Terms of Service

These Terms of Service ("Terms") apply to your use of the A Sorted Affair website and to the home and estate sorting, decluttering, and organizing services we provide in Maryland. By using our website or hiring us, you agree to these Terms. If you do not agree, please do not use the site or our services.

1. Our services

A Sorted Affair offers decluttering and organizing, unpacking, downsizing, senior support, body doubling, research and selling support, and guidance for disposal. The details of each project, including scope, schedule, and fees, are set out in a written estimate or service agreement. If that document conflicts with these Terms, the written agreement controls.

2. What we are and are not

We are professional organizers with experience in vintage and antique resale. Please read our Disclaimer, which is part of these Terms. In short, we are not licensed appraisers, auctioneers, attorneys, financial or tax advisors, contractors, haulers, or healthcare providers. Our views on whether an item may be valuable are informal guidance to help you decide when to seek a professional appraisal. They are not formal appraisals and are not a guarantee of value or sale price.

3. Consultations, estimates, and scheduling

Our initial consultation and walkthrough is used to understand the scope of your project. Estimates are based on what we see and what you tell us, and may change if the scope, condition of the space, or timeline turns out to be different. We will discuss any changes with you before proceeding.

4. Fees and payment

Rates, any deposit, and payment terms are provided in your written estimate or service agreement. Costs for supplies you ask us to purchase (such as storage containers), disposal or donation fees, and third-party services are separate unless stated otherwise. Unpaid balances may be subject to reasonable collection costs where permitted by law.

5. Cancellations and rescheduling

Please give us 48 hours' notice if you need to cancel or reschedule a session. Late cancellations or missed appointments may be charged a cancellation fee, as set out in your written estimate or service agreement. We may reschedule a session for weather, illness, or safety reasons.

6. Your responsibilities

By hiring us, you confirm and agree that:

• You own the belongings and the property, or you have legal authority to make decisions about them (for example, as a personal representative or executor, power of attorney holder, or family member authorized by the owner).
• You will make the final decision about every item. We make recommendations, and nothing is sold, donated, or discarded without your direction.
• Before we begin, you will secure or set aside irreplaceable, high-value, or sensitive items such as cash, jewelry, firearms, medications, and important documents, or tell us where they may be found so they are handled with care.
• You will tell us about known hazards, including mold, pests, structural problems, sharps, hazardous materials, and pets.
• If other family members or heirs have an interest in the belongings, you are responsible for resolving those interests and for any disagreement among them.
• You will provide safe access to the space, working utilities, and reasonable working conditions.

7. Safety and right to stop work

We may pause or decline to continue work if conditions are unsafe or unsanitary, such as biohazards, active infestations, or structural hazards, or if we are asked to do something unlawful. We do not handle or remove hazardous materials, and we will guide you to qualified professionals instead. Fees for time already spent remain payable.

8. Selling, donating, and disposal

Where we offer research and selling support, referrals to auction houses and resellers, or guidance for donation and disposal, those third parties are independent. They set their own terms, fees, and timelines, and we do not control or guarantee their results. Unless we agree otherwise in writing, we do not take possession of, sell, or transport items on your behalf. You are responsible for the choice to use any third party.

9. Photos and publicity

We will not publish photos or details about your home, belongings, or project without your written permission, as described in our Privacy Policy. You may withdraw permission at any time going forward.

10. Confidentiality

We will treat what we see and learn about you, your family, and your belongings as confidential and will not disclose it except as described in our Privacy Policy or as required by law.

11. Limitation of liability

We take care in our work, and we will promptly tell you about any damage or loss we cause or discover. To the fullest extent permitted by Maryland law:

• We are not liable for pre-existing damage, normal wear and tear, or damage caused by the condition of items or the space (for example, fragile items that were not safely stored).
• We are not liable for decisions you make based on our informal guidance, including the value you receive, or fail to receive, from selling, donating, or discarding an item.
• We are not liable for indirect, incidental, special, or consequential damages, or for lost profits or sentimental value.
• Our total liability for any claim relating to our services is limited to the amount you paid us for the services giving rise to the claim.

Nothing in these Terms limits liability that cannot be limited under applicable law.

12. Indemnification

You agree to hold A Sorted Affair harmless from claims by third parties (including family members, heirs, or co-owners) arising from your instructions about the belongings or your lack of authority to give them.

13. Website use

The content on this website, including text, design, logos, and photographs, belongs to A Sorted Affair or its licensors and is protected by copyright and other laws. You may view and share links to the site for personal, non-commercial use, but may not copy, modify, or republish the content without our permission. We try to keep the site accurate, but we provide it "as is" and may change or remove content at any time. This site contains no secure payment or account functions. Please do not send sensitive financial or identification numbers through the site or by email.

14. Governing law and disputes

These Terms are governed by the laws of the State of Maryland, without regard to conflict of law rules. We encourage you to contact us first if there is a problem so we can try to resolve it informally. Any dispute that cannot be resolved informally will be brought in the state or federal courts located in Maryland, and you and we consent to that venue.

15. General

If any part of these Terms is found unenforceable, the rest remains in effect. Our failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of it. These Terms, together with any written service agreement, our Privacy Policy, and our Disclaimer, are our entire agreement with you on this subject.

16. Changes to these Terms

We may update these Terms from time to time. The "last updated" date shows when they last changed. Changes apply to your use of the website going forward, and to services booked after the change. Services already agreed in writing are governed by the Terms in effect when you signed.

17. Contact us