Erica Ecker
212-924-4383; thespacialist.com
In these belt-tightening times, investing in new accordion files seems a lot smarter than paying an organizer to buy them for you. But when you’re dealing with dueling shoe collections, multilevel filing systems, or simply years of mounting detritus, a pro like Erica Ecker can save you weekends of grief. Ecker starts by sending clients a questionnaire and follows up with a phone consultation, so she can develop an overall view of your space and needs. Then she goes to work in your apartment, matching “high usage” items (like a heavy-duty shredder for junk mail) to “high real estate” locations (an entranceway). Her rates are on the high side ($165 to $175 an hour), but she also holds seasonal workshops on specific topics (like office spaces) in a Chelsea loft for just $60.