Okay I got to admit,  when one of my Realtor peers came into my office the other day to tell me she could figure out my Feng Shui “element” I thought she had lost it.  She started talking about energy and all of a sudden, I don’t know if it is because I have four (4) young sons under the age of 12 or my own personal immaturity, I started thinking about Yoda and The Force.  I mean, I had heard of burying St Joseph in the yard and facing him a certain way to help sell your home, but not Chi and The Force!  Even though I am from Athens, GA, the mecca of Southern Liberal thought, I had not considered Feng Shui.

According to Feng Shui, if you want to give your home for sale the best chance to sell and to please The Force, and more importantly have your home appeal to Buyers, keep these ideas in mind.

The Front door is ultimately important.  It 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. According to Feng Shui, “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. If your front door needs paint or the stain has worn away or is chipping, this will not make a good first impression. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight, properly hung, and that there are actually working bulbs in the fixtures.

Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. This is particularly an issue with a family like mine where all four of my boys flush away quite often!  To keep the good forces of a home in, Feng Shui encourages us to always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.  This is also an excellent idea if your English Spaniel enjoys drinking from the commode like mine.  If Feng Shui also turned the lights in rooms my kids had vacated off after they left the room so I would not have to do it, then we are getting somewhere.

The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection. Feng Shui suggests that the bed should be farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room.  Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green and blue.

"Drain from the Home The Force, your toilets will"

The dining room is energy and the power of family. 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. Again, even “chi” gets into “staging.” Make sure that your home in general is free from clutter and remove some of the objects of personalization that might limit your Buyer from seeing themselves as living in your space.

The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Simply cleaning the windows will make the home shine and ensure that the view will be actually seen.  Another idea is to make sure that blinds are pulled up or open.  Let the light into the rooms of the house.

So basically call it the Force if you have little kids like me, or call it Feng Shui.  It really does not matter.  The principles here are still good if you want to have your home show well.   What was my Feng Shui element?  Wood. This means I am guessing that I either love to be around wood or I am hard headed.  Probably a little of both!