How to conduct a feng shui consultation is largely based on the client's needs, but there are some basics you should start with. A Classical feng shui consultant uses a compass, lo shu, bagua and other tools to assess your home or office based on ancient Chinese feng shui principles. The feng shui expert practitioner will then make practical recommendations to bring the chi energy into balance and create harmony within your environment.
Basics of How to Conduct a Feng Shui Consultation
Prior to your onsite consultation, you should ask your client a few questions, so you know what to expect. A few examples include:
- What are your expectations of this feng shui consultation?
- What are your feng shui priorities? Any specific areas of life you need addressed? Please list with number one being the most important.
- Have you had a feng shui consultation before? If so, what did you like the most? Least?
- What year was your home construction completed?
- Have there been any major renovations? Please provide completion date of renovations and type of renovations done, such as an addition to home, walls torn down and floors replaced.
- If you purchased the house instead of building it, how long did the house sit empty? More than 100 days?
- What are the birthdates of those living in the house? Please provide a name and birth date for each person.
- Do you have a blueprint copy of your home? If yes, please forward a copy/photo of the blueprint to save time. Have any changes been made that aren't indicated on the blueprint? Please describe. (A blueprint isn't necessary for the consultation and analysis.)
Preparation Saves Time and Money
Having the answers to the questions prior to your meeting will save you time and prepare you for possible issues.You should go to your meeting armed with a few prepared tips to give your client upfront to encourage them with what to expect on a larger scale once your analysis is completed.
How to Meet a Client's Expectations
It's important to know what your client's expectations and goals are upfront. Having a blueprint prior to your meeting allows you time to explore possible feng shui issues to encourage positive chi energy flow.
Arrival and Brief Clarification
Once you arrive and have introduced yourself. Sit down with your client before conducting a walkthrough. Go over the responses to your questions to make sure you fully understand your client's expectations and goals. Correct any misinformation and gather more information as you go through each question/response.
Take a Compass Reading First
A Classical Feng Shui consultant will take a compass reading. Knowing the facing and sitting directions of the house will help you while conducting a walkthrough.
Conduct a Walkthrough of the Home
If you saw a blueprint prior to your consultation, you can offer a few feng shui tips as you conduct the walkthrough. This will provide your client with a few actionable tasks that will immediately improve the feng shui of their home. For example, you can offer a cure during your walk-through for a toilet over the foyer or a bedroom over a carport.
Take Notes and Ask Questions
As you walk through the house take notes. Record where poison arrows are and what types they are along with possible remedies. You want to note any and all feng shui issues. If there are places in need of cleaning, repairs or changes, mark these in your notes.
Assess How Your Client Lives
Most people clean their homes prior to consultations. This can be misleading when assessing what may be going on with the chi energy flow, such as common daily clutter. While touring the house, ask revealing questions about every day life and habits. Tailor these questions to fit your client's lifestyle. A few possible questions include:
- What happens to discarded shoes? Depending on the answer, you can then offer good feng shui housekeeping tips for shoe storage.
- How to you handle the never-ending task of laundry? You're trying to discover if laundry piles up or not.
- What is your cleanup system for the kitchen? Does everyone place their dishes in the dishwasher? You're trying to find out if dishes remain in the sink for extended periods of time.
- How do you organize the drawers, cabinets and closets? You're assessing if these areas are blocking chi energy.
It's All in the Details
While you walk through the house, pay attention to the windows, doors and condition of furnishings, appliances and equipment. Are there things in disrepair?
House Layout
The most vital part of your assessment is the house layout. If the client doesn't have a blueprint copy for you, then draw a layout of the home, taking measurements of each room. The layout needs to be to scale for an accurate analysis. A few things to pay close attention to include:
- Where is the kitchen located?
- Is there a direct line of sight from the front door into the kitchen?
- Are the kitchen, dining room and living room on the same floor level?
- Does a bathroom share a wall with a bedroom or kitchen?
- Is there a bathroom or bedroom at the top of the staircase?
- Does the staircase landing face the front door?
Take Your Tour Outside
Once you've completed touring the inside of the home, you'll return outside to examine the natural surrounding environment. Landscape Feng Shui requires you to assess the front yard (crimson phoenix) and backyard (black tortoise), right side yard (white tiger) and left side yard (green dragon). Once you've determined if the backyard is higher than the front and the left side of the house is higher than the right, you want to focus on obstructions and other issues. Identify any structures manmade and natural surrounding the house that create poison arrows.
Understand the Chi Energy Flow of the House
By now, you should have a solid understanding of the house layout and how the chi energy flows on the property and inside the house. Take any last notes so you don't end up struggling to recall this and other vital information.
Sit Down With the Client
Some practitioners take a break at this point to sit down and discuss a few of the most obvious issues with their client that are easy to remedy. While your final report will be presented later and require setting up another appointment, you want to leave your client with some actionable information.
Create a Video of the House
Once you've discussed some of the obvious feng shui issues with your client and you have offered immediate remedies, it's time to make a quick video of the house inside and out. It's always helpful to have a video and photos to refresh your memory and eliminate the need to return to your client's home for further assessment.
Give Client a Few Takeaways
Before you leave, present your client with a basic feng shui declutter checklist and other handouts you may deem important for their feng shui understanding. You can also email a copy of each once you return to your office, giving you an opportunity to follow-up after your visit to ensure your client understands what you've explained.
Deliver Your Final Feng Shui Analysis
You'll return to your client's home at a prearranged time to deliver and explain your final feng shui analysis. You should also provide your client with a digital copy emailed to her/him after your meeting.
Present the Landscape Feng Shui Analysis
You want to present the landscape feng shui analysis first. This should cover everything surrounding the house and any feng shui issues you discovered. It's always best to have a printed list/explanation of these problem areas. Most importantly, you need to provide a breakdown of each remedy.
Present Interior Feng Shui Analysis
Move immediately to your analysis of the interior. Again, you want to present both a print and digital copy of your report. You'll also go over the flying stars chart. Few clients will grasp everything in this type of report, so you'll want to provide them with a written report that summarizes and explains each sector and how the stars affect it.
List of Remedies
You will also go over a list of interior remedies. Group them with those the client can do themselves and those that will require professionals, such as closing the riser in an open staircase, etc.
Implement Your Feng Shui Remedies
You want your client to feel confident in what you recommend and their ability to meet those requirements. Prioritize the implementing of the solutions to all feng shui issues. Since some cures may be costly, you'll need to work within your client's budget. In some instances, you may need to compromise or find alternative solutions. Temporary solutions may be necessary until a complete resolution can be undertaken financially.
Services You Provide to Clients
Many clients rely on the feng shui consultant to oversee and guide the remedies recommended. If you're a full-service feng shui consultation business, then you'll also present your client with a breakdown of the costs to implement your feng shui solutions. Once everything has been finalized, present your client with a contract for the project. Be sure you oversee the project so your client is happy. It's always good business sense to ask pleased clients to submit reviews of your work and to give you referrals.
Consultations Take Practice
Learning how to conduct a feng shui consultation requires practice. Once you conduct a few consultations, you'll develop your own style and processes.
