When people start running out of patience with a sluggish market, they get creative. When they get desperate, they sometimes get downright radical.

That’s not altogether a bad thing.

One recent news story describes a woman who baked cookies before a showing in hopes that the smell would entice shoppers to make an offer. When that didn’t work, she buried a statue of St. Joseph in her front yard, hoping for some supernatural help. Next, she turned to feng shui, the ancient Chinese art of arranging a home to promote a positive energy flow and harmony.

Not being a priest, Chinese philosopher or interior designer, I can’t really speak to the merits of any of those ideas. But I can – without hesitation – endorse the spirit of trying something different. Indeed, my business is based on the concept, as my firm’s sellers decide to use the auction method rather than an ordinary listing.

The possibilities are endless, and the more ideas you explore, the more likely you are to find one that will work for you. But even when you’re reaching for something totally novel, some basics apply. Even such an exotic approach as feng shui relies on fundamental principles. Furniture shouldn’t block pathways. The front main entrance should be attractive and inviting. Some wind chimes can help promote a soothing atmosphere.

For that matter, the aroma of baking cookies can’t hurt.

The important thing is to keep trying different things. Look for alternative advertising venues you haven’t tried. Offer an incentive nobody else is trying. I’ve even seen a seller rent some horses to promote a pastoral landscape in a rural meadow. As long as you follow the basics of making the property look good and marketing it effectively, the list of ideas is endless.