FENG SHUI

THE FUTURE OF REAL ESTATE AND FENG SHUI
By JOANNE " JADE "ALONSO
201-724-4151

How is it possible that this ancient "art of placement", estimated to be between 2,000 - 8,000 years old, which has sometimes been described as the dynamic relationship between humans and their environment, have such an impact on our lives in our homes or offices today? Feng Shui , (which literally translated means Wind & Water) a concept some people consider cloaked in the mystery of the Orient, does certainly seem to be taking the world by storm at this point in time. You may even have seen a show or two on the subject or heard about a few rich and famous who have given it some credence as well. Some people even say it can fix relationships, help your child get good grades, improve your health, put your career back on track and even muster up your finances.

Whether you are a Realtor, Architect, Builder, Interior Designer, City Planner, Landscaper or someone just trying to buy or sell a home, you may have already heard musings about this Asian art and have even decided to start incorporating it on your own. And why not? Has it not been said," that we are the product of our environment, which is something the ancient Chinese knew so long ago. If our environment in terms of our living/working space becomes more balanced, then our lives are said to follow suit.
Although the ancient Chinese are given credit for this concept, the Indian culture has not been far behind with their version called "Vastu Shastra". We here in the West, however, may have embraced some of these techniques within only the last decade or so

It has been said that with the balance of energy or "chi" in the right combination, harmony can be brought to the families and their life's endeavors so to live prosperous lives. "Chi" is sometimes referred to as the cosmic breath or the combination of Yin and Yang, which may not be part of our five senses but more an abstract form or an intangible concept.

You may have become even more familiar with Feng Shui when you heard your neighbors home or office did not sell based solely upon their front door direction and/or its address, or the fact that their bathroom or kitchen was located in what was considered an inauspicious or inappropriate area of the floor plan. The property line on which the home/office sat may also have become a stumbling block, in which the support of energy needed to live a balanced and prosperous life, was not evident.

Below is a list of some of the things you may want to take into consideration when buying, selling, building or working with a site, which may not make the home/office as marketable for a seller or as inviting for a buyer, particularly if they are somewhat familiar with Feng Shui:

• Homes/Offices located on a Cul-de-sac, Dead End or T-Junction 
• Home styles such as Split Levels, Bi-Levels or Center Hall Colonials 
• Certain interior door alignment, particularly front and back doors which line up with each other 
• Doors too small or too large for the structure 
• Homes or Offices sitting below grade level
• Tree(s) or pole(s) obstructing the front door
• Low or overhead exposed beams 
• Irregular shaped home/office or property line 
• Home/Office located too close to Schools, Houses of Worship, Funeral Homes, Cemeteries, Police Stations, Hospitals, Jails/Prisons 
• Faulty electrical/plumbing systems 
• Dead or decaying plant materials such as trees, shrubs, etc. 
• Structural defects in the foundation 
• Bath or toilet area upon entry 
• Very high ceilings
• Skylights to close to entry or above the stove or bed 
• Straight paths leading to the main door 
• Staircase upon entry 
• Garages attached to the structure particularly in front of the structure 
• Home/Offices sitting too close to the front of the property 
• Home/Offices too close to a river or other body of water 
• Long hallways separating two sides of the home/office 
• Bathroom(s) in the center of the floor plan 
• Two story homes with a Bathroom over a Bedroom or Kitchen and particularly over the stove area 
• Being able to see the stove from the front door 
• Bathroom door facing a bedroom/kitchen door 
• Bedroom over a garage 
• Spiral staircases at the center of the home or near the front door area particularly in a remodel 
• Low or slanted ceilings 
• An abandon home/office nearby to yours.

Even if a person is not familiar with Feng Shui, they may intuitively feel or sense the home or office is not comfortable for them based upon some of the above. Other people may say these things are just plain common sense. If your home or office includes some of these aspects, does this mean the situation cannot be remedied? Much like a Chiropractor strives to align ones spine to help the body function at its best, calling in a certified Feng Shui consultant can help to align a home or office space to correct the balance in the above-mentioned problem areas. Once some of these adjustments listed are made (see below) a person may see a dramatic improvement in their health as well. It is said that our floor plan is the equivalent of our bodies. If we are feeling out of sync, or our health is out of sync, according to the energies of Feng Shui, our interior floor plan or the structure itself may be said to be the cause.

In order to enhance the chi of the interior floor plan or outdoor property line, a consultant might include concepts such as colors, shapes, lighting, plant materials, fountains, crystal chandeliers and mirrors. Most every space can be adjusted using different combinations of some of the above to achieve its maximum potential in order for its occupants to thrive. With a well-balanced space, we start to see all aspects of our lives begin to change for the better, something that would certainly be considered good Feng Shui!!

JoAnne Alonso a/k/a JADE is a Certified Feng Shui Consultant working with Residential, Commercial and Retail space. She has lectured, written and taught on the subject of Feng Shui. She can be reached at Feng Shui Today 201-724-4151 or e mailed at JadeToday@aol.com

(she is also a licensed Realtor)