Did you know that almost everything we associate with home staging, from clearing out clutter… to making your home smell good… to sprucing up the entry and foyer areas, are all feng shui strategies too? Feng Shui originated in China and its meaning is water and wind.
If you plan to sell your home this year, you might want to include a few of these feng shui principles to make it more inviting.
-
Make the First Impression Count
Curb appeal matters! As prospective buyers pull up to your home, the landscaping should enhance your property, not detract from it. This means you need to remove obstacles that block easy access to the home. You’ll want to create a light, happy mood – add a new welcome mat and provide good lighting, both on the porch and inside the entry foyer.
Ensure that all landscaping and potted plants appear healthy (dead plants create a visceral negative response, subconsciously). Pull weeds and trim back branches that overhang the entry path. Potted flowers or topiary bushes flanking the front door invite positive energy inside along with potential homebuyers.
-
See the Window of Opportunity
There is no such thing as “too clean” when your home is on the market. Your bottom line will definitely benefit if you give the property a good spring cleaning and work to make it more airy and bright. Start by washing the windows (windows play a significant role in Feng Shu and are considered the “eyes” of the home.)
Cloudy or dirty windows may be mistaken for “broken seals” which is an expense most buyers don’t want to take on. Make repairs of broken glass or jammed sills and then hire a window cleaning service to reach those high exterior windows. After cleaning, LEAVE THE SCREENS OFF, draw back the curtains and pull up the blinds. Allow the natural light to come pouring in.
Now, move everything and clean under and around it. This is the perfect opportunity to begin pre-packing the items you won’t need before you move.
-
Give Your Home an Air of Lightness
You will want to make your home feel as open, light and bright as possible. The goal is for a buyer to picture themselves living a happy, successful fulfilling life in the property. Items/issue that generate negative emotions will dampen their enthusiasm and limit their perceived value of the property.
Don’t allow personal items to detract from the actual selling features of your home. Clear all spaces of clutter and highlight the home’s best selling features: the gorgeous hardwood floors, the beautiful granite kitchen countertops or high ceilings.
When a buyer enters a home that’s full of unnecessary furniture and accessories, they struggle to picture making it their own. Since you plan to move, you might as well show the buyer that you are prepared. This can subconsciously say to the buyers that the home has been released and is ready for a new family’s memories.
-
Ignite the Senses
An airy, clean space is appealing to the eyes, but the other senses are just as important — especially smell!
Realtors have long-advised that a home must smell pleasant during a showing, but you never want a scent to be overwhelming. One way to easily incorporate smell is through the use of an essential oil diffuser or spray. A wax warm on a timer can be very helpful as it can cycle on throughout the day in case a showing schedules while you are away.
Strong or overly floral scents are always a no-no, but vanilla (reminiscent of freshly baked cookies) ignites a feeling of nostalgia and comfort. Lavender or spa scents can create a more relaxed, soothing environment. I would recommend also staying away from patchouli or sandalwood, as these are very polarizing fragrances that not everyone adores.
In this vein, pet owners should be mindful of their furry family members’ odors. Not everyone adores animals and their smells may be read by some buyers as “dirty”.
We often become so accustomed to the smells in our homes that we and never notice them. Instead, ask your trusted Realtor for an honest opinion of if they smell anything “off”.
I usually keep my ceiling fans on low all year to help with air movement. A few air-purifying plants can help as well. This is especially important if you have a bedroom located in a basement or situated over a garage.
-
Keep Bathrooms Tidy
Bathrooms need to be immaculately clean and tidy. Hide your personal items like toothpaste and razors away, and then leave a few decorative elements or clean hand towels out to soften the space. Ultimately, its best of you can leave the bathroom looking “hotel clean” – presenting a serene, spa-like atmosphere.
-
Use Minimalist Style
Like the bathrooms, other personal spaces should be depersonalized as well. Remove visible personal items and clothing and tuck them away in drawers or closets. Basically, you want the potential buyers to see themselves living in the space, not you. While particular items are used daily, they can be a distraction to others.
Pre-packing off season clothes can make closets appear larger. Shelves should look open and airy. My suggestion is to remove 50% of anything on currently on the shelves (books, chotskies framed family photos, etc…) and rearrange them allow the eye roam.
Is Your Home Feng Shui-ed to Sell?
If you’re preparing your home to sell, try to look at it objectively through a buyer’s eyes. Feel its energy. Does it feel dark and depressing or happy and light? We all want to believe that a new home will be the start of a lease on life and your bottom line can benefit significantly from a little planned effort.
Having trouble letting things go? I’ve started following Marie Kondo’s advice. I touch every item and ask myself “does this spark joy”. If no, it’s gone!
Please feel free to call or text me at 404 710 0204 (or drop me an email) if I can provide you with more information about this article, or if I can assist you with buying or selling Forsyth County real estate.
This Cumming GA Real Estate blog is hosted by Gayle Barton of BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY HomeServices Georgia Properties.
I specialize in Real Estate sales in the following Forsyth County and North Fulton County cities: Cumming, Suwanee, Alpharetta, Milton and Johns Creek. Other north metro-Atlanta suburbs are serviced by request, so please call.
Gayle Barton Forsyth County Real Estate | Cumming GA Real Estate | Mountain Crest Homes For Sale
Gayle Barton Cumming GA Real Estate | Forsyth County Real Estate
Disclaimer: Information contained in this post is deemed reliable on the date of publication, but it is not guaranteed and it is subject to change without notice. All content, including text, original art, photographs and images, is the exclusive property of Gayle Barton and may not be used without expressed written permission.
In real estate we have all heard that the key factor for most home buyers in determining which home to buy is “location, location, location”. While this is usually true, what makes one location better than another? A short commute time… area attractions… close to family or friends… all legitimate reasons a buyer might be attracted to a certain area.
If you packing to move into a new Cumming GA home, or anywhere across the country, you will definitely want to check out this great “
Looking fun things to do with the kids in Forsyth County, GA?
A survey by RISMEDIA showed that 76% of home sellers believed that their property was worth more than the listing price recommended by their real estate agent.
My clients needs are my number one priority and putting them first is how I distinguish myself from other agents in my area. 
