Buying a Home in Sydney? A 12-Point Vastu Checklist for Your Next Inspection
By Arjun — Vedic Astrologer & Vastu Consultant, Astro Research, Sydney
Open homes in Sydney move fast. You get twenty minutes, a crowd in the kitchen and an agent asking whether you’ll be at the auction. That is exactly why I give buyers a short Vastu checklist to use at the inspection itself. It helps you spot the layouts that are easy to live with, the ones that need modest corrections, and the few that would cost real money to put right, before you are emotionally or financially committed.
Bring a phone with a compass app, stand in the centre of the home, and work through the twelve points below.
Before You Start: Does Vastu Work in the Southern Hemisphere?
This is the first question many Australian clients ask. My view is that Vastu directions follow the compass, so north is still north in Sydney. What does change is the sun’s path: here the sun sits in the northern sky, so north-facing living areas receive the most light and warmth. In practice this works in your favour, because Vastu already places great value on an open, light-filled north and east.
The Entrance, Shape and Slope: Points 1 to 3
These three points tell you the most about a property, and they are also the hardest to change later.
1. Main Entrance Direction
Stand inside the front door and take a compass reading looking out. Entrances facing north, north-east and east are generally considered the most supportive. A south-west entrance is the one I flag most often. It isn’t an automatic “no”, but it usually needs corrections, so factor that into your decision.
2. Shape of the Block and the Floor Plan
Square and rectangular plots and floor plans are preferred. Look at the floor plan in the agent’s brochure for cuts (missing corners) and extensions. A missing north-east corner or an extension in the south-west are the two patterns I pay most attention to.
3. Slope of the Land
Ideally the ground is higher in the south and west and lower towards the north and east. Sydney has many sloping blocks, so note which way water would drain. A block that falls steeply to the south-west is worth discussing before you bid.
The Rooms Inside: Points 4 to 9
These are the room placements I check at every inspection. Some are easy to live with or adjust, and others cost more to change.
4. The Centre of the Home (Brahmasthan)
The centre should be open. A staircase, toilet, heavy pillar or kitchen island sitting right at the centre of the home is something I would want to assess before purchase.
5. Kitchen Direction
The south-east is the ideal zone for the kitchen because it belongs to the fire element, with the north-west as an acceptable alternative. A kitchen in the north-east is one of the more expensive layouts to correct properly. My kitchen Vastu guide explains why.
6. Main Bedroom
The south-west is the traditional place for the main bedroom, because it supports stability and rest. See my guide to the south-west corner for the reasons behind this.
7. Toilets and Bathrooms
Check that no toilet sits in the north-east corner. Bathrooms in the west or north-west are generally fine. My bathroom Vastu guide covers the details.
8. Water: Tanks, Pools and Underground Storage
Underground water, including rainwater tanks, pools and bores, is best in the north or north-east. Heavy overhead storage belongs in the south-west. A pool in the south-west is worth raising with me before you commit.
9. Staircase Position and Direction
Staircases work best in the south, west or south-west, ideally rising clockwise. A staircase in the north-east or at the centre is a common issue in two-storey homes. My staircase guide goes into this in depth.
The Surroundings: Points 10 to 12
10. Roads Pointing at the House
A road that ends directly at your front door (a T-junction, known in Vastu as veedhi shoola) is traditionally considered unfavourable, depending on its direction. On the street view, check whether the property sits at the end of a road.
11. Natural Light From the North and East
Open, well-lit north and east sides are a strong positive. Large blocks of shade on these sides, such as a tall neighbouring building or a heavy carport, reduce that benefit.
12. What Can Be Fixed, and at What Cost
Finally, sort what you’ve noticed into three groups: easy fixes (furniture, colours, decluttering), moderate fixes (moving a desk or bed, adding a mirror or plants, changing how a room is used) and structural issues (entrance position, cuts in the floor plan, kitchen or toilet placement). Structural issues are the ones that should affect how much you offer, or whether you bid at all.
Your Inspection Checklist at a Glance
| Check | Favourable | Needs a Closer Look |
|---|---|---|
| Main entrance | North, north-east, east | South-west |
| Plot and plan shape | Square or rectangular | North-east cut, south-west extension |
| Slope | Higher south and west | Falling to the south-west |
| Centre of home | Open | Stairs, toilet or pillar at centre |
| Kitchen | South-east or north-west | North-east |
| Main bedroom | South-west | North-east |
| Toilets | West or north-west | North-east |
| Pool or underground water | North or north-east | South-west |
| Staircase | South, west or south-west | North-east or centre |
| Street position | Mid-street | At the end of a T-junction |
Astrologer’s Insight: Timing matters as much as layout. In NSW, a private-treaty purchase usually comes with a five-business-day cooling-off period, but a purchase at auction has none. If you’re buying at auction, do this checklist and any Vastu review before auction day, not after. I also check the buyer’s own chart, especially the 4th house and Saturn’s transit, so the purchase happens in a window that supports it. If you’d like to understand that side of the decision, read how I use planetary timing before big money decisions.
Frequently Asked Questions About Vastu When Buying a Home
➕ Should I walk away from a south-facing home?
Not automatically. A south-facing plot can have a well-placed entrance within the south side, and many south-facing Sydney homes have bright, north-facing backyards and living areas. It’s the exact entrance position and the rest of the layout that decide how much correction, if any, is needed.
➕ Does this checklist apply to apartments?
Yes, with adjustments. In an apartment you check your own unit’s entrance, the position of the kitchen, bedrooms and bathrooms within the unit, and the natural light it receives. My apartment Vastu guide covers what you can still control.
➕ Can you review a property from the floor plan alone?
Yes. Most of my pre-purchase reviews start from the agent’s floor plan and the property address, which gives me orientation, room placement and the street position. I’ll tell you if anything needs checking in person.
➕ Is Vastu a substitute for a building and pest inspection?
No. Vastu looks at orientation, layout and energy. A licensed building and pest inspector looks at structure, defects and pests. You need both before you buy.
About the Author
Arjun is a Vedic Astrologer and Vastu Consultant at Astro Research in Sydney. He combines classical Jyotish with practical, modern consultations for clients across Australia, with a particular focus on Vastu for homes and workplaces and on timing for property decisions.
Related Reading
- How Accurate Is Vedic Astrology? How I Use Planetary Timing and Vastu Before Big Money Decisions
- Apartment Vastu: What You Can Still Control When You Didn’t Choose the Layout
- Zero-Cost Vastu Corrections Most People Overlook
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