mossss

I've been doing dairy goat farming for the past five years in Chonburi. We produce an excellent cheese which we sell to a few hotels and restaurants. We have captured a tiny percentage of the market. The potential is big. If anyone is interested in developing the business further I would be happy to get them set up with goats, know how and marketing.

Hi, I'm based down in Krabi where I think there would be an excellent market opportunity for goats cheese. So was thinking about the possibility of setting up a small operation down here. I wasn't sure from reading your email if you are talking about expanding your business in Chonburi or whether you would be at all interested in helping other people set up in other parts of the country with possibilities for linked marketing/sales etc.

Although from a farming background originally I have no knowledge about goat farming at all so any chance you could give me some information, just the real basics of setup requirements to begin with, land area required, goat stock required, feed costs, housing etc etc and any direct costs of production facilities (although would be on small scale to start).

To begin with myself and my wife would just like to make it a cottage industry really as we don't really require to make it into a business that would support us immediately as long as in a reasonable timescale it could support its own operation. Krabi is at an excellent point in its development for such an enterprise and with Phuket a mere 200km away, I am sure that there is massive room for expansion once a market had been developed.

Any information you could throw my way though would be greatly appreciated and if it seems like a viable possibility then any ideas you have to work to mutual benefit would of course be welcomed.

thanks and look forward to hearing from you.

richard

quote name='khunandy' date='2007-01-27 18:29:12' post='1106000']

Building a house at Phu Pha Man, Khon Kaen. 2006/7

Update on the project. So far so good. 20-03-07

Anyway, here are some photos

Andy, looks like you'll get the view you wanted every morning. Really, looks like it's coming on great. Good to see it in reality rather than just the plans.

Just signed the contract for my version of the same plans in Krabi, I'll get some photos up for anyone who's interested just as soon as we actually get started. I've gone with a company from phuket as they came from a slightly indirect recommendation and seem to be hungry to work and on the case, so hoping to have a similarly happy experience.

Made a few changes, I've lost the outside stairs, and the upstairs pagoda, and put in an office downstairs over half of the parking space (have a just a simple seperate cover for the car) and made the kitchen and dining room, one room. Also put in a bathroom downstairs, but structurally the same as the plans.

I've just had a kid, so safety is a high priority, I'm a bit worried about the balcony and the hole through to the ground, but think it's a nice touch to the plan so don't want to lose it. Also, the stairs, so will have to have a door at the top, etc etc

You mentioned that there were a few things you may have done differently if you could do it again. If you have a moment, it would be really interesting to know what those things were.

have to admit, I haven't asked about insurance, I will next time we meet though

... and thanks for being a pioneer for this plan,

Building a house at Phu Pha Man, Khon Kaen. 2006/7

Hi Andy, great write up and many parallels with my own experience to date. I also attempted having plans drawn up by an architect based on my own basic plans, it cost me 50k and I ended up with a huge out-of-budget quote. Hence my relief when I saw this plan on the government website. I have shown this website to several developers and builders and all have been blown away by the common sense and good value of the whole concept.

Looks like my version of the same house (I am also going for the balcony at the back of the building and have switched some rooms and bathrooms around), is going to begin construction in the next couple of months or so. Best quote I have been able to get with anyone I feel I can trust is about 2.5 with less additions than you have got and without the piling, But, even though this may sound like I'm being ripped off compared to your pricing, I actually think that you are just getting an amazing deal. I know that steel prices particularly have gone up considerably since 2002 when the original plans and estimates were drawn up, so a 25% increase in 5 years does not seem impossible. The other thing I remind myself of is that I am in Krabi and everything froma kilo of rice to a ton of sand does cost more, I don't really know why, but it is a fact of life to living down here. So all in all, if it comes out to budget and I'm happy with the standard, then I will feel that I have a great value for money house. (know what you mean about wanting more value for more money though).

One thing I am told is not in the plans, is any sort of termite control measures, like spraying the foundations before beginning construction, did you get anything like this done? Maybe it's not such a problem up there, but I'm actually living in a rented house that we've recently discovered is having the floorboards eaten from underneath us.

Again, great to see all the pictures, and I just hope that mine goes as smoothly as yours seems to. Good luck getting home and seeing it all (and of course posting up some new progress reports and pics).

richard

Hi Andy, great pics and look forward to hearing new progress, looks like you have a beautiful location also. Getting variable quotes from builders in krabi but noone getting close to the 2 million. did you make any changes to the materials used in the original plans?

Here's the link I mentioned above. http://www.dtcp.go.th/workinfo/house_model/doc_house.html

The site is all in Thai. It's not too hard to click around and find what you are looking for.

Thanks, Farma.

I am currently having a house built from plans obtained from this website (house number 30). And it is working out to be pretty well in the ball park as far as the recommended pricing goes.

Hi again, just got quotes back from builders today and all are coming in quite a bit over the recommended pricing, just wondered if you had economised on any elements, like roof or parquet floor?

The Thai builder who is handling the project was more than happy to make some plan changes free of charge and now the house is 50% completed I am impressed with the whole thing.

I was lucky enough to have a builder mate in Thailand for a visit when they were doing the foundations and columns..he was impressed with the plans and the specs.

Andy

Andy, so pleased to see your post as I am also just beginning the process of having this house constructed and its a great relief to hear that its going well and that you are happy with it so far.

Was there a problem with the foundations and columns that meant it was useful for your builder friend to be there? just wondering whether I should also invite a similarly skilled friend to take a 'holiday' here at that point.

