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Ask the Agent

I am getting ready to put my condo on the market and I've been reading about how important Feng Shui can be to creating the right energy that Buyers find appealing.   My condo is small and I want it to be so special that they will just want to come and stay! How do I get this to work?

--   Emma

 

Everyone wants a home that has the feeling of just being right. It's the sense of peace and calm, and yet energy that you get when you walk in the door. You know you're being invited to stay!

 

Feng Shui is a Chinese discipline of ordering your home that has been practiced for more than 3,000 years. It centers on creating harmony and positive energy, or chi. If you think of chi as meandering, versus rushing, you'll get the "feel" that Feng Shui helps create.

 

Five elements provide the under girding for a circle of harmony and balance --  Fire, Earth, Metal, Water and  Wood .

 

To be balanced, a home needs to have all five elements, preferably present in each room. It's also important to not do too much to get the balance. Overdoing goes against the whole balance that Feng Shui creates.

 

Each element is made up of directions, color and life areas. Once you know these, you can begin to seek the corrections that will bring balance and energy to your condo.

 

Fire – faces South; Red, Orange, Purple & Bright Yellow; Fame/Reputation

 

Earth – faces NorthEast and SouthWest; Beige, Light Yellow, Sandy/Earthy; Spiritual Growth/Self Cultivation and Love/Marriage

 

Metal – faces West and NorthWest; White/Gray; Creativity/Children and Helpful People/Blessings

 

Water –faces   North; Blue and Black; Career/Path In Life

 

Wood – faces East and SouthEast; Brown & Green; Health/Family and Prosperity/Abundance

 

So, what do you do to get the balance?  

 

First is to realize that everything has energy. Feng Shui puts items in spaces that will encourage the energy to slow down or to speed up. Generally, it is used to slow down the energy drain or to block the negative energy.

 

Mirrors  -- square and rectangular shapes = balance, round mirrors = wholeness and octagons = power.

 

Fountains  -- bring water's energy plus they symbolize abundance and prosperity.

 

Crystals  -- they have vibrations so it's also important to re-wash them after you bring them home. This "re-sets" them to your space. You also need to wash them regularly and to honor them.

 

Chimes -- capture the movement of air plus add pleasing sounds.

 

Lucky Bamboo  -- symbolizes all five elements (there's a reason to call it lucky)! Wood = the bamboo itself; Earth = the rocks in the container; Water = the growing medium; Fire = generally symbolized by a red ribbon on the pot; Metal = glass is metal. If the container isn't metal, it will have a coin or metal symbol on it.

 

OK, now what do you do?   Here are some ways Feng Shui can enhance your home's energy and balance.

 

The front door

The color, the cleanliness, the "feel" of welcome is important. It is the "mouth of the chi" through which all blessings and energy flow.   Red is always right, or chose colors that reflect the direction the door faces.

 

Windows

These   are your home's eyes. Have them cleaned.

 

De-clutter

Simple and clean is best. Hang up, put away, dust and vacuum!

 

Balance

Do this by using opposites -- complimentary colors play off of the separate elements.   A green door (wood) with a red wreath (fire) is better than a green door and a brown mat (both wood).

 

Mirrors and Crystals

Use them to bounce energy to positive areas.

 

Doors and Hallways

Front doors that face back doors, stairs in front of the front door and long hallways are poison arrows that push the chi out. Break them up with furniture, fountains, mirrors, plants, etc. Chi needs to meander to be strong and powerful.

 

Plants

Use them to bring life and energy to the air.

 

Drains are Energy Suckers

Put toilet covers down, close the bathroom doors and light candles in the bathrooms to counteract their negative energy.

 

Open Your Window Treatments

So the energy of sunlight can get inside.

 

Furniture sucks and also creates energy

Don't block doors and openings. Turn it around so the room welcomes everyone. Also, place furniture in corners so the diagonals can enhance the energy.

 

Whirligigs

Fountains, birdbaths, flags, plantings and other whirligigs that focus towards your home capture the essence of Feng Shui in your landscaping or patio.

 

Leigh Hulcher is the managing broker of Napier ERA's Carytown office. She has been a Realtor since 1994 and with her appraiser husband, Ron Cloninger, become a serial Buyer … Renovator … Seller. She's lived it so she can knowledgably help you through every stage of the home buying and selling experience.  

Questions for Ask the Agent can be submitted to asktheagent@richmond.com .

Previous Ask the Agent columns

June 19 : Moving on up

June 5 : Your first home

May 22 : How do they find the value?

April 3 : Improving chances of selling

Feb. 7 : Assessments

March 6 : Refinancing