home reporter

When homeowners are preparing their house for sale, many forget one crucial area. The outside.

Curb appeal can never be under-estimated! We all know that first impressions are vital to get a buyer interested in your house.

But new research has brought to light how important the colour of the front door is!  

A study has revealed that 35 per cent of house hunters would actually refuse to buy a property which had a pink door.

The most popular colour was plain white.

But consider the character of your property. Period properties often look ‘classy’ with regency green, dar red or dark blue front doors.

Also you may wish to consider the Feng Shui of your front door: the colour of the door should reflect the compass direction it faces

• South (Fire) = Reds, pink, burgundy.
• Southwest (Earth) = Yellows or browns.
• West (Metal) = White, silver, copper or gold.
• Northwest (Metal) = White, silver, copper or gold.
• North (Water) = Blacks or blues.
• Northeast (Earth) = Yellows or browns.
• East (Wood) = Greens.
• Southeast (Wood) = Greens.

home staging feng shui

I have had the pleasure of speaking to Real Estate Agents about the benefits of applying Feng Shui into house sales and attracting listings for years now. They have a profound interest, now more then ever, on the ancient principles we have been using for years to get that house off the market and SOLD for a good asking price. They have also been surprised to hear a few of the things I have come across in dealing with potential buyers that they were unaware of previously.

For example, many Real Estate Agents were not aware that as a Feng Shui Consultant, we are often called in for “emergency” Feng Shui Consultations. They don’t mention it to their agents out of fear or embarrassment but they have found a home they love and want to make a bid on but are afraid the home won’t “support” them from a Feng Shui perspective.

Consultants are also used because the client has a basic understanding and awareness of Feng Shui and want to know about certain areas of the home and how it is likely to affect their lives if they purchase the home. They sometimes call because no one has told them the history of a house and in Feng Shui, we believe in what is called “Predecessor Energy” or the Energy of occupants who previously occupied the space. They believe, as we do, that energy can leave an “imprint.” If the home was left under good circumstances, such as the previous owner moving up in the world, they feel they will as well; if, on the other hand, a divorce or foreclosure has occurred, they have concerns that they are not buying a home with a good background.

Since potential home buyers are looking at a home from a different perspective, Real Estate Agents with knowledge of Feng Shui principles and an openness and awareness of the subject can help set them at ease. It is not mentioned, however, during discussions because of reluctance on the homeowner’s part. While Feng Shui is still considered by some to be a “trend,” I can assure you it’s here to stay and best to get an understanding of it and then openly discuss your knowledge with your clients.

It is often sad to hear that someone has found a home they love but have called in a Consultant only to hear that for one reason or another, the home will not be an auspicious place for them to live. It must be addressed here that there is still fear and negativity with some forms of Feng Shui and Agents can seek to dispel that or call in a Consultant who believes that a home truly can, with simple and inexpensive adjustments, support and provide wonderful things for their new occupants. The potential client is often grateful for the knowledge and assistance of the Agent who has gone the extra steps to assess a home while looking at it from a different viewpoint.

If it sounds too difficult to learn some Feng Shui principles to support your sales and attract new clients, the subject of Feng Shui does not need to be daunting or time consuming. It opens up a new dialect and discussion with your client and your willingness and openness to their well-being is considered a true asset to them, one that will be appreciated long after your role in selling the home is over.

Contact a consultant or pick up a book for a basic knowledge of Feng Shui and learn what you’re missing.

When it comes to boy stuff there’s nothing like your boys bedroom and you want to be sure you can decorate in a way he will enjoy but that is also practical.

However when your space is very small, it can be difficult to get it to look comfortable. But if you consider these pointers, you will recognize that there are many methods for decorating a small boys room.

There are various design themes which you can adopt in smaller rooms, even still you should plan to be careful to deploy the ones which play up the features of small spaces. A good amount of clutter will make your boys room look tiny so steer clear of hanging a lot of accessories and be positive you have adequate storage to put stuff away.

When selecting furniture for your boys room stick to furniture and accessories which are small. In place of using twin beds, try using bunk beds which will allow for sleepovers plus make the room seem larger. All small scaled pieces can be monotonous and you will want to improve on that by decorating with interesting bigger pieces, so don’t be afraid to use the smaller beds but also match it with a striking wall poster, they will offset each other plus add interest and drama to the room.

