Sold!!!
House for Sale - The Sequel
by Nancy Pritchard, March, 2009
©2009, Nancy Pritchard, All Rights Reserved

In a recent article, House for Sale! Using The Law of Attraction to Sell a Home, I shared with you my decision to put a few personal beliefs and practices to the test. Last October, my husband and I made the decision to sell an investment property during the current recession and housing market downturn. The property is a modest single family home located on the lot right beside our home in Frederick city. And who could resist a cute little brick home right in the middle of the city?

Oh, so many people! 

Five months later, here's my update:

The first month the house was on the market, no one showed a bit of interest. During that first month, I watched and listened closely as the nightly news, the daily newspapers and the population in general ensured me I was selling a house at the worst time possible, as the current economy was a in a tragic state.  As the housing market continued to spiral downward and the economic news grew bleaker, so did my attitude. In fact, I grew more pessimistic by the day, to the point where I began hating the investment property we were trying to sell.

One evening, while suffering from a major dose of disenchantment and self-pity, I decided to have a little heart-to-heart with myself. For the past few years I've been a student of the power of intention and the Law of Attraction, so why was I not putting these practices into action concerning our real estate sale? What if instead of hating the home that I was trying to sell in a difficult market, I was to focus instead on the positive aspects of the situation, such as the things I loved about the house? Instead of telling myself that it was the stupidest investment my husband and I had ever made (which it really wasn't), suppose I focused instead upon the truly lovely little home that it could become? 

That's when the great experiment began. Could the power of intention actually help me to sell a house? Could positive affirmations actually help to move a piece of real estate, even during troubled economic times? That evening, I began to consciously 'intend' that the right family would find the house, fall in love with it and decide to make it their own.

Recently, during a monthly book club discussion group, many attendees expressed apprehension about putting an intention 'out there' because they do not possess unwavering faith that the desired event will manifest. Frankly, I don't have unwavering faith either - and I'm willing to bet that truth be told, neither does any other human being. We all experience doubt and worry from time to time. I don't believe that setting an intention involves being constantly positive, although filling yourself with good thoughts, good friends and positive affirmations certainly can help to bolster your frame of mind. Setting an intention is a matter of stepping out in faith, even when you're not 100% sure that your desire is going to manifest. When you set an intention, it's important to remember that you have a part to play and the Universe (God, Spirit) has Its part. In the case of our home sale, here's how I envisioned the two: 


*My part:
1 - Set the intention and keep positive energy flowing -
My intention: "A family that loves this house will find it and choose to make it their home." As an energy worker, every day I set aside some time (even a few minutes is fine) to send good, loving energy toward the house we were selling and the future buyer. As I did so, I would also repeat the following affirmation: "This is a lovely home, just perfect for a small family."

2 -Take tangible steps -
In my opinion it would made no sense to ask the Universe for something and then do nothing practical about the situation myself. So, on a tangible level, I spruced up the place with some seasonal wreaths, candles and a bright, colorful welcome mat. My husband and I also took the time to find a good realtor, and spend time meeting with him throughout the sale process as situations warranted.

3 - Dealing with doubt -
Anytime doubt reared its ugly head, as it will from time to time, I reminded myself not to be discouraged. Instead of focusing on things I could not control, such as problems with the economy and the housing market, I turned my thoughts back to focusing on the things that I COULD change. This was especially important, as well-meaning individuals would regularly exclaim, "You're selling a WHAT? IN THIS MARKET?") When my husband or I started to feel defeated, we would take some time to encourage each other and to boost our spirits again.

4 - Make adjustments, when necessary -
During the process, we had to make some adjustments as we saw fit. Twice throughout the five months the house was on the market, we lowered the price $10,000. This was something we obviously didn't wish to do, but considering the current state of the housing market, we felt it was a reasonable and necessary step. 

*The part of The Universe:
Find that family and point them toward their new home!


Realistically, I'll be the first to admit that these are difficult times for many people; however, I believe the economic climate itself is only one of the tribulations we're facing. After all, it's the way we choose to look at an issue that makes all the difference. The news media thrives on viewership, and so they assume that if they can make the economic downturn sound bleak we'll have to keep tuning in for further details. It's difficult not to let the current climate and the accompanying news updates get you down. How does one cope? I for one think we should continue to set our intentions to invite good things into our lives, despite the negative news from Wall Street. You may also wish to do yourself a favor and keep the news that comes into your life to a minimum.

So how did the power of intention manifest in my case? From November through February, our house showed many times, but the prospective buyers either didn't make an offer, or the offers they presented were not reasonable. Throughout the process, I continued to remind myself that I'd asked The Universe for the right family and the right situation, and as much as I might not like it, The Universe's timing and my timing are usually NOT one in the same. 

I also believe it's important to remember that we don't always get what we ask for, and I don't believe in looking at the Universe as our own personal Santa. When my desires don't manifest despite my best efforts, I can either sit around and whine -- or I can look for signs that I might need to consider taking an alternate course of action, as The Universe just might have a better plan for me. (To be honest in those instances I usually do whine a little. I just try to keep it brief!)

In this particular situation, The Universe did grant what I requested, and I am grateful. We now live next door to a young couple who loves their 'new' house. The couple is expecting their first child in September and I love babies, so that part was a bonus!

What would you like to invite into your life, but have been afraid to ask? Could it be a new relationship, or a new career, or as in my case, a successful real estate transaction? Even if you're experiencing some doubt, why not set your intention, apply some practical steps to the process, then let go and see what the universe sets in motion for you?

You may be very pleasantly surprised!

On a side note, during the time of the above home sale, my husband and I were actually able to sell a second investment property. All the positive energy and intentions that we had summoned for house one actually carried over into the sale of house number two. That was our very pleasant surprise!

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Nancy Pritchard is the Facilitator for the monthly Tao Study Group, 'Living a Peaceful Life' at The Healing Way in Frederick, MD. The group meets the first Thursday of each month from 7 - 8 pm. For the date of the group's next meeting, see the online calendar of events.