Marketing

To put the best face on a listing and appeal to buyers who follow feng shui principles, keep these tips in mind.

1. Pay special attention to the front door, which 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. 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. Make sure the area around the front door is swept clean, free of cobwebs and clutter. Make sure all lighting is straight and properly hung. Better yet, light the path leading up to the front door to create an inviting atmosphere.

2. Chi energy can be flushed away wherever there are drains in the home. To keep the good forces of a home in, always keep the toilet seats down and close the doors to bathrooms.

3. The master bed should be in a place of honor, power, and protection, which is farthest from and facing toward the entryway of the room. It’s even better if you can place the bed diagonally in the farthest corner. Paint the room in colors that promote serenity, relaxation, and romance, such as soft tones of green, blue, and lavender.

4. The dining room symbolizes the energy and power of family togetherness. 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.

5. The windows are considered to be the eyes of the home. Getting the windows professionally cleaned will make the home sparkle and ensure that the view will be optimally displayed.

Source: Sell Your Home Faster With Feng Shui by Holly Ziegler (Dragon Chi Publications, 2001)

Here are some time-tested pointers on attracting buyers and getting offers for your home.

1. Price it right. Set a price at the lower end of your property’s realistic price range. This will increase the buyer activity and mazimize your chances of offers.

2. Prepare for visitors. Get your house market ready at least two weeks before you begin showing it. And keep your house in showing-ready condition.

3. Be flexible about showings. It’s often disruptive to have a house ready to show at the spur of the moment. But the more amenable you can be about letting people see your home, the sooner you’ll find a buyer.



4. Anticipate the offers. Decide in advance what price and terms you’ll find acceptable.

5. Don’t refuse to drop the price. If your home has been on the market for more than 30 days without an offer and few showings, you should be prepared to at least consider lowering your asking price.

It takes some work to be a smart and prepared seller, but it will reward you by maximizing your profit and minimizing your stress.

Hire a great Realtor®. A Realtor® is a licensed real estate agent who belongs to their local Association of Realtors®, and through that the California Association of Realtors® and the National Association of Realtors®. Realtors® subscribe to a strict code of ethics and must maintain a higher level of knowledge -of real estate practice and regulation. Realtors® are committed to providing utmost care in representing their clients, and in treating all parties to a real estate transaction honestly.

Make a Plan, Work the Plan. There are a number of things to do and to keep track of when you sell your home. Together with your Realtor® you will make a plan for putting your home on the market and maintaining it through the close of escrow. Be sure to put dates against each item. Here are the big moving parts:

• Make Repairs & Spruce Up. All those things on the Honey-Do list to repair or complete? Write them down. Listen to recommendations from your Realtor®. Fix what you can; hire professional for what you can’t do. And keep receipts and permits.
• Document your repairs and upgrades. Make a folder or list of everything you’ve done on the house over the years, and note who did the work (you, or name the professionals), and if there were permits include copies. Not only will this impress potential buyers, it will also help you at tax time as you figure out the adjusted basis for the home.
• Stage your Home. If you can, move out of the house and have a professional stager furnish the house – he or she will accentuate the positives, and diminish the negatives with furniture, art and accessories, and may recommend painting or other fixes. If you can’t move out, hire a professional stager to help you know how to de-clutter, to re-arrange the furniture and accessories, and generally make the most out of what you have to show the house at its best.
• Keep it clean and showroom fresh. Remember, you have to begin to think of this as no longer your home. Future buyers may not care about the things you care about. Stagers and Realtors® will guide you in what to show off – be sure to keep the house clean, keep clutter out of the way, and keep the house like a showroom. Pet or home smells can be a major turn off to prospective buyers.
• Let it be shown. This one should be obvious. If you want to sell your home quickly and get good offers, you need to let buyers see your home when they want to. If you have a newborn at home, or some other extenuating circumstance, make sure your Realtor® notes this in the MLS in the information to agents. Buyers understand personal challenges, but are put off by what might seem like a lack of interest in showing the home. If you want it sold, make it easy for buyers to see it.
• Love letter. Write a letter to prospective buyers, telling them what you love about the home, the yard, and the neighborhood. Very few sellers do this, and it can give you a competitive edge or sway a prospective buyer.