Feng Shui for Realtors: Helpful Tips for Realtors
Want to sell to Chinese investors buying in the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdon. From an interview with China Cash Buyers.
How to Sell Homes Faster with Feng Shui
As Asian-American populations continue to rise and accumulate wealth, Realtors and home builders are continually looking for ways to cater to the real estate needs of these buyers.
According to a recent Better Homes & Gardens survey, Feng Shui plays a role in home selection for a staggering 86% of Chinese-Americans. Moreover, 79% are willing to invest more for homes that apply Feng Shui principles.
Though my primary clientele is home builders, I have had a substantial increase in the number of agents and sellers contacting me to help prepare their listings for sale with Feng Shui in mind. One of my clients, in fact, told NPR that adding Feng Shui to her home attracted an offer from a Chinese couple for almost $100,000 more than her previous best offer.
Here are three basic Feng Shui tips to help get a fast sale and maximize your sales price.
Eliminate the Clutter
Clutter prevents Qi energy from flowing smoothly through a property. A home with naturally-flowing Qi brings harmony and balance to anyone stepping into the space. According to the Better Homes & Gardens survey, 64% of respondents are looking for organized and clutter-free space.
Everything should be well-organized and there should be relatively few trinkets. Even closets, shoe racks and garages should be cleared. If necessary, rent a storage unit to temporarily store items while the home goes through the viewing process.
Re-Arrange the Bedroom
72% of Chinese-Americans look for important Feng Shui aspects in the bedroom. This makes sense, because this is where one re-energizes for the next day.
The first thing to do is make sure that the bed is not aligned with the door. Additionally, ensure that there are either no mirrors in the bedroom or that they are at least pointed away from the bed.
Choose Good Dates for Showings
Feng Shui buyers often consult with me to pick auspicious dates and times for their special occasions, such as opening a business, getting married or moving into a new home.
Realtors and homeowners also make use of this principle to set good dates and times for their showings, boosting their chances of closing a deal during a showing.
Next Steps
Whether you believe in Feng Shui or not, a growing percentage of buyers find it incredibly important to the home buying process.
There is much more to Feng Shui than these three simple tips. Visit my blog to get some additional Feng Shui information. If you are a serious seller, however, you need to hire a Feng Shui expert to identify and help cure dangerous elements to your property without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded inside.
If you are a Realtor or are looking to prepare your home for sale, contact me today. As your 3rd generation real estate Feng Shui expert, I will help you get your home ready for a faster sale!
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Mirror Placement in Feng Shui: The Ultimate Guide
Mirrors have a very interesting relationship with Feng Shui. Of course, they’re great at making rooms seem more spacious and seem to amplify light. In Feng Shui, they are a symbol of the water element and we can utilize their incredible ability to reflect virtually everything, including Feng Shui energy called Chi (or “Qi”).
Often used as a cure for a variety of Feng Shui challenges, mirrors are used to reflect and direct both positive and negative Chi energy however we see fit.
But, where do we want that energy to go? Well, that all depends on the area of the home we’re trying to enhance.
Using Mirrors Outside
As I have highlighted in previous posts, certain types of mirrors can be used to deflect negative energy coming from a neighbor’s front door aligned with yours, used to deflect overwhelming energy at a T-intersection, and can deflect churning energy on a cul-de-sac or corner lot.
As a quick cure for any of the above, the best choice is to simply place a convex Bagua mirror above your front door facing the street (such that the reflection virtually goes through your wall).
Alternatively, concave Bagua mirrors are great if you have a recessed front doorway or if your door doesn’t face straight towards the street.
Now, let’s discuss how we use mirrors at various locations inside the home.
Mirrors in the Bedroom
Never place a mirror where it will face a bed. Think of a mirror as a magnifying glass that will amplify energy flow toward your body as you sleep. One problem with this is that it causes restlessness.
