How to Check Vastu of a Flat Before Buying: A Step-by-Step Guide for Mumbai Buyers
Short answer: Check the flat’s Vastu before you pay the token amount. Get the floor plan, find true north, mark the centre of the flat, divide it into 16 zones, and then check five things in this order: the entrance pada, the kitchen zone, the toilets (especially north-east and centre), the master bedroom zone, and any cuts or extensions. Sort each issue into “fixable without demolition” or “think twice”.
What you need before you start
- The floor plan of the exact flat (not the typical floor plan of the whole wing), from the sale plan, brochure or builder.
- The north arrow on the plan. For under-construction flats this is your main reference, so confirm it on site once possible.
- A compass reading for resale or ready flats. Use a calibrated phone compass, take readings at two or three spots and stay away from metal grills, the lift and electrical panels.
Step-by-step Vastu check
Step 1: Align the plan to true north
Rotate the plan so north is at the top. A few degrees of error can shift a room into a different zone, so take care here.
Step 2: Mark the centre (Brahmasthan)
Find the centre of the flat’s outer outline. For L-shaped or irregular flats, a consultant will draw this precisely.
Step 3: Divide into 16 zones
Draw lines from the centre at every 22.5° to get the 16 zones. At Numeroworldf, we then overlay our 32-devta Vastu Chakra on the plan to see the entrance pada and the devta areas each room falls in.
Step 4: Check the five critical points
Go through the table below.
The pre-purchase checklist
| What to check | Good sign | Fixable without demolition | Think twice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entrance pada | Door in a favourable pada | Door in a mildly weak pada | Door in a strongly weak pada combined with other major defects |
| Kitchen | South-east or north-west | South or other zones, with hob placement and colour | North-east kitchen together with other major defects |
| Toilets | West-north-west, south-south-west | Toilet in north or east zones with discipline and remedies | Toilet in the centre, or in the north-east plus other defects |
| Master bedroom | South-west | South or west, with bed placement | Master bedroom in north-east with no alternative room |
| Centre | Open (living or passage) | Light furniture only | Toilet, staircase (duplex) or kitchen in the centre |
| Shape | Square or rectangle | Small cut or extension | Large missing north-east or a very irregular shape |
| Light and air | Open north or east side | One open side, with ventilation | Very dark, damp flat with no natural light |
No flat will tick every box. Use the table to compare options, not to look for perfection.
How to compare two or three flats
Score each flat on the five critical points. A flat with a good entrance and kitchen but a north-east toilet is often easier to manage than a flat with a weak entrance, a south-west kitchen and a toilet near the centre. When the price and location are similar, the flat with fewer “think twice” items is usually the safer Vastu choice.
Resale versus under-construction flats
Resale or ready flats: You can take a site compass reading and also see the light, ventilation, corridor, lift position and what the main door faces.
Under-construction flats: You depend on the sale plan and its north arrow. Ask the builder for the exact flat plan, not a typical-floor sketch. Confirm the orientation on site as soon as the structure is up.
Mumbai-specific points to check
- What the main door faces: lift, staircase or another flat’s door. See Main Door Facing Lift or Opposite Flat.
- Fixed kitchen and plumbing: assume you won’t be allowed to move them.
- Society rules: check what changes are allowed before you buy, if you’re planning interiors.
- Monsoon: look for seepage marks, especially in the north-east and the toilets.
Before you pay the token
A short professional review of the floor plan before booking can save years of living with a defect you didn’t notice. Puunit Dsai reviews floor plans online for buyers in Mumbai, elsewhere in India and abroad, and does in-person Vastu visits in Mumbai. See the Vastu for Home page or contact us.
FAQs
Can Vastu be checked from the floor plan alone?
Yes, for a first assessment, as long as the plan shows the exact flat and a reliable north arrow. A site compass reading makes it more accurate.
Is a south-facing flat bad?
Not automatically. The entrance pada and the placement of rooms matter more than the facing direction alone.
Which floor is best as per Vastu?
There is no single answer. The layout and the entrance of the flat matter more than the floor number. Check each option individually.
Should I reject a flat with a north-east toilet?
Not automatically. Weigh it with the entrance, kitchen and master bedroom. If those are good, the flat may still work with remedies.
Send us the plan before you book
WhatsApp the floor plan to +91 9524567894 or email futurre@numeroworldf.com.
Office: Rustomjee Eaze Zone Mall, 2052, Ground Floor, Sunder Nagar, Malad (W), Mumbai 400064.