Samuibound

Hello all,

What a fine display they've set up a Sirikit Center. I don't think I've ever seen so many perfectly scaled models of homes before. Why it's like walking through a dozen or more moo baan's!

Unfortunately though, there was only one builder that came anywhere close to offering a prefab but, actually, that wasn't quite close enough.

Just to bring this discussion up to date: we bought a modular home 3 bedroom, 76 sq meters, in 2006. Lots of issues with it and I am willing to answer any questions you all may have! paddy

Hi. We are very interested in using a pre-fab house and would be grateful if you could share your experience.

What kind of land does your house sit on (we have steeply sloped land)?

What materials is your house made of?

What company did you buy from?

Would you recommend that company and the house you chose?

What was the company asking price?

Thanks very much as I have been trying to find someone who has actually gone this route.

Samui is no different from any other vacation destination. People do not mind paying high prices as long as they are getting value for their money. This means convenience, service, and quality. What they will not pay for is hassling with taxis, feeling ripped off by establishments that cater to tourists, and general dirtiness and mayhem. Not all of Samui is this way, not even the majority, but a high-end tourist will not tolerate these conditions a second time. He will never return and, even worse, he will relate his experience to his friends and warn them when they come to Samui to expect some bad situations. Don't get me wrong, I love Samui and can deal with it but most of my friends who have visited Samui tell me it is too much hassle and there are lots of other nice places to go to for their 10 day vacation.

It is not only the responsibility of the TAT but also of the entire Samui community to clean up the Island and offer the luxury experience that high-end tourists are more than willing to pay for - they simply want to enjoy the Coconut Paradise. Otherwise the Samui community will become poorer as a direct result of inaction and shifting the blame.

Hi WS,

I am in the process of buying beachland in northeast Samui. Do you have idea what the price per rai should be nowadays? Also, may I ask who you are using for yourhouse designs and construction?

Many thanks in advance!

Hi Roshan,

Samui is still unspoiled in some parts, south and southwest of the island still not very populated. 

Maybe I can drop you a few tips, because I bought quite recently a plot of land in Samui.

You have to decide yourself where you want to buy if beach side or hill side, this because beach side is sometimes 10 times more expensive than hill side. The type of land ownership is different as well. Beach side lands usually are leased and hill side you effectively own it if you have for instance a thai wife, if not is only doable through a limited company where you have to include thai partners, but they have a formula to keep you in control of everything.  Regarding the house you can own it without any issues.

I try several estate agents before doing business. I choose "Ko samui properties" they have a web site www.kosamuiproperties.com they are quite professionals. 

I had a few problems not with the estate agent, but guess .... with a lawer. I didn't have time to finish the deal so we had to leave a lawer to take care of the paperwork. First we have been ripped off with a fee we paid 30,000 bahts for him to take care of all the paperwork, secondly was very dificult to convince him to follow our directions(with many emails not being replied), in the end was difficult to get the remaining balance, it seems he forgot our bank details. In all these issues Ko Samui Properties gave us a big help to sort this out.

Anyway is completed, we have our papers and I would loose much more money if I had to remain in Thailand for more time.

My advice is, if you have time stay in the island until the deal is completed. Take enough time to view all the properties. There is a lot of property especulation. Pay special attention to infrastructure, water is a big problem in the island. ADSL only available at north. You have other option is UBC a satelite service but I'm not sure if download bandwith is good enough.

I face now a new phase in this process that is building a house. I learned with past experience and I know I can't trust in builders. I was planning to build a house next year but I'm thinking to postpone it because I need to be there at least for 6 months and I can't leave Europe for such a long period. I don't mind to pay if the outcome has the desired quality but the issue in Samui is you pay expensive and results don't seem to meet the expectations.

I contacted already a builder when I've been in Samui, it's really amazing, the same guy start asking me a price of 4 million bahts and we met in Bangkok later on and he put the price in 3 million for exactly the same kind of house. I just drop him. He could not show me any house built by him. Behind this thai sales man I realized there was a Swiss guy that never showed his face. Be aware of some foreigners as well.

Don't loose hope. I still think the island is a great place to live. We just have to be carefull and make things happen more slowly.

Hope this helps

WS

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