Take a tip from the Ancients

February 6, 2008

Feng Shui (pronounced “fung shway”) is the ancient Chinese practice of arranging space to promote harmony in an environment.  Home owners who are preparing their home to sell can take a few simple tips from this venerable tradition.

The first step is to engage the senses:

Your home should look good: A buyer’s first impression should be a visual sense of cleanliness, light and space.  When you scan your eyes around a room, does every object enhance a sense of beauty? If it doesn’t, put it in storage. 

Your home should sound good: Have some soft classical music playing or a fountain burbling and mute your answer machine.

Your home should smell good: Smells that you have been used to for years make the strongest lasting impression on people smelling them for the first time.  Deep clean kitchens and bathrooms, remove cat boxes, and make smoking a strictly outdoor activity. Bake cookies or throw some orange peel in the garbage disposal before a client comes over to give your home a fresh welcoming scent.

First impressions carry the most weight for a buyer.  Make sure your home is appealing to all the senses.