I've been organizing my whole life - from rearranging the family 'junk drawer' for fun as a little girl to managing complex software projects that seemed impossible to untangle. Now I help expats in China do the same thing with their homes: turning chaos into calm, one space at a time.
Hop to it!
I'm Ngaire, and I spent years managing complex software projects where everyone had different priorities and timelines. My specialty was filtering through the chaos, understanding what really mattered, and creating clear plans that delivered real value.
Sound familiar? It's exactly what happens in your home.
Your home has the same challenges as those software projects: different users, competing needs, limited resources. That's when I realized Agile methodology could work here too - breaking organizing into manageable sprints and a few iterations instead of overwhelming complete overhauls, focusing on solutions that fit your real life.
Hop Into Your First SprintWhether you need a complete home transformation or help with specific spaces, my Agile-inspired approach ensures personalized, efficient, and sustainable organizing solutions.
Using Agile methodology, we break your entire home into manageable projects. Each 'sprint' focuses on specific areas, adapts to what's working, and builds momentum toward a completely organized home that fits your lifestyle.
Perfect for targeting your biggest pain points first. We deep-dive into single spaces using focused sprints, gathering 'user stories' from everyone who uses that room to create systems that actually work for real life.
Your organized systems need regular maintenance, just like software. We address the 'technical debt' that builds up - those quick fixes and workarounds that gradually undermine your organized spaces.
Together we'll tackle your home using these proven Agile-inspired steps that adapt to what we uncover along the way.
We'll hop through your home together, discovering all the spaces that need attention, gathering user stories and breaking each area into bite-sized, manageable tasks.
Together we'll choose which areas excite you most and create a realistic timeline that fits your family's rhythm—no pressure, just smart planning for sustainable progress.
We'll divide and conquer! I'll get us going while assigning you tasks you can tackle solo between sessions. We'll work side-by-side on decision-making and system setup, maximizing our time together.
The magic happens as we work through your space, continuously refining systems based on what we discover to ensure your space truly supports how your family lives.
Everything you need to know about working with Hop To It Organizing
This is the first thing my husband said to me when I mentioned helping others organise. I get this, home is our personal space but I know from years of moving around the world AND managing software projects that not everything goes to plan. I've learned that chaos is just life happening - not a reflection of who you are. There's zero judgment here, only pure joy and excitement about helping you create a space that actually works for your life (and yes I know I'm a little odd in that I get excited about cleaning and organising!)
Our first session is all about assessment and planning - think of it as gathering project requirements! We'll spend about 70 minutes together, starting with coffee/tea and a quick chat about your priorities.
Then we'll do a "SCRUM assessment" walkthrough of your priority areas, where I'll document the current state and gather "user stories" from everyone in your household. I love asking questions like "As a 5-year-old, I want to grab my own toys so I can play independently" or "As the ayi, I want to clean the playroom without having to figure out where everything goes." This helps us design systems that work for real life, not just look pretty.
We'll create your organizing "backlog" - a master task list broken down by area - then plan your first "sprint" together. What can we realistically tackle in 2-3 short sessions? What homework can you handle between visits? We'll set clear "done" criteria so you know exactly what success looks like.
I always bring examples of storage solutions and can share Taobao links for budget-friendly options, but honestly, I love finding creative ways to repurpose what you already have. Sometimes the best solution is that unused basket from the bedroom or those containers gathering dust in a closet.
We'll wrap up with some quick wins - a 15-minute declutter of your focus area and one small daily habit to start building momentum. By the end, you'll have a clear roadmap and feel excited about the progress ahead, not overwhelmed by everything that needs to happen.
Ideally you will be there most of the time, especially during the decluttering stage. However I know there are competing priorities so we will find a rhythm that works for your schedule. And you can choose if you want 'homework' while I'm not there or for me to take over most of it.
Of course not! Just like in software development, the best solutions often use what you already have in new ways. I love repurposing storage from other areas of your home. If we do need something new, I'll help you find practical, budget-friendly options or expensive beautiful options if that's what you're in to!
This is where my approach really shines. Having moved multiple times across the world myself, I design systems that are portable and adaptable. We'll focus on solutions that pack easily, work in different spaces, and can be quickly re-established in your next home or make it easy for you to know what you'll sell and what you'll ship!
Absolutely. A tidy space is part of the package. More importantly, together we will design a space that is easy for you or your Ayi to clean when I'm finished!
This is exactly why I use the Agile approach! We'll schedule a "sprint review" a few weeks later to see what's working and what needs tweaking. Systems evolve as your life changes, and I'm here to help you adapt them. No organizing solution is ever truly "finished" - it's an iterative process.
Most organizing approaches try to impose a "perfect" system all at once. My method breaks everything into small, manageable changes that build on each other. We'll test what works for your actual lifestyle (not Pinterest's version of your lifestyle) and adjust as we go. It's about progress, not perfection.
Ningbo, China and I'm happy to travel anywhere within a 1 hour radius.
Transparent, straightforward pricing for transforming your space from chaos to calm
Most single rooms require 3-4 hours to complete (¥450-600 total)
Suggested approach: Book a 4-hour session (¥600) to tackle one priority room completely, then schedule additional rooms based on the results.
Launching special - as I build my clients in Ningbo, I'm offering an introductory rate. Book your consultation to discuss your specific space and timeline.