Worse, many of my clients that previously had mirrors facing their bed complained of pain such as headaches, leg aches or stomach cramps — which had been exactly where their mirrors were facing. Remove the mirror and voila! No more pain.
Again, never have a mirror that faces those sleeping in the bed, even on the ceiling (sorry guys). In fact, it is best to leave mirrors out of bedrooms altogether.
Mirrors in the Bathroom
Water is the dominant element in a bathroom. Mirrors enhance your space and allow you to get a perspective on yourself. We often look in the mirror to improve ourselves, right? Well, we might as well improve every part we can.
Thus, I suggest a full-length mirror in the bathroom, such that its reflection does not cut off any parts of your body.
Mirrors in Bagua Areas
Some Bagua areas will benefit from mirrors more than others. In particular, mirrors are good to use in the Career & Life Path Area (but not toward your front door), Family Area, and Wealth & Prosperity Corner.
Try to use corresponding colors, materials, and shapes for the mirror and its frame when possible. For example, use a vertical rectangular mirror with a green and/or wooden frame in the Family Area.
Avoid using mirrors of any kind in your Fame & Reputation Area, as this will extinguish your fire element that is necessary here.
Best Practices
- Placing a mirror at your front foyer toward your front door is bad because it pushes back all of the Chi entering your home, preventing it from energizing your house.
- Avoid having mirrors that face each other. This can create a barrier that will stop energy from flowing through your home.
- Don’t overdo it with mirrors, especially all in one place. Sometimes, less is more.
- Replace chipped or cracked mirrors. Relationships are negatively affected by broken mirrors.
- Give children full-length mirrors to improve their self-esteem.
- Unless your fireplace is in the Fame & Reputation Area of your home, you may want to douse it with figurative water. Hang a mirror directly over your fireplace to neutralize its effects.
- Adding some plants near a mirror will rejuvenate and enhance the flow of Chi energy through your surroundings.
- Mirrors should always be framed around their edges.
Next Steps
Learn more about Feng Shui and all of the areas of the Bagua.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices without making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
I can help you attract the life that you deserve with Feng Shui. Contact me today!
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Feng Shui Front Door Colors
The appropriate color to paint your front door can be confusing.
Aren’t you always supposed to have a red front door? Not exactly.
Some people say that having a red front door attracts negative energy. Others say red is the best color to use, despite the fact that it is in your Career Area, which should be predominantly blue or black.
Which Color is Correct?
As with many things in Feng Shui, the color you choose for your front door depends more on what you want to attract.
For instance, are you looking to bring in some wealth? Go for red.
Do you need to add some stability to your life? Brown is the best choice for you.
Here are various colors for your front door and what they are known to attract in Feng Shui:
- Red = Wealth
- Green = Growth
- Blue = Relaxation
- Brown = Stability
Next Steps
Read more on colors in Feng Shui as well as the various aspects of your Career Area.
Remember that painting your front door is only one part of a balanced and harmonious home or office. Be sure you learn more about Feng Shui and make positive changes to all areas of the Bagua.
If you need additional help, contact me to inquire about a consultation. I will help you achieve the life that you deserve without making your home look like a Chinese restaurant exploded.
Be sure to register for my email newsletter or like me on Facebook to stay up-to-date with my latest posts.
Feng Shui Used by 86% of Chinese-American Buyers
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate and AREAA Survey Finds Feng Shui Plays Role in Home Selection for 86% of Chinese-Americans; 79% Willing to Invest More for Homes that Apply Feng Shui Principles
MADISON, N.J. and CARLSBAD, Calif. (August 11, 2015) – Better Homes and Gardens® Real Estate and the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA) today released findings from a national survey of Chinese-Americans that reveal the impact of the ancient design philosophy, Feng Shui, on this population’s home buying mindset and preferences. While Chinese aesthetic and cultural traditions have long fascinated the Western world, this study sheds light on its influence in the U.S., as Chinese-Americans and international Chinese buyers represent an increasingly powerful force in the nation’s housing market.
