29 Nov Feng Shui vs. Staging: A Real Estate Dilemma

I received a recent question from a client who wanted to know if Feng Shui was different from real estate staging, and if they did differ, what exactly were the differences.

Staging is a relatively new approach to selling a home.  The premise is that if the house is in prime shape, it will sell quickly and at the asking price or above. In many cases, the staging decisions are right in line with those of Feng Shui principles:  getting rid of clutter, removing personal items, creating a nice flow through the space, having an aesthetically pleasing arrangement of furniture, etc.  On the outside, it may look as though the two approaches are the same.

However, there is a strong yet subtle difference between staging and Feng Shui—-that difference is the intention with which the changes were made.  When a home has been staged, it is typically set up with a goal of selling it. What is left out is a discussion with the sellers about what they are trying to accomplish with the move and the legacy they want to leave behind.  Feng Shui considers these factors as well as the kind of buyers that would be appropriate for the space.

In addition, when implementing Feng Shui, various specific structural challenges would be addressed to offset their influence.  For example, adjustments would be made for missing pieces in the layout of the space, minimizing the negative impact on someone who may be considering living there.  The center of the space would also be enhanced to emphasize overall harmony.  Likewise, the negative impact of bathrooms would be offset with Feng Shui adjustments so that potential buyers would not feel drained.

Although these differences are arguably subtle and hard to discern to the physical eye, Feng Shui takes into consideration the energy of the sellers, the future owners, and the structural aspects of the home itself—-and therein is the difference.