Selling your house with Feng Shui

Knowing how to sell your house with feng shui will save your time, money and help avoid useless efforts. The ancient Chinese art of placement known as feng shui offers various guidelines help you sell your property faster and sometimes for top dollars. 

The study of real estate staging is all about how to create auspicious, nourishing energy flow within the given space, that any home should start looking safe, confortable, un-cluttered, appealing and easy to live in. The idea is to use the secrets of feng shui to your advantage. After reading some staging tips from any feng shui website, you may think placing green frog looks good in front porch by the entrance door and its good feng shui staging technique; however potential buyer might not appreciate it. Always remember, feng shui staging technique is not for selling one particular house, but is all about selling a specific emotion. Be very mindful about the quality of energy at your front entrance porch and make it look as fresh and as inviting as possible. 

If you are staging house or property, definitely invest your time and efforts in landscaping and front appearance, this will increase the value of the property as well as attract beneficial Chi. If you are staging condo apartment there is nothing much to do outside, focus on the main entrance area and door to bring vibrant and nourishing energy to your entrance area. Use of tall lush plant, vase of fresh cut flowers, good lighting, impressive and happy piece of art and strategic use of mirror to create spaciousness, fresh quote of paint to entry door and opposite wall are worth considering risk free options to have great feng shui in your staging scheme. Make a note, about foyer flooring – if tiles are high gloss and shiny is not good feng shui as it creates imbalance and turbulences in energy field, having area rug to cover it up is great remedy. 

De-personalizing house is yet another technique of feng shui staging. De-clutter is important but de-personalize is critical. Create a spa feel effect in bathroom, but do hide all personal items of the owner, empty the closets, remove all pictures or frames of earlier owner, hide all other religious or cultural motifs and symbols, kitchen is very important – empty cabinets those have glass panels – leave them empty, keep the garage light on and let owner’s vehicle parked in back ally or away from the driveway. Use your imagination and logic in de-personalizing the house, you got it? Remember, residual energy from all these used items is a first stumbling block in selling the house. Every potential buyer likes to see the real estate as clean slate. 

In feng shui staging most important thing to remember is “Energy Triangle”. The energies in Kitchen, Bathroom and Bedroom are either breaking or making your house sale. Potential buyer should virtually feel he can eat well, rest well and unwind well in order to be healthy in the house he chooses to buy. Good feng shui staging can easily ignite his emotions to make sale happen in very first open house. Be creative, logical and apply feng shui sense to your staging. 

With the use of few feng shui tips and tricks any stager can give home fresh new energy look to make it more appealing, pleasant and comfortable place to live in. As such, it is very likely that the stager is re-hired to interior design the same house by new buyer, and that’s really rewarding experience. 

One Last Point – if you’re trying to help home sell faster in today’s real estate market, you need every advantage you can get! Learn much more secrets of feng shui staging through our FREE news-letters, webinars and seminars. 

Wishing you all successful and rewarding staging career with feng shui tricks. 

COLOR TENDS FOR 2012

The 2012 Pantone Color of the year is Tangerine Tango! Explosively loud and exceedingly bold, Tangerine Tango has been announced as Pantone’s 2012 color of the year. The global authority on color, Pantone revealed yesterday that the shade will replace 2011’s Honeysuckle.

You will see it in fashion, cosmetics, and home decors...

This choice of color,  compliments a spectrum of colors including yellow, purple, blue and green and flatters all skin tones.
The color is exciting and brings life and energy..  One of my favorites, I have introduced it in many of my decorating projects...a great accent color or main room color....enjoy have fun with color!!
As I walked through a department store, I couldn't help but snap a few pictures of one of my favorite colors....

 

January Organization part II

Take one hour of each day to sit and organize your day - schedule your appointments for 2012 - Doctor, Dentist, Accountant etc. It is important to schedule your own time also, whether its the gym, a walk or visiting a friend...make sure it appears on your calendar.  You need to begin to think like an organizer...bring what is in your head of what you want to do in 2012 and write it all down.  When you begin to start planning your life you will gain energy and your goals will be met!

For many people, the first thing they do in the morning, is check their emails, phone messages...which then leads to checking all of their social media...before long...hours of non productivity has passed by.  If you find your self doing this....STOP....try doing one of your projects towards your goal first, then check your emails, and messages... 

The Second issue we will be tacking in January is CLUTTER  -  Clutter affects you in many ways:

• It can make you feel tired and lethargic
• It keeps you in the past
• It affects you  body weight
• It confuses you
• It can affect the way people treat you
• It make you procrastinate
• It cause disharmony
• Feelings of shame
• Life on hold
• Excess baggage
• It causes extra cleaning
• Makes you disorganized
• It distracts you from the important things

Whether your plans are to stay in the home that you are currently in, or are planning on placing your home on the market in the Spring....The Clutter has to be addressed.  January should be designated to the Kitchen - Once the kitchen is in order, your daily life will begin to be a bit more easier and organized.

Sort your cooking tools and gadgets into related categories
Divide your kitchen space into activity zones
Complete the elimination process ( get rid of the chipped cups and miss matched glasses)
Decide how to make the best of your counter space
Bring the pantry to order
Clean out under the sink, the refrigerator and the junk draw.

My pet peeve is the front of the Fridge - put the photo's in an album and all the paperwork, menus etc in a loose leaf binder... take out menu's, Johnny's swim schedule, and last years report card do not belong on the front door!

The kitchen is the center of your home, keep it neat and organized....take inventory of supplies and keep a running list of what is needed in your phone or in your planner...  Good Luck with the kitchen... I look forward to seeing before and after pictures...

