I have consulted on many real estate properties and have found that most of them are still attached in one way or another to the seller’s reticence/angst or the agent’s angst. There are also what I call “orphan” properties. Their energy is adrift or has a feeling of neglect/lack of identity (usually owned by investors/developers). The energy of a property is palpable and it naturally attracts or repels buyers accordingly. Location is not ALWAYS everything.
You’ve likely read a lot about the proper way to present a home for sale. Some of those things are going to be repeated here, but with a deeper understanding of the WHY as regards the energetic ramifications. Resetting the energy of a house…whether new construction or resale…is well worth the effort. You might not think it can make a difference, but believe me, it does because buying a home is all about the “feels”…the emotional/energetic exchange between the property and the new owner. And no one wants to buy a home that feels reticent, stagnant, and imprinted with someone else’s energy. Buyers can’t envision themselves there if someone else is already occupying that space. So, when preparing a house to sell, it has to be depersonalized and neutralized in EVERY possible way.
Begin with the exterior. Creating a welcoming entry that is apparent from the street view can often mean clearing out some of the mature/overgrown landscaping. A good rule of thumb is to avoid barriers formed by overgrown vegetation and vegetation that is “smothering” the building. If the entry is obscured or the house is surrounded by dense vegetation like shrubs and overgrown plantings, it can’t “breathe.” Qi should move unobstructed to the main entrance and around the periphery of the property like a meandering stream. If there are blockages to that movement, it creates pockets of stagnant energy. All living creatures are acutely tuned into that energy, whether they’re conscious of it or not, which is discomforting. Overgrown/unkempt landscaping, both next to the house and in the garden underplanting is stifling. You should be able to see a bit of soil between plantings. On the other hand, if the landscape is barren, the qi flow is willy-nilly and it feels uninhabitable and often prickly in the case of desert scapes. Humans respond negatively to both excessive and sterile environments. And no one likes to have pointy objects pointed at them. To understand this, stand directly in front of a sharp/pointy object like a pencil or knife and feel your body recoil. Remember, Goldilocks was looking for something in between…that was“just right.”
There should be a defined sense of entry that draws you to the front door. This is known in Feng Shui as the Bright Hall. It’s most apparent in grand architecture. For instance, the piazza in front of the Vatican, or the grand staircase entry to the NY Metropolitan Museum. The energy of the Bright Hall should welcome and move you toward the main portal of entry. If the architect has hidden the main entry from view architecturally, it’s important to use lighting and hard and soft scape to clearly define and direct the approach.
The exterior of the house should be well maintained. Chipping paint, locks that don’t function properly, broken glass, uneven decking/sidewalks, and cracks in the driveway make the property feel dismal, neglected, and sad. That’s not the kind of energy you want to project for the first impression. Also, waste receptacles should not be visible from the street and are best kept in a contained area or in the garage.
The interior spaces should feel welcoming but neutral in decor, beginning with the foyer or space just inside the main entry. This is the interior Bright Hall, which must be clutter-free, tidy, well lighted, and welcoming. There should be no impediment to the rest of the house. For the remainder of the house, remove excess furniture and accessories, and declutter storage areas. Full closets and cupboards give the impression that there’s limited storage space. The architecture of the spaces should be the focus, not the decor, which should only hint at the possible use of the space and be neutral in color. A well-staged interior is devoid of personalization. Simple, “transitional” pieces are best since they don’t hint at a specific style. Family photos, trophies, and other personal items should be removed. Walls should be repaired, clean and if possible, a fresh coat of paint applied in a single pale neutral color throughout. This provides a natural flow that connects the rooms, and a spacious feel. Never use saturated colors on walls. Only a minimum of furnishings and accessories should remain to support the spaces. If not completely furnished, at least some furnishings in each room will create a sense of scale. Unfurnished spaces always look smaller than they actually are so even “vignettes” provide a point of reference.
Remove all window treatments. If you’re living in the house, open all blinds during showings and remove all soft window treatments (curtains, draperies, cornices, etc.). Why? Window treatments shield against the natural light and stop the eye at the windows, impeding the perceived energetic flow between the indoor and outdoor spaces. That connection indoor-outdoor connection and the natural light make the home feel larger and brighter…and even more luxurious. Potential buyers/leasers should be able to visualize themselves in the spaces, so any distractions can undermine the sale of the property. There are tricks to distract from less desirable aspects of a house, so if you’re worried about that, hire a professional stager to help you present your home in the best possible light. There is rarely a perfect house, but if someone sees enough of what they consider suitable for them, they can forgive the part(s) that detract from the home.
If you’re living in the home while it’s on the market, begin packing up your personal belongings and store them off-site. I tell my clients that they should be half-packed and ready to leave. You should feel disconnected from the home…assume the role of temporary caretaker rather than the owner. Emotional “hooks” are very real and can be a deterrent to the process. Remember those prospective buyers will take in every detail with all of their senses. They will sense it if you haven’t released the house energy to connect with a new owner. Make them feel welcome to THEIR new home…not yours. Use fresh flowers and plants in the decor (not too many), and make sure the home is spotless and smells good (citrus is universally appealing). Also, pets are an allergen for many, so remove all vestiges of pets from the premises when showing.
If you feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin, call in professionals to help. Most homes that sit on the market without interest could have sold much sooner…especially in today’s market…if proper steps and attention to the details had been taken in the beginning. Don’t think that you can bypass these steps just because it’s a seller’s market. Besides, it’s been well documented that homes that are well prepared and staged sell for more than those that don’t. It’s all about the Yin and Yang…harmony and balance.
