What are the Real Estate cries? Location, location, location and buy on the high side of the street. These concepts form the basics of Feng Shui.
When selecting location, start by considering where you would like to be situated. The most prosperous locations today are in suburbs where the neighbors are successful. It is said that if you move to an area where the average income is greater than yours, your income will increase as your expectation of what it is possible to earn increases. Conversely move to a poorer suburb and it is likely that your income will reduce to be on a par with those with whom you associate.
Traditionally we looked for land that was fertile, lush and abundant. Land upon which crops grew and animals thrived. We ensured we were near a good source of fresh water for drinking and for bathing, but not so close as to be subjected to flooding.
Typically homes and villages were positioned part way up a mountain, referred to in Feng Shui as the seat of the armchair. This gave a good view of those approaching prior to their arrival so that they could be assessed (friend or foe) and either the billy would be put on to boil and damper placed in the coals to cook, or the riffle was placed where it would be handy in case it became necessary to use it. The mountain itself protected our back and to the sides were generally hills or trees to give a protective embrace.
Most times folk lived hours if not days from their neighbors. It was important to be self-sufficient and obviously the family on the most fertile land that provided the best protection kept the best health and were the most prosperous.
Boundaries were also important. The neighbors stock were not welcome to graze on crops set aside Let us take a clue from nature. Animals mark their territory, and fight to defend it. It's natural for dogs to urinate on their territory, another example, stray onto a male crocodiles territory especially when he has a nesting female. Watch Out! If you are another male crocodile then you had better be prepared to fight for dominance!
Today in modern Australia there is a tendency to think that this is not relevant. It is every bit as relevant! We just look for it in a different way. In business we locate our business alongside other successful businesses. Where you find MacDonald's you also find other fast food outlets. Car yards are all located together. Some shopping centers we automatically associate with an up market classy image and others are just a place to get the weekly groceries. There is no heightened sense of expectation. When we buy our homes there are some suburbs that we immediately associate with electronic gates, massive rooms, and multiple bathrooms. They exude class and style. We tend to conclude that those who live there are doing well financially. Other suburbs bring to mind images of bare lawns, rusty cars etc. Very unappealing.
Our front entranceways are where we welcome opportunity in. Obviously a forest of trees right up against the front door is not desirable. Ideally we can identify the people path that leads to the front door from the street. Is there an area immediately outside the front door where the Chi can pool. Traditionally this would be a water source such as a lake or pond. Today an open area that is a pleasant place to pass through and that encourages one to pause is fantastic. In units and townhouses where this is not always possible I encourage my clients to have a welcome mat, vibrant plants, an attractive doorbell and where this is not permitted to ensure a WOW factor immediately the front door is opened.
Watch your back!!! Are you drawn to spend time in the backyard or do you feel exposed? Use fencing and shrubs to make this your private sanctuary. Remember there is no-where to hide from Feng Shui eyes, create beautiful garden rooms in those parts of the garden that don't tend to be inhabited. Once again units and townhouses present unique challenges. Balconies tend to be at the rear and to either side of the dwelling and look out on beautiful views which leaves us vulnerable. We do not have that armchair embrace. Introduce potted plants or hanging baskets to provide some screening privacy (not so much as to block the view) but sufficient to provide the intention of protection. Lighting such as fairy or up lighting can also be introduced with positive benefits.
Many of the homes backing onto the Brisbane river have no strong back or protection from the river and the dilapidated state of these properties is testimony to the quality of the lives of the inhabitants. One property with two large Palm trees near the back boundary stands out for me. The Palms are positioned equidistance from each other about a third of the distance from each side. This particular property has beautifully manicured lawns and it seems that the strategic position of these Palms is adequate to symbolically provide a strong back for the inhabitants. A solid wall blocking the view is not necessary!
One client living in the Gold Coast Hinterland called me because two weeks earlier their business had taken a big dive for the worse, not only was no work coming in and they were not receiving payments for previously completed projects, they had also attracted a number of legal complications which were not looking very favourable. Their home was situated on the crest of a hill. To enter the property you drive up to the house where a magnificent view of the Gold Coast Beaches awaits. Behind the house was a 90 degree drop and the rear balcony was built out over this drop.
The Feng Shui explanation for this disaster? Two weeks earlier the client had severely cut back the foliage under and around the deck. The feeling was one of falling over the edge. The solution: Encourage the growth of the canopy to the height of the deck to give that secure embraced feeling. Install outdoor lamps (with bulbs that point up, which are tall and columnar in shape and not white or black in colour) along the top of the cliff and augment with lighting on the deck including fairy lights.
