Sprucing up the Place

We can all agree this has been a real Spring in RVA this year. Summer is just around the corner and with all things transitional, change is inevitable. Cleaning out spaces and organizing things may not be your forte, but we have it on very good authority that this encompasses much more than just purging one’s wardrobe.

Amanda Scudder is the owner of Sprucely here in RVA and offers a variety of services for those seeking to clean up the clutter in their homes—and their minds. By now, everyone has heard the “Spark Joy” motto of organizing Consultant, Marie Kondo, and although she has helped many people, Scudder finds some discrepancies in her method. There is no real “way” to help others find their organizational love language—everyone works differently.

“I can see the value in her method, but I don’t feel like she understands the standard American home. She’s great for the practical stuff, like clothes and kitchen things, but her methods aren’t really realistic when it comes to, say a home office or sentimental things.”

Amanda Scudder, Owner and CPO of Sprucely | Photo: Jo Ann Breaux

With a Masters in Social Work, Scudder has always had the motivation to help others through implementing effective systems. Although successful in her career choice, there was something not being fulfilled in her passion to help others.

Like many of us, Amanda felt the oppression of a windowless office with challenging hierarchies and limited breathing room. It wasn’t until she randomly met a woman at a retreat who needed help that she found what truly made her happy. So in 2014/15 she became a Certified Professional Organizer and worked with a company for 10 years until she recently started her company Sprucely. A one woman show featuring her ability to provide home and lifestyle solutions. This mom of two, has gained a number of regular clients, helping them make spaces where there were none all while filling up her own with stories and inspiration.

Amanda has studied many different disorders including brain-based challenges such as
ADHD, Anxiety, Depression, Hoarding Disorder, PTSD, TBI, and others, and is one of the very few if not only practicing organizers in Richmond who has certification in CPO-CD® from the Institute of Challenging Disorganization (ICD). This means she has been educated in-depth on the issues of chronic disorganization including individuals who have hoarding disorder and OCD.

Part of Scudder’s job is figuring out how people’s brains work and how she can implement a working and sustainable system for them to keep organized so that it is manageable. We all become overwhelmed when we are staring at an overfilled closet of accumulated items or a pile of magazines we just can’t get rid of. She likes to find out the why as much as giving the solution of the how. Her expertise in why people struggle, whether it’s a physical or a psychological challenge gives her insight and compassion to her client’s needs.

Recently, Amanda discovered what a gift this is to us Agents in the real estate field. Having developed beneficial relationships with Realtors has opened up a new avenue in Scudder’s business. In addition to her other services, she now helps real estate clients in their transitional phases, including moving out of an old place, moving into a new place, and even assisting others when a loved one passes The secret to her magic is never creating resistance with her clients. If someone is not ready for that change, she’ll give them time until they are ready. She allows them the space to come to terms with why they should part with relics, always asking questions instead of making demands. She also shows her clients how to make items resourceful for others, giving those things meaning by finding the right place for them. Amanda is primarily a facilitator who listens and gently presents a way for others to create more space in their homes and their lives—ultimately, allowing for other things to fill that space, ie. a new job, a new love, etc.

If you are looking for a way to get rid of the blockages in your home to create space for new opportunities, make an appointment today!