A client once wanted to buy land for a dream home. My recommendation was disappointing to hear.
My architect daughter and I had visited the site and its surroundings. We checked the elevation, nearby structures, and water exit points. I described the property in my article as having no support from any direction, a formation known in Feng Shui as the Lonely Mountain. Think of a house standing alone on top of a hill.
I advised against that property. The client had come with hopes for a family home, and I had to explain the concern while the purchase was still a choice.
The part of this story that belongs in every property search is the site visit. A house plan shows the rooms you might build. You also need to see the place those rooms will occupy.
Start at the street
In the landform methods I use, the surroundings are part of the Feng Shui assessment. I look at the property in relation to land elevation, mountains, water, roads, and nearby structures. The entrance and the rooms belong within that setting.
You can begin observing this yourself. On your next viewing, spend a few minutes outside before walking into the living room. Look toward the property from the approach. Then look outward from its entrance and main windows.
Take wide photographs that show how the features relate to one another. A close picture of a neighboring wall leaves out its distance, height, and position beside the home. Keep the wide view and the close view together.
These photographs give you questions to investigate. A visible hill or a tall neighboring building needs a site-specific assessment before anyone assigns it a Feng Shui meaning.
For a condo, compare the actual units
Two units in the same development can share a floor area and have different views, entrances, or room arrangements.
Stand inside each unit you are considering. Open the curtains. Look through the bedroom windows as well as the balcony. Check the floor plan against what you can see. A model unit helps you picture the finishes; visit the available unit when access is possible.
Put the unit number on every plan and photograph. Write down anything you have yet to verify, such as a future building beside the property. Keep that question open until you have a reliable answer.
Ask what a description such as “south-facing” refers to. It may describe the unit door, the building entrance, or the view from the main windows. Write down that reference with any measurement. If a consultant asks you to measure, confirm where to stand and which line to measure. Keep readings from different positions labeled so the consultant can check the difference.
Separate an easy change from a condition you will live with
Use three short headings for each property:
- Fixed: the building's position, its surroundings, the unit entrance, and structural features.
- Possible to change: room use, furniture placement, or alterations that the relevant owner and design team permit.
- Still unknown: anything you need to check before deciding.
This makes the cost of an idea easier to understand. Moving a desk can be simple. Moving a kitchen may involve permissions, services, design work, and a large expense. Write the likely work beside the recommendation while you can still compare properties.
Bring the choice back to your family
For each option, finish this sentence: “We could live here comfortably if…”
Perhaps you need a workable room for a parent, a quieter place to sleep during the day, or a shorter trip to school. List those needs beside the Feng Shui observations. Have the condition, ownership, and purchase terms checked through the appropriate property professionals.
My client's story began with a home they already wanted. A viewing gives you time to ask the difficult questions while you still have a choice. Use that time before a deposit, a construction plan, or your attachment to the place makes the decision harder.
Master JudithBaZi and classical Feng Shui consultant, author, and speaker. Read my story