FENG SHUI for REAL ESTATE

Power, money, and a fast transaction are appreciated in the Dragon year 2012. And image is equally as important as profit. A solid, well-constructed home that does not have curb appeal is a hard sell in a Dragon year. For the buyer, really look below the surface of landscaping or a decorative remodel to see the basic bones of a property. Do not buy a place because you fell in love with the marble counter top in the kitchen!

SELLERS STAGING TIPS:

Beauty attracts, clutter repels! No litter, good lighting everywhere, bright entrance foyer, curb appeal of round-leaved plants along driveway or walkway, easily identified entrance, must have furniture already arranged so the buyer knows where to place the big items such as bed and couch, too-large furniture makes a home seem too small so replace it, no boldly painted rooms, depersonalize so name not noticeable nor personal photos nor religious items nor trophies nor awards, toilet seat must be down, close shower curtain or door to shower, no dried plants, add fresh floral arrangement (silk OK), bake those cookies for the open house, no pet smells or pets on premises, rehang art to be eye level and remove any violent or chaotic imagery, raise or remove ceiling fans, clean closets and cupboards with perfect arrangement to appear symmetrically balanced, enhance relationship corners, windows must be clean with simple window treatments, impeccable garage.

BUYERS Home Checklist: YES

Flat land or land that gently slopes up behind property, no property where the yard drops off, no home on stilts or partially stilted, floor plan best if the lot is a perfect square or rectangle, quiet neighborhood (return on a busy weekend night to see how it feels), rooms in back quiet, noticeable front door, risers on all stairs, doors that fully open, a door between bedroom and bathroom (if possible), kitchen sink and fridge separated from stove (if possible), bed in commanding position so the entry is seen while in bed, one bathroom wall is the outside wall of the property, no bathroom in the middle of the home.

BUYERS Home Checklist: NO

On a flood plain, landscape that slopes steeply down behind a house, a home exposed on the hilltop or at ocean's edge, high electromagnetic fields, triangular lot shape, at a T-intersection, on a corner (a very large building is an exception), not directly across from nor exactly next door to a cemetery, fire or police station, mortuary or church (because of funerals), not next to busy highway or dead end sign. A single level home is luckier than a split level home, floor-to-ceiling windows are too yin and not advised, no windows or stairs directly in line with front door, no central spiral staircase, no tree directly in front of your front door, no blue roof, ceiling beams, or skylight over stove, bed, or desk area, no central support pole, no doorknobs that clash, and no pool directly behind house. If you have a pool in the yard, add shrubbery to define the pool from the rest of the property.

FIVE TIPS for your REAL ESTATE OFFICE -- or for ANY OFFICE:

1. Open up the entrance. And be sure that the address numbers are big and clear. Your customers need to easily find you.

 2. What is the first thing seen? That sets the tone.

3. Clutter must be removed! Customers and clients must enter a tidy room.

4. Sit facing the entrance but not in the direct line from the entry.

5. Art on the walls must make sense for your work, art that relates to the purpose of your business.

The far left corner is the WEALTH area.
The far right corner is the RELATIONSHIP area.
The middle of the back wall is the REPUTATION/FAME area.
These three areas are most important for your career.
Other areas of your office are:
The near left corner is the KNOWLEDGE area.
The near right corner is the HELPFUL PEOPLE area.
The center near the entry is the CAREER area.
The mid-wall to your right is CREATIVITY/CHILDREN area.
The mid-wall to your left is the HEALTH/FAMILY area.