Feng Shui, Staging and Selling Your House

Although the practice of Feng Shui did not originate to sell real estate, this ancient art’s attention to the beauty and “chi” (energy) of a home make it a perfect discipline for improving the quality of your house or condo.

Here are some Feng Shui principles to help you improve the look and feel of your home, both of which heavily influence buyers. Here are ten highly recommended Feng Shui practices:

1) Focus on the first impression. In the first 15 seconds of visiting your home, prospective buyers will determine whether they’ll make an offer. To make a great first impression, beautify the front yard, the front doorway and the foyer or entryway by clearing the path and enhancing these spaces with flowers or potted plants.

2) Open up the flow of “chi” by removing clutter. De-cluttering your property will give potential buyers a positive impression even before they step through the door. Start by cleaning out closets, the garage, kitchen cupboards and bathrooms. In addition, remove any furniture that makes a room feel cramped; remove books from overstuffed bookshelves; and purchase containers and baskets for loose items you need to keep.

3) Give your home a deep “Feng Shui” clean. Deep-cleaning your home helps potential buyers focus on the merits of your home rather than the carpet stains! To ensure you are thorough, walk through and note every item that needs to be cleaned, paying special attention to pet areas, kids’ areas, entryways, kitchens and bathrooms.

4) Put things in working order. If there’s something in your house that doesn’t work, either fix it or remove it. Putting your home in excellent working order will give buyers little to worry about during the inspection process. Areas to focus on include lighting, plumbing, window panes, kitchen and bathroom counters and air filters.

5) Make rooms feel “just right.” Is the furniture in your home arranged “just right”? If you’ve separated seating by more than eight feet, for instance, you will have diminished the feeling of intimacy in a room. Go through your home room by room and notice whether the furniture placing makes the room seem too cramped, too empty or perfectly in balance.

6) Neutralize your home to broaden its appeal. Once you’ve de-cluttered, cleaned and repaired your home, it’s time to neutralize. In order for prospective buyers to see themselves living in your home, you need to remove or minimize items that are highly personal, such as strong statements in décor, religious or political statements and large groups of family photographs. In addition, neutralize your home’s aroma by checking for mildew, mold, cigarette, pet and cooking smells and replacing them with the smell of natural citrus essential oils.

7) Ensure artwork enhances your home. In the process of neutralization, pay special attention to artwork and remove any pieces that make strong statements. In addition, make sure that all artwork fits the size of the space, hangs at the appropriate height and elicits a positive feeling when viewed by all members of the household.

8) Think in terms of curves. To increase the flow of “chi” or positive energy in your home, place objects in corners at an angle and use plants to soften sharp edges or corners. In addition, remove furniture with sharp edges. You want your home to feel comfortable, safe and inviting: furniture and rooms with rounded, soft edges are more likely to achieve this look and feel.

9) Use plants and flowers to “cure” problem areas. Plants and flowers can help you to “cure” many issues related to your home, from brightening drab rooms to hiding harsh edges. Some of the more strategic uses of plants and flowers include the placement of “greeter” plants on either side of the front door, adding fresh flowers to bathrooms and bedrooms and creating attractive groupings of potted plants or flowers outdoors to indicate you’ve cared for and given attention to all areas of the home.

10) Make your home memorable with finishing touches. To help your home stand out among more than a dozen a prospective buyer is likely to view, incorporate a few finishing touches to make your space feel comfortable, harmonious and beautiful. Finishing touches could include a bouquet of beautiful fresh flowers in the line of sight of the front door, a book or board game on a table to symbolize leisure and relaxation or a cookbook open on a stand in the kitchen to make the kitchen feel more welcoming and friendly.

If you follow the 10 tips outlined in this article, you will have an irresistible home that exclaims, “Buy Me!”