Would also love it if you could post some progress reports here.

thanks again

richard

Hi Richard,

I had the land built up 1.5 metres and on the plans I think there is an option to drive piles into the ground underneath the foundations, ours were driven in at least 5 metres, I thought it was excessive but was not complaining. My friend happened to be visiting at the time and being a builder in Australia he was very interested in the plans. According to him it was a good, plan and if all specs were adhered to a good solid house would be built.

As I mentioned before I had a few changes to the plan to incorperate a farang kitchen as well as a Thai kitchen and also made the the main bedroom upstairsa lot bigger and an office.

I will start posting some progress photos in a few weeks when I am back at the site and in the meantime good luck with your project.

As londonthai mentions we have relatives as well as my wife checking on materials used etc there is also a guy employed by the builder to live on site and he is a family friend and ensures all materials are as stated, so far there has been no problems

Where are you building Richard? I am near Chumphae west of Khon kaen and will be back the first week of Feb if you want to check my house out.

Andy

Here's the link I mentioned above. http://www.dtcp.go.th/workinfo/house_model/doc_house.html

The site is all in Thai. It's not too hard to click around and find what you are looking for.

Thanks, Farma.

I am currently having a house built from plans obtained from this website (house number 30). And it is working out to be pretty well in the ball park as far as the recommended pricing goes.

Hi again, just got quotes back from builders today and all are coming in quite a bit over the recommended pricing, just wondered if you had economised on any elements, like roof or parquet floor?

The Thai builder who is handling the project was more than happy to make some plan changes free of charge and now the house is 50% completed I am impressed with the whole thing.

I was lucky enough to have a builder mate in Thailand for a visit when they were doing the foundations and columns..he was impressed with the plans and the specs.

Andy

Andy, so pleased to see your post as I am also just beginning the process of having this house constructed and its a great relief to hear that its going well and that you are happy with it so far.

Was there a problem with the foundations and columns that meant it was useful for your builder friend to be there? just wondering whether I should also invite a similarly skilled friend to take a 'holiday' here at that point.

Would also love it if you could post some progress reports here.

thanks again

richard

Hi Richard,

I had the land built up 1.5 metres and on the plans I think there is an option to drive piles into the ground underneath the foundations, ours were driven in at least 5 metres, I thought it was excessive but was not complaining. My friend happened to be visiting at the time and being a builder in Australia he was very interested in the plans. According to him it was a good, plan and if all specs were adhered to a good solid house would be built.

As I mentioned before I had a few changes to the plan to incorperate a farang kitchen as well as a Thai kitchen and also made the the main bedroom upstairsa lot bigger and an office.

I will start posting some progress photos in a few weeks when I am back at the site and in the meantime good luck with your project.

As londonthai mentions we have relatives as well as my wife checking on materials used etc there is also a guy employed by the builder to live on site and he is a family friend and ensures all materials are as stated, so far there has been no problems

Where are you building Richard? I am near Chumphae west of Khon kaen and will be back the first week of Feb if you want to check my house out.

Andy

Here's the link I mentioned above. http://www.dtcp.go.th/workinfo/house_model/doc_house.html

The site is all in Thai. It's not too hard to click around and find what you are looking for.

Thanks, Farma.

I am currently having a house built from plans obtained from this website (house number 30). And it is working out to be pretty well in the ball park as far as the recommended pricing goes.

The Thai builder who is handling the project was more than happy to make some plan changes free of charge and now the house is 50% completed I am impressed with the whole thing.

I was lucky enough to have a builder mate in Thailand for a visit when they were doing the foundations and columns..he was impressed with the plans and the specs.

Andy

Andy, so pleased to see your post as I am also just beginning the process of having this house constructed and its a great relief to hear that its going well and that you are happy with it so far.

Was there a problem with the foundations and columns that meant it was useful for your builder friend to be there? just wondering whether I should also invite a similarly skilled friend to take a 'holiday' here at that point.

Would also love it if you could post some progress reports here.

thanks again

richard

Hi Richard,

I had the land built up 1.5 metres and on the plans I think there is an option to drive piles into the ground underneath the foundations, ours were driven in at least 5 metres, I thought it was excessive but was not complaining. My friend happened to be visiting at the time and being a builder in Australia he was very interested in the plans. According to him it was a good, plan and if all specs were adhered to a good solid house would be built.

As I mentioned before I had a few changes to the plan to incorperate a farang kitchen as well as a Thai kitchen and also made the the main bedroom upstairsa lot bigger and an office.

I will start posting some progress photos in a few weeks when I am back at the site and in the meantime good luck with your project.

As londonthai mentions we have relatives as well as my wife checking on materials used etc there is also a guy employed by the builder to live on site and he is a family friend and ensures all materials are as stated, so far there has been no problems

Where are you building Richard? I am near Chumphae west of Khon kaen and will be back the first week of Feb if you want to check my house out.

Andy

Thanks for the hints. I will be building in Krabi, and fortunately I already live here and have a rented house only a few kilometres away so will be on site pretty much every day myself to hopefully make sure everything moves along. I have some building experience so I'm quite happy about keeping an eye on the above ground stuff myself but as a house is only as good as its foundations this is really where I think I need to draft in some expert help to make sure its done properly. I have a Thai architect friend in Bangkok who will be coming down from time to time at critical points so its just matter of working out what those are

The site is not entirely flat and there will need to be some work to flatten it out but fortunately not a vast amount of building up.

The current job is selecting the right building company so several of them have the plans and I'm just waiting to hear back with quotes. I have a feeling that around here, the quotes will be quite a bit higher than your part of the world, but I should find out soon. Will be very interesting to see if there is a north south divide on building costs here. I'm getting a quote from one