GRAND OPENING: NEW BUSINESS IN COLUMBIA
CONSIDER IT DONE

● Owner: Rosie Gard, pictured

● Address: 2517 Lynnwood Drive

● Telephone: (660) 353-1139

● E-mail: queenofclean@centurytel.net

● Web site: www.befreeofclutter.com

● Nature of service offered: Consider It Done is a home-organization and cleaning business. Gard, who considers herself a "home-organization coach," helps people de-clutter their homes by going through their items one room at a time and working with them to determine which items can be boxed up, given away or thrown away.

"They make the decisions all on their own," Gard said. "I help them move a little quicker than if they were doing it on their own."

Gard said she can bring unwanted items to a charity of the customer’s choice and bring back a receipt, which can be used for tax purposes. Once a home has been de-cluttered, Gard can continue to help customers maintain a cleaning and organization plan.

In addition to organizational services, Gard also offers insured cleaning services using nontoxic, "green" cleaning products.

● Opened: May 15

● Hours: By appointment, Gard is available during days and evenings, on weekdays and weekends.

● Costs: Gard’s organizational services cost $15 an hour. Cleaning services range from $55 to $75 for a three-bedroom, two-bath home.

● Reason for location: This is a home-based business.

● Owner’s experience: Gard said she developed a system of organization for her own home out of necessity: She has three children, was working full time and had to be organized to stay on top of everything. She also has several years of professional home-cleaning experience.

● Clientele: Gard expects she will see two types of clients.

"It’s the working person who does not have time to go through a storage unit or go through a bedroom and sift through things," she said. "It’s someone who just wants things done but just does not have the time."

But she also expects she’ll work with the person simply overwhelmed by the amount of stuff he or she has, who needs a helping hand in sorting through everything.

● Origin of name: While working as a sales executive at Sound Solutions, Gard said that "consider it done" was something she regularly said whenever she was asked to do something. "That was my catchphrase and what I use around the house as well," she said.

● Customer appeal: "I think that I’m warm and friendly, and I think I understand without judgment people’s dilemma," she said.

Gard said she is results-oriented and wants to help her clients lead more organized lives. Also, her style isn’t just to clean mindlessly. "I learn where things go," she said. "If shoes are left out, I know what shoes go where. I learn about the client and their habits and where they like to have things."

● Why take the plunge now: Gard started by helping her friends organize their homes, and they encouraged her to go into business to help other people get their homes in order. And now that her three daughters are teenagers and have their own interests and lives, Gard said she thought it was a good time to go into business for herself.

● Future plans: In addition to continuing to attract more clients, Gard hopes to eventually be a personal assistant for a core group of clients. "I want to come in once a week and help them manage their lives," she said.

---

- Liz Heitzman

---