Simple Feng Shui tips for selling

It's said that a buyer decides within the first few seconds whether they will be interested in a home or not. That could be partially due to the physical attributes of the home at first glance, but underneath that is the energetic signal the property is giving off.

Everything around us, including ourselves is composed of energy. Here’s another way to look at that. Most of us have had an experience where you enter a home or even restaurant and instinctively feel like you want to kick back and stay awhile....or not!  This is how we experience our environment. It's an internal cue that guides us towards or away from something.  How does this apply to selling your home?  Not only do we want the property to look good, but to feel good! Feng Shui address both, which inevitably leads to the successful sale of the home! 

Here are a few simple ways to apply Feng Shui in your pre sale home preparation.

   Curb appeal and the front door. 

First impressions! The property should look well kept and the front door should be easily visible and accessible.  Many Feng Shui practitioners will recommend a red door as it pertains to the fire element, prosperity and is a very stimulating color.  My feeling is to consider the property as a whole, and chose a color that is in harmony with the architecture and style, so long as the door is a prominent feature.  A welcome mat can also be added. This grounds the space at the front door and adds another layer of color, texture, and symbolically welcomes friends and opportunities.  Other ways to direct energy towards the door can be achieved by adding large flower urns on either side with vibrant colors, gardens along the walkway, and exterior lighting.  The idea is to have a smooth flow of energy towards the house.  Have a look at your trees and shrubs. Are they healthy or are they overgrown and blocking light from entering the home? Or perhaps the front is too barren which causes energy to rush at the door, or give a feeling of just that, lack. When evaluating the exterior, think about a gentle meandering stream guiding you to the door. It should not be too direct or have too many obstacles.

 Clutter!

Feng shui or not, this is a basic principle most of us are aware of when getting ready to sell. Eliminating the things you no longer need liberates the house from a spatial/visual perspective, allowing appreciation of the homes features, but also energetically. The more things there are to distract the buyer, the more overwhelmed or uneasy they are likely to feel in the space. Hanging on to things from the past that we are just dragging around weighs us down and can create a feeling of discomfort for the visitors. Set a fresh intention for yourself and the new owners by clearing out the old to bring in the new. This also pertains to your readiness to actually follow through. Check in with your intentions and if you are genuinely ready to move on, go through the process of editing so that you are more aligned with your goals.

Kitchens and baths

Most buyers put a large emphasis on these two areas. These areas pertain to our health and wellness so it’s important that they present well!  Number one thing is cleanliness!! Your kitchen or bath may not be renovated but it can still be spotless! In the kitchen, remove all excess items from the counter tops. If it’s not something you use daily, it can be stored neatly in a cabinet. The front and sides of the fridge should be clean and clear. Many of us have garbage cans visible in the kitchen. If you can, have a smaller garbage that goes under the sink or in a cabinet.  We are setting a tone of vitality after all!  Ensure the garbage is taken out regularly to avoid any odors. On to the stove. Some schools view the stove as a representation of our financial abundance as it is from the fire element.  Whether that is your belief or not, a clean and well functioning stove is imperative to creating a space that is welcoming and inspiring. Just think about when you see your own stove after a large gathering and you will know exactly what I mean! 

In the bath, tend to anything that may be leaking or in need of repair.  Keep the toilet seat down at all times. One of the functions of the toilet is to evacuate, so when not in use, keep it closed! Bathrooms have a strong water element so I like to balance this out with plants or greenery. The wood element absorbs or retains the water. Bamboo can be a clean and modern choice and embodies the symbolism of growth and vitality.  I also like to add plush white or neutral palette towels. Personal products and knick knacks can be distracting in a smaller space so best to keep those to a minimum. Think spa retreat!

Staging or room arrangement

Once you have cleared the clutter, furniture arrangement and purpose can be addressed.  Sometimes we have a room with too many purposes…or a room with no purpose.  Either way, it’s confusing for the buyer.  In a perfect world, choose one or two purposes for the room depending on what will best suit the space.  This will allow the buyer to better understand and appreciate the layout. In addition to that, we want to ensure the visitors can move freely throughout the spaces and not feel trapped or jammed up. The last step to this process is to ensure you are in your own best directions or power positions.  If you are familiar with the concepts of yin and yang, it could be said the house is the yin aspect, the material, and we, our personal energy and movement in the home is the yang aspect. We are what circulates the energy within the house.  Because of that, we want to place ourselves in our most supportive directions. To contribute to a more harmonious overall energy within the household and to promote the manifestation of your goals.  In the Western school of thought, we would also enhance certain areas of the home that pertain to abundance, prosperity and family as well as suggest certain symbolic rituals or setting of intention ceremonies. 

For a more detailed analysis of what you can do to prepare your home for sale, please contact me at www.blossomingspiritfengshui.com

Wishing you all the best with selling the feng shui way!