The majority (76%) of Chinese-Americans surveyed are familiar with the principles of Feng Shui, which are considered to dictate spatial arrangement and building design to produce a harmonious flow of energy. Furthermore, over half of those who are familiar follow the practice in their daily lives. The prevalence of this unique art extends to home buying; 81 percent of those Chinese-Americans surveyed who are also homeowners indicated that Feng Shui factored into their most recent home purchase. This segment of the population is particular about adhering to Feng Shui in the home and they’re also discerning about the real estate professionals they work with during the process. More than a third (36%) would avoid an agent if they had no knowledge of Feng Shui principles.
“It’s critical for real estate professionals to understand all consumer drivers within the home search,” said Sherry Chris, president and CEO, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate LLC. “For this population, Feng Shui applications are as essential as other traditional characteristics of a home.”
A staggering 86 percent of all respondents stated Feng Shui will play a role in a future home buying decision and 79 percent are willing to invest more for a home that incorporates its principles. As such, Feng Shui often carries a large premium, with respondents willing to pay an average of 16 percent more. On the flip side, for sellers, incorporating Feng Shui into the foundation of a home may also affect its future on the market, as 90 percent of Chinese-Americans believe implementing its principles increases a home’s resale value.
“As the Asian American community’s influence in the real estate market continues to grow, Feng Shui principles are gaining much needed attention and have already influenced real estate developers and interior designers alike,” said Carmen Chong, 2015 AREAA National Chairwoman. “This research proves there is a significant financial incentive for investors and sellers to consider the application of Feng Shui in their properties. For an agent, understanding these principles can dramatically improve the opportunity for success within the Chinese-American market. We are thankful to have worked with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate in producing this new research, and look forward to raising needed awareness about the importance of Feng Shui in a living environment.”
While any home on a cul-de-sac is bad Feng Shui, the homes in the red area get the fastest moving negative Chi.
There are many elements of Feng Shui that range from design to the location of the home. When undergoing the home buying process, 75 percent of surveyed Chinese-Americans indicated they had at least one deal-breaker that goes against Feng Shui principles that would prevent them from purchasing a home. These include: the home being located at the end of a dead end street (31%), the home’s back stairs directly facing the front door (29%), the home having a sloped backyard (29%) and the home’s front and back doors being aligned with each other (24%).
Accordingly, when asked to rank the Feng Shui principles most important in a home buying decision, 71 percent of Chinese-Americans indicated the cardinal direction the home is facing in their top three choices, followed by the location of the home on the street and the location of the stairs.
ADDITIONAL FINDINGS:
A Family Tradition: Many Feng Shui principles that still hold close to home today have been passed down through generations. Nearly half of Chinese-American respondents (49%) are more likely than their parents to take Feng Shui into account when deciding on a home, including 69 percent of those who practice Feng Shui. That said, 85 percent would bring along a family member other than a significant other when house shopping.
Home is Where There’s Feng Shui: A home’s amenities and the surrounding neighborhood are important when looking to buy, but as findings show, many prioritize Feng Shui. In fact, 41 percent of Chinese-Americans think it is important when looking for a home. Two-thirds of those who practice Feng Shui (66%) feel the same – making it the second most important consideration among that group, only behind neighborhood safety.
Elements of Design: 87 percent of Chinese-Americans have essential Feng Shui elements they desire for their kitchen, including it being organized and free of clutter (64%), its colors complementing each other (32%) and the kitchen stove not being directly below the master bedroom (29%).
The careful arrangement of space and design continues in the bedroom, where 72 percent of Chinese-Americans have essential elements incorporated. These include avoiding the bed directly facing the door (41%), mirrors being placed away from the bed (34%) and the ceiling having a consistent height with no slopes (25%).
62 percent of survey respondents apply spatial fundamentals to the design of their bathroom. These include the bathroom being located away from the home’s center (28%), the toilet being located in a separate space (24%) and having a full-length mirror (23%).
