Triggered by rising salaries, easy loans and booming real estate, the demand has shifted from houses to custom-made houses. With tailored apartments came Vastu-compliant homes. But do such homes really make a difference?

Nitin Parmar, a renowned Vastu Consultant and Numerologist, says, "Vastu Shastra seeks to bring harmony, and balances the five basic elements of nature - water, fire, air, sky and earth". So, what are the basic Vastu guidelines to remember when buying a house? Sanhita Nag finds out.
 
Choose a good surrounding: Surroundings have a major influence on your general well-being. They also tend to contribute to the psychological development of children. Vastu recommends choosing flat landscapes for home dwellings to as to avoid being exposed to the rigours of the elements. “Since most of the important moments in our lives occur at home, the house becomes more than just four walls within which we eat and sleep,” says Parmar.
 
Opt for a new house: A new house should always be preferred to an old/used one as it would be devoid of negative energy. But if you do opt for a used house, enquire about the previous owner. If the owner has gone for a better and bigger house, or is moving abroad for good, then buying that house is recommended.
 
“Houses that are for sale owing to a divorce, a foreclosure, or due to serious illness are not the best choices. To purchase such a home could mean that you are buying those problems too,” explains Parmar. While moving to a pre-occupied house, paint the walls and change the carpets to force out the negative energy and bring in the positive energy.
 
Regular-shaped plot or building: Always go for a building, which is either square or rectangular in size. Circular or triangular buildings are not good, according to Vastu, as the corners hold back positive energy.
 
Check the entrance: The main gate is dependent upon the direction on which the plot lies. However, East and West directions are considered ideal for the main gate of the house. “Long straight driveways that end at the house, or roads that stop at the house, are defects that can be corrected with plants or mirrors,” says Parmar.
 
Designing your home: According to Vastu, a dining room should not be bang opposite the main door. Even if it is in the hall, it should be on some corner - not directly visible from the main door. “Ensure bedrooms are not built over a garage, or a kitchen. Also make sure there are no bathrooms over a dining area or kitchen. This can cause illness in the house,” Parmar cautions.
 
Go green but don't go overboard: Do not let shrubs and wall creepers overwhelm your house. Plant them at some distance from your house. Marigold is believed to bring positive energy. “If there is a tree too close to the house, especially if it is in line with the front door, it may prevent opportunities for the homeowner,” warns Parmer.
 
The above points are not all of the elements that make for a home with good Vastu, but they are some of the important considerations to be made before buying a home. “Breathing rate changes when one enters a building. If it remains normal or relaxed, the building is auspicious and if it increases, the building is having some fault", Parmar notes. 

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