Real Estate Feng Shui: The path to your front door

Real Estate Feng Shui The very first impression, and the point at which the buyer starts making decisions about the property, is at the curb.

Improving the curb appeal of a house gets us off on the right track and starts the buyer feeling positive about the property. It also inspires those drive-by "looky-loos" to want to take it a step further and come on in.

Clear the Path to a Sale

You will often find, especially in older neighborhoods, that trees overwhelm the house. That is, they have grown so large that they tower over the roofline, block windows and entry paths, and visually diminish the house. This is the time to gently advise the seller to

• trim away the lower branches of the trees to reveal the house,
• thin out all the branches of the tree to allow more light and movement, or
• remove the dominant trees and replace them with new, smaller specimens.

Cracked concrete or broken stepping stones on the path to the house send an immediate negative message about maintenance and upkeep. Repair these "first steps" to a sale to bring the buyer in with a fresh first impression.

Depending on the parking situation at the property, it can also be a plus to put in a stepping¬stone path directly from the street to the door. This is especially useful if the only approach to the front door is from the driveway, and one would be crossing a lawn or other planted area to go directly to the front door from the street. It also helps to pull the chi, or energy, up from the street to the house.