Next Steps
Take a listen to a recent NPR story where one of my clients said that adding Feng Shui to her home helped her close on a deal with a Chinese couple worth almost $100,000 more than her previous best offer.
If you are looking to prepare your home for sale or are looking to buy a property and need an expert in Feng Shui, contact me today.
Corner Lot Feng Shui and Cures
Just as nobody puts Baby in a corner, nobody puts Feng Shui in a corner (lot home, that is).
Though it is best not to get yourself in a corner lot house situation, I do offer cures to make the most of your situation if you already live in a corner lot home.
Basic Feng Shui Advice
Simply: Great for businesses, bad for homes.
As I noted about cul-de-sac homes and T-intersection properties previously, my first advice to someone considering a corner lot home is to stay away.
As with cul-de-sac homes, home builders were once able to charge a premium for corner lots. In areas with more buyers knowledgable of Feng Shui, however, they now often find that corner lot homes are the last to go.
Moreover, you might notice that a common theme for foreclosure listings are homes on a corner lot, cul-de-sac or at a T-intersection.
With much in Feng Shui, including corner lots, the issues are really just common sense rather than just energy flow.
Pros & Cons
Not that corner lots are completely bad. Let’s look at the pros and cons of a corner lot.
Advantages:
- More yard space
- Half as many neighbors
- Corner lot businesses are easier to find
- Highly visible decorations or signage
- Emergency services may respond faster
Disadvantages:
- More sidewalk or fencing to maintain
- Noisier traffic & pedestrians
- More headlights point at windows
- Pedestrians taking shortcuts through yard
- Cars turn around in your driveway
- Yard more likely to be used by dogs
- Exposure to car crashes
In addition to the above, Feng Shui suggests that corner lots offer the following disadvantages:
- Energy gets stuck coming around corners
- Energy erodes at the property, causing long-term health and financial issues
- Poison arrow created by diagonally opposite property
- Poison arrows from the car headlights pointing at the home
Feng Shui Cures
What if you already live in a corner lot home?
Resolving the Feng Shui issues is very similar with the resolutions offered for a cul-de-sac home. You will want to ensure that the Feng Shui energy called Chi (or “Qi”) doesn’t get stuck and that you slowly navigate it to your home’s front door.
Start by slowing the crossing energy coming at your home. Utilize landscaping like tall shrubs, walls, fences or even sturdy posts near your front curb (this also helps prevent unsuspecting car drivers from ending up in your living room).
Now, add some water and wind features between your curbside landscaping and the doorway. Try utilizing a pond, pool, water fountain or birdbath. Any calm flowing water feature will do. You could also add windmills or other moving garden elements. Adding elements such as these helps slow down and refresh your incoming Chi.
Next, create a pathway that winds from the curb to your front door such that it navigates its way through the landscaping effects at the curb and through your garden features to your front door.
Make sure that the lighting at your front door is uplifting and bright.
As I suggest as a quick cure with T-intersection homes, use a convex Bagua mirror at your doorway to bounce away the effects of those poison arrows pointing at your home. It doesn’t need to be visible from outside.
Next Steps
You deserve to live a life of abundant wealth and health. Make sure that your home is providing for you.
Remember that the Feng Shui of corner lot homes can be very problematic.
Don’t ignore them!
If these cures don’t work for you, there may be other Feng Shui factors involved with the interior of your particular house. Take necessary steps because you deserve to live a life of harmony and balance. Start by reviewing the Feng Shui Bagua of your home.
If you run into any problems along the way or are looking for some professional guidance, contact me. I pride myself in adding harmony and balance while not making it look like a Chinese restaurant exploded in your home. You can get a consultation in-person or virtually via video chat.
I am a 3rd generation Feng Shui expert and have helped thousands of people add harmony and balance to their homes and offices the Feng Shui way. As your consultant, you will be able to get one-on-one advice for how to attract positive energy and improve your life with Feng Shui. I offer in-home and virtual services. Contact me today!
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