In order to sell a home, most people will go the extra mile: throwing out old possessions, using staging services and hiring the best real estate agent. However, practicing good feng shui is just another way home sellers can market their home to buyers. In a tough market almost any home can benefit from the wisdom of this ancient philosophy, which emphasizes plenty of light, the optimization of space and balance. If you look closely, you may notice that these are all good decorating ideas, regardless of the feng shui principles behind them.

How does feng shui work? Well, according to the main tenets of the practice, everything has chi, or energy, which flows through any home or dwelling and impacts how the occupants feel and think throughout the day. For those who are selling a home, how you direct your chi can make all the difference in selling a home, buying a home in Atlanta and how you fare after moving day.

Among the advice real estate agents give to home sellers is this:  de-clutter, brighten up the house, and fix anything that needs fixing. Not coincidentally, these are also the first recommendations a practitioner of feng shui would give the same sellers. This type of advice is easy to follow—just eliminate excess furniture and stow away items in their proper place. Introduce as much light and warmth into your home as possible, as both feng shui and common sense dictate that no one likes a cold, dark house.

Here, feng shui goes a step further. Practitioners recommend focusing on the entrance, as this is a focal point of the home and your first opportunity to impress the buyer. Put away family photos and personal items. The buyer should feel welcome in your home, not like an outsider in a family gathering.

Feng shui is about balance. If you painted every single room in your house brown, chances are that home would not sell; likewise if you had a fireplace in every room. The best and most useful part of feng shui takes our natural human preferences into account. Homes that are visually pleasing typically also score high with feng shui professionals. Variety and harmony can invite positive energy into your home.

Even the most hardened skeptic can benefit from these tips, as many of them can’t hurt, and a little Feng Shui may go a long way in attracting buyers.