Hidden Gems: Meet Sandi D’Arezzo of Hello Simplified, LLC

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandi D’Arezzo.

Hi Sandi, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today.
I started my business in 2017, in New Hampshire, while still teaching elementary school music full-time. I had gotten really into decluttering my own home. I sorted through every nook and cranny of my house and wanted to declutter more. I decided to start my own business, helping others declutter and be more organized too! I left teaching in the summer of 2018 to organize full-time. My husband and I moved to the Raleigh area in April of 2019, and I opened my location in NC while still managing my NH location. Now I have two lovely, talented teams of organizers in NH and NC! When we moved here in 2019, I was fortunate to become one of two Container Store Organizing Partners for the Raleigh store. That means we help even more clients organize their homes around the Triangle and are trained in The Container Store’s excellent closet systems and products.

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle-free, but so far would you say the journey has been smooth?
Yes, smooth overall! It wasn’t easy to leave teaching and change careers. It’s what I had my Bachelor’s and Masters in. It was somewhat of an identity crisis at the time, with a lot of guilt, but it was 100% the right choice. Being a business owner is a lot of work, but it also gives me the flexibility to enjoy more time with my toddler more. I love helping our clients and I still get to use my teaching skills! My daughter benefits from my background in music too. We’re always singing, dancing, and having fun as a family. Starting a second location and managing my NH team virtually was a challenge, but it was fun and exciting! I’ve always enjoyed learning new things. A lot goes into running a business, and I’m lucky that it’s something I enjoy doing. It’s been fun to do things like build our website, learn how to track and manage client leads, and create training materials for our organizers. COVID was, of course, a struggle, but we’ve come back as a stronger business than ever!

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Hello Simplified, LLC?
Hello Simplified is a professional organizing business located in Cary, NC, and Portsmouth, NH. In NC, We work in homes to help all over the Triangle. We declutter and organize clients’ homes, so they feel less stressed and more in control of their busy lives! We organize all areas of the home. Our most popular areas to organize are the kitchen, pantry, closets, playrooms, bathrooms, offices, basements, and more! Being one of the two Container Store Organizing Partners for the Raleigh store, we know their products super well and can make your home that Pinterest or Home Edit perfect! We do all the product research, shopping, and returns for you. After every session, we’ll take your donations and give you a donation slip. It’s easy to get organized with us!

In addition to home organizing, we also offer moving services. We can declutter and pack your belongings before a move (in an organized and labeled way; ready to be unpacked quickly in your new home). We also unpack and organize entire homes after moves! Moving is very stressful, and we want to make it as easy on you as possible! One of the many benefits of having a team of organizers is that we can come in and get the work done quickly and efficiently. Lastly, we offer household maintenance services. This can mean coming in every few months to tidy up areas we have already organized. It can also mean more frequent visits to do things like put away laundry, open and file your mail, keep that playroom tidy, and more! We’ll even wrap your holiday presents, decorate, and take down decorations. We’ll put your decorations away in an organized fashion, making it super easy to decorate again next year!

Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs, or other resources you think our readers should check?
I love the Calendars 5 app (linked to google calendars for our team organizing calendars). I converted from a paper planner years ago and will never go back. I love the layout of the Calendars 5 app. I wanted to see my week more like it looked in a paper planner.

Book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up by Marie Kondo. This is the book that got me into decluttering years ago! Some of it can be a little intense, but as the title says, the general message is life-changing!

Notes and Reminders apps: These two apps keep me the most organized. I use reminders for many things: when to give my dog his monthly heartworm & flea tick medicine, yearly maintenance reminders for the house, reminders to put the ground turkey in the fridge to thaw, and so many things! I use the notes app to keep lists of local restaurants and coffee shops to try, ongoing grocery lists (shared with my husband so he can add items, too), gift ideas I think of, meal ideas, and more.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.hello-simplified.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/hellosimplified
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/Hellosimplifiedorganizing

Image Credits
Raya On Assignment (photo of Sandi)