The Importance of Feng Shui Influence on the Housing Selection among the Chinese in Generation Y: A Study on the Developers’ Perceptions

Abstract

Fengshui,anelementthathasbeenassociatedwithsuccess,wealth,andharmony,isoftenconsideredthe key factor for the decision-making of housing purchase among the Chinese in Malaysia. Nevertheless, property developers often overlooked this factor, resulting in a gap between consumers’ expectations and developers’ perceptions,whichcouldleadtocustomers’dissatisfaction.Thisstudywascarriedouttoidentifytheimportanceof fengshuitheorytowardshousingdevelopment,determinetheinfluenceoffengshuifactorsinhousingselection,and examine the perceptions of developers towards feng Shui factors in residential property. This paper adopted a qualitative approach by employing the interviewing technique. This study was conducted within a selected residential area in Sungai Petani, Kedah and the respondents were the Generation Y within the Chinese group. The resultsshowthatmostofthedevelopersbelievedthatonlyrichandfamouspeopleareconcernedaboutthefengshui element in selecting a residential property. Besides that, the construction of a housing project has to consider many factors prior the completion,including the multiracial customersasthepotentialbuyers.Hence,itisnotpracticalto consider the feng shui element for each person.