January the new beginning for planting the seeds...to a better life

To see a  home in your dream, symbolizes increased prosperity will come your way through diligence and care. It also suggests of stability and inner growth. To see a room in your dream, foretells of tranquillity, comfort, true love and happy home in your future. To see clutter, and disorganization, denotes that you have neglected your spiritual needs.  A home is like a garden, you need to tend to its needs in order to feel comfort and happiness within.

January is a new beginning, of turning your life around...through planning, schedules routines, checklists and organizing projects.  Whether you are planning on selling your home in the Spring and need some help in organization to prepare your home for the market or you need a stable comforting  surrounding ; I will be able to help you achieve this through my series of organizing your live.

The first thing you need to discover is where does time go - how do you spend you time during the day?

• Work
• Time with animals
• Social networking/time with family and friends
• Exercise
• Spiritual pursuits
• Travel
• Volunteer work
• Errands, grocery shopping...etc

Understand your real goals in your life.  Most people allow life to happen, rather than giving it some direction.

You need to write down how much time is spent on these items to understand where the time goes.  If you are a stay at home mom don't discount your work. Raising a happy, healthy family and running a homes is the largest job on the planet.  Mom's are notorious the the lack of delegation skills...as they feel as they are "at home" and should be able to do everything - Chores are no longer an option.  Everyone has to step up and assume more responsibility in the home....by doing this you will shave time off every area of your life.

• So take some time right now and decide what you really want from life
• Research what is necessary to make your dreams come to reality
• In your journal, calendar, schedule take steps you need to take to achieve your goal

You can learn how to manipulate time to your advantage if you have support from your partner/spouse/children....

You could start a small group among friends to share your goals....and share the steps that you have done to work towards those goals!!

Getting Your Home Ready for the Holidays

In today's economy there are less and less people that can afford assistance in home design, redesign and staging or just picking out a color of paint.
Harmonizing Homes is introducing " design on line" as an added feature.   The purpose of this added service is to assist people that need to sell their homes but do not know the process, nor have the time to put a plan together for implementation.  Along those same lines....some people know they need to do something but do not know where to start.  Harmonizing Homes will help these client through a series of photographs that are taken by the home owner accompanied with the dimensions of all four walls and ceiling heights.  Harmonizing Homes will be able to to determine by the photographs and some interaction via email.... what should be done immediately to market their homes.  Harmonizing Homes will also assist those homeowners that may want a bit of a change for the holidays....but they do not know where to start...Thinking about painting....but not sure of what colors to choose....Harmonizing Homes will be able to suggest some colors to complement the adjoining rooms....
   Harmonzing Homes will be running a special through the end of December as an introduction to the new concept of designing on line... Here are the services that will be provided.

• Redesign
• Design
• Downsizing
• Staging ( Home marketing)
• Getting ready for the holidays!!

So send us a email....we can discuss your situation...prior to commitment!    So if you are willing to do this...........


We can help!!!!!
Wishing you all the very best!
Happy Holidays...

Thanksgiving Deorations on a Budget

Everyone is on a budget these days....So for your Thanksgiving Table  this year...instead of purchasing the same old boring yellow and orange mums with a few cats tails...why not bring in foliage....use branches and berries...

 For example take a string of sweet gumtree pots together with garland.....you can find them in the parks now....



 Or berry branches in a vase...Take a walk around the wooded areas and see what you can find..

Have fun and relax....its only family and friends

Marie-Hélène’s Apple Cake

I love to entertain and I'm always looking for something easy for desert.....This is a winner and I thought I'd share.... A great simple apple cake for the fall.....

Marie-Hélène’s Apple Cake
Serves 8.
From “Around My French Table,” by Dorie Greenspan.
¾ cup all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking powder
Pinch of salt
4 large apples (if you can, choose 4 different kinds)
2 large eggs
¾ cup sugar
3 tablespoons dark rum
½ teaspoon pure vanilla extract
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled.
Center a rack in the oven and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Generously butter an 8-inch springform pan. Line a baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper and put the springform on it.
Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt together in a small bowl.
Peel the apples, cut them in half and remove the cores. Cut the apples into 1- to 2-inch chunks.
In a medium bowl, beat the eggs with a whisk until they’re foamy. Pour in the sugar and whisk for a minute or so to blend. Whisk in the rum and vanilla. Whisk in half the flour and, when it is incorporated, add half the melted butter, followed by the rest of the flour and the remaining butter, mixing gently after each addition so that you have a smooth, rather thick batter. Switch to a rubber spatula and fold in the apples, turning the fruit so that it’s coated with batter. Scrape the mix into the pan and poke it around a little with the spatula so that it’s evenish.
Slide the pan into the oven and bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until the top of the cake is golden brown and a knife inserted deep into the center comes out clean; the cake may pull away from the sides of the pan. Transfer to a cooling rack and let rest for 5 minutes.
Carefully run a blunt knife around the edges of the cake and remove the sides of the springform pan. (Open the springform slowly, and before it’s fully opened, make sure there aren’t any apples stuck to it.) Allow the cake to cool until it is just slightly warm or at room temperature. If you want to remove the cake from the bottom of the springform pan, wait until the cake is almost cooled, then run a long spatula between the cake and the pan, cover the top of the cake with a piece of parchment or wax paper, and invert it onto a rack. Carefully remove the bottom of the pan and turn the cake over onto a serving dish.
Serving
The cake can be served warm or at room temperature, with or without a little softly whipped, barely sweetened heavy cream or a spoonful of ice cream. Marie-Hélène served her cake with cinnamon ice cream, and it was a terrific combination.
Storing
The cake will keep for about two days at room temperature and, according to my husband, gets more comforting with each passing day. However long you keep the cake, it’s best not to cover it — it’s too moist. Leave the cake on its plate and just press a piece of plastic wrap or wax paper against the cut surfaces.