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By Diane Keyes, on April 7th, 2010 To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow feng shui principles, keep these tips in mind.
1. Pay special attention to the front door, which is considered the “mouth of chi” (chi is the “life force” of all things) and one of the most powerful aspects of the entire property. Abundance, blessings, opportunities, and good fortune enter through the front door. It’s also the first impression buyers have of how well the sellers have taken care of the rest of the property. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.
2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.
3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.
4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. Make sure the table is clear and uncluttered during showings. Use an attractive tablecloth to enhance the look of the table while also softening sharp corners.
5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.
Source: Sell Your Home Faster With Feng Shui by Holly Ziegler (Dragon Chi Publications, 2001)
By Diane Keyes, on April 5th, 2010 Mini Staging Lesson Three
Knowing where to begin
One of the puzzling things about preparing a home for the market is deciding what to do first. But it’s actually very simple. Start where buyers start, at the curb.
The longer you can keep buyers engaged in your house before they encounter problems the more likely they will be to buy it. If buyers like what they see when they pull up to the curb they’ll be more interested in seeing the interior of your home. Likewise, if they like the first rooms they enter, they’ll be eager to view the rest of your home.
However if you lose them at the start of the showing it’s very difficult to get them back. A weedy front yard, trim that needs painting, or torn screens will immediately reduce your chance of a sale by curbing buyers’ enthusiasm to see the interior. You want your dingy, living room walls that buyers see as soon as they enter your home, are much more of a problem than a spare room that needs painting and a kitchen that’s caught in a 50’s time warp is more important than the paneling lining the basement stairs. In other words, prioritize your projects according to what your perspective buyers will see first.
My advice—start by making the changes that are quickly and easily done, that way your sense of accomplishment will carry you through the more difficult tasks that remain. Then, starting with the front yard, work your way through your house doing the 3rs in the order you think the house will be shown. That way if you have showings at any point before you’ve finished your preparations, you’ll show potential buyers the best your home has to offer. The time, money, and effort you spend making a good first impression will increase your chances for sale.
Diane Keyes
This Sold House
By Diane Keyes, on March 30th, 2010 Lesson Two
Why Staging is Effective
Staging works in ways that may not be readily apparent to the home seller. Besides the obvious reason of creating a more marketable property, staging helps owners detach from their home.
When a homeowner begins rearranging furniture, packing things away, and removing their favorite artwork or personal possessions, their home begins to feel more like just a house—a saleable commodity. The entire moving process feels more real, more imminent. They begin to look to the future instead of holding on to the past.
In addition, when a home no longer reflects the owner’s personality as strongly, the house feels more available to potential buyers. Just as the sellers look to new beginnings, the house reflects the new owners’ future instead of the current owners’ past. Realtors tell me that owner energy is often so strong they can tell if a home is available to their client when they’re still outside!
In addition to helping owners detach and creating more saleable properties, staging also helps to level the playing field. You may have a superior location, and better schools,
access to—-but if you’re in competition with a comparable home that is beautifully prepared and staged to appeal to today’s buyers while your home is not, you haven’t got a chance.
Diane Keyes
This Sold House
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