Furniture placement is one more trade trick when decorating a small boys room. Even your boys room may add to your well being when arranged with Feng Shui in mind. Put furniture away from any doorways, since you’d be surprised how clear access to and from a room can make it appear larger. Moreover, if you do buy a larger piece of furniture, such as a big stuffed animal or artwork, for instance, it should help to divert guests attention that way thus making the room feel larger in the bargain.

Making good use of the area in your boys room is pivotal so take this into account when planning your room design. Think about decorating schemes that allow for ample shelving and baskets since these can work as additional storage. Just be sure you go with a design you love as this is where your child will be spending a lot of time.

One element to explore when trying to make your small boys room look bigger is the color palette. You don’t need to only use light paint color when making up for the size in a room. You are able to have color while still making the boys room appear more open by painting it with colors that reflect the same brightness, or using a monochromatic color scheme. You may even try a blue color scheme, or if you desire more color try green, blue and purple that all give off the same tone and intensity. To add depth and drama, think about painting an opposing wall a deep intense hue - this makes it seem further away and adds an appealing charm. For wall colors, pale tones like gray-blue will make an overall more spacious appearance since they make the walls appear to recede. But then if that sounds too drab, don’t despair cool colors like purples, blues and greens also recede so you can have your decorative colors without making the room appear small sized.

These techniques allow decorating a small boys room to be easy and effortless. Use your imagination and creativity and you will have a small boys room that is big on style in no time.

Lee Dobbins writes for Decorating 2 Day where you can get decorating and design tips as well as find out how to solve decorating challenges.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Lee_Dobbins

Staging your home in preparation for its sale is a very important factor you have to consider. It’s an effective way of attracting more buyers and speeding up your home sale. Just like marketing any product which entails good packaging, presenting a comfortable and organized home is always a plus.

In staging your home, you may want to incorporate some feng shui practices to increase your home’s value and attractiveness to buyers. It does not matter if you believe in this ancient Chinese practice. The important thing to remember is that feng shui just might contribute in the fast sale of your home and in selling it at a higher price.

The first thing you will have to focus on is to engage the senses of your prospective buyers in as many ways you can think of. A home that has lots of horizontal space will surely engage the sense of sight.

So be sure to clear your kitchen counter tops, dressers and shelves. Keep in mind that most buyers go for a spacious home and not a crowded one.

To engage the sense of smell, cinnamon or pine scents are highly recommended over the vanilla or floral scents.

And to engage the sense of sound, a gentle or soothing music playing or the sound of a fountain during a buyer’s visit will be well appreciated.

First impression in home selling is vital for potential buyers. Make sure then that from your driveway and front yard up to the different rooms in your home, everything is pleasing to the eyes and provides a comfortable homey feeling.

Feng shui should come into play in this aspect. The front door of your home should be clean and well-lit if a buyer is visiting after dark. A nice doormat should be in place and fresh flowers or plants should be on both sides of the entrance.

As early as possible, you should get your own personal stuff out of the house. This is to bring more positive and moving energy into the house.

Take away all clutter from your front yard to the different parts of your home. Clutter is negative chi that can keep your energy down and might be passed on to your potential buyer if not thrown away. Clutter may take the form of dirt and dust as well as old and unused things like magazines, accessories and old clothes.

The kitchen should promote a friendly, healthy and prosperous atmosphere. Most buyers consider this room as the important part of the house. Better make yours sparkling clean and organized including your pantry. Be sure that your wastebaskets are out of sight, too.

As for the bathroom, always keep its door shut and the toilet lid down. Remember that potential buyers should never see a bathroom unless they actually go see it for themselves. These two powerful feng shui tips are meant to create positive energy into your home.

In home staging, presentation is key and with the application of feng shui guidelines, there’s a good chance that your home will draw buyers easily.

This article is brought to you by FengShuiDecoratingTips.com. Get free information and Feng Shui Decorating Tips. Learn how to enhance your love life, gain wealth, and happiness with Feng Shui Secrets.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Gloria_Smith

feng shui

Tomorrow is Chinese New Year. And 2007 is the year of the pig.

Chinese fortunetellers say it will be a good time to have a baby.

But their other predictions of world turmoil and unrest don’t sound too good!

They also predict that the world economy will continue to boom, but people should also be cautious about their investments, and it could be another year of mortgage rate rises.

In the year of the pig, people like to spend time with their friends, socialising at home, cooking meals for their friends and being comfortable. Think I’ll go with this bit! 

Happy new year! or Kung hei fat choi!

kathryn

feng shui