Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Hammer & Erica Holaday.
Hi Katrina & Erica, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
Erica: I always knew I wanted to start my own business when my family moved back to Fargo from Minneapolis; we were in that area for 3 years while my husband did his residency. I decided to bring up working together to Katrina at dinner one evening. My original idea was doing small scale in-home dinner parties as we both had hospitality & event backgrounds. Katrina, as well, had been thinking of starting her own business and countered with the idea of home organizing and decorating. Organization is a skill that comes naturally to the both of us and we enjoy doing it. So I was excited to do something I love as a career, but still have the flexibility of being there for my kids and to be the mom I always wanted to be. My husband’s career and work schedule also made this possible to pursue.
Katrina: Erica approached me first with the idea to start a business together. At the time we were both stay at home parents and I think with her oldest son beginning school, she was thinking more about the next steps. It wasn’t quite the right timing for her original idea of a small event business as we were in the pandemic, and I didn’t feel I would be able to commit my evenings and weekends to hosting, given the age of my kids. However, I have always been interested in home decorating and design and knew Erica also enjoyed home-making. We figured out that we had moved and set up 16 homes between the two of us! With Covid we, like everyone else, were spending much more time at home and we also knew 1) how challenging it can be to feel organized with kids and 2) how much easier it is to focus on other things and enjoy being home when you have a calm and inviting environment. So we began researching how we would best put our home organizing talents and experience to use in the community and that’s how House to Home began. You can check out our website and socials to see how we’ve grown, we post past and current projects, give organizing tips and you can book your consultation on our site too! 🙂
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Erica: We are busy moms that put our families first, so our greatest challenge is coordinating our schedule to best accommodate client projects. We set specific days and hours so we know we can be completely present for our business and clients within those time frames. We do our best to do the extra work of the business during daycare and school hours to not interrupt our family time. As we are working part-time until all of the kids are in school, we need to wait to grow into a full-time company, even though we feel the demand for our services is strong. All of our decisions about our business revolve around how we want our family/work balance to look and how we can be present for our kids. For example, it was important to me to drop off and pick up my kids every day from school, so we set our project hours to work within school hours.
Katrina: It is important to both of us to be present for our children as our husbands are hospitalists and have demanding schedules. It can be a challenge to not overstretch our commitments and take on too much, but by setting specific work days, we are able to devote ourselves fully to our clients instead of feeling the need to juggle work and home life. I think that’s why we sought out a career that allows us to do both as best we can; I’m very grateful to be in a position where that is possible. However, there are certainly time sensitive things and busier seasons for us. I try to do most of my work responsibilities while the kids are occupied with other tasks, or sleeping, so that I can be present for them and devote time to our business and client goals. As long as we are consistent with our family and business priorities, I know we can take on any obstacle that comes our way.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about House to Home?
House to Home is a professional organizing company serving Fargo, Moorhead and the Red River Valley. We pair functionality with style through thoughtful space planning and organizational systems tailored to your needs and taste. Our personalized approach ensures that we leave your house feeling like the home you always envisioned. We strive to create inviting spaces that are beautifully organized through functional design. Our goal is to transform your house into a home that reflects your lifestyle. We offer all-inclusive organizing, whether you are in need of decluttering, unpacking, re-organizing, or decorating. First, we get to know you and your project goals. Next, we develop a customized plan for you and your budget. Finally, we declutter, sort and install product in your home. Our unique packages include:
-An in-home consultation
-A customized plan
-Two organizers
-Product research, shopping, product pickup, and returns
-One donation drop-off per session
-Travel time within 30 minutes
-Light cleaning
-Labeling (as needed)
We are known for a no-judgement approach, personalized organization systems and aesthetically pleasing results. We are a female-led and owned company and are proud to have envisioned, designed, built and executed everything ourselves, including our logo and web design. Our organizational method and approach has been tried and tested through our personal experience, and that experience has given us the expertise needed to guarantee the best results for our clients. We look forward to attending The How To Summit for professional organizers this month in Dallas to gain even more insight into our industry.
So maybe we end on discussing what matters most to you and why?
Erica: I’ve found what matters most is really listening to our clients. Their anxiety and stress is lifted when we come in and often, we are the push they needed to get back on the right track. We have found we are just the start to a larger organizational goal they have set for themselves and we are able to give them a sense of direction. Hiring us does not mean you failed or couldn’t do it yourself. Instead, it’s treating yourself to a service that will relieve your stress and give you a sense of control in your space. Ultimately, we want to give you the tools and confidence to continue this process on your own in the future.
Katrina: House to Home caters to each client’s needs. Some just need a fresh start after a particularly busy or overwhelming time in their lives, such as a move or a loss. We help these clients sift through the accumulation of items and determine what is meaningful and gives value to their lives. Some clients just want to come home to an organized pantry so they can easily start dinner after a long work day. When you are working long hours, organizing your pantry generally takes second place to bathing the kids or helping them with homework… or maybe you would just rather enjoy a glass of wine instead of tackling a project! Our job is those projects you’re putting off, to give you time for what matters most. We come in and clearly zone out categories, establish a good flow and find a home for everything so it’s easy to find what you need and put it back. Some clients are already very organized people and are either stumped on how to make one area of their home function better for them or they need help with the aesthetics and we find just the right product to achieve the look they want. The goal of each session, and what matters most for us, is always to take away an area of stress and make it an orderly and inviting space for our clients to enjoy and take pride in.
Pricing:
- Standard $600: 3 hours of organizing included, $90 per hour for every additional hour of organizing.
- Executive $1,500: 9 hours of organizing included, $80 per hour for every additional hour of organizing.
- Minimum of $390 for three hours of organizing, base rate of $130 per hour for every additional hour of organizing.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.housetohome-nd.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/housetohome.nd
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/housetohome.nd
