of knowing that you will receive full value for your property. I feel this is something that everyone should have - and keep updated - which is why I offer this valuable service.

In fact, I so strongly believe this that I contributed to an article on home inventory that was featured in the Seattle Times. If you would like to read the full article, please click here - Seattle Times Article on Home Inventory.

One of my newer services is conducting an estate inventory. Dealing with something so complex - and perhaps unfamiliar to you - when you are grieving the loss of a loved one can be overwhelming. I can help by creating a comprehensive list of everything in the estate, complete with full descriptions, values and pictures of each item. Whether the estate will be divided up amongst family members or auctioned off at an estate sale, I strongly believe having an estate inventory conducted by a professional and impartial third party such as Oasis Professional Organizers will be of great benefit and comfort to you.

I also spend a good deal of my time consulting both online via e-mail and over the phone - with those of you who are do-it-yourselfers and prefer to receive advice and guidance and do all the work yourselves. Additionally, I enjoy speaking about organizing at special events and functions, inspiring groups to get organized by presenting the topic in an interesting manner.

"I never thought that this would ever look like a real office. It's unbelievable how you can walk into a room, and see through all of the clutter." More ...

"The idea you had for the closet was brilliant. I've spent hours trying to come up with a solution, and in ten minutes you sized up the situation, and solved the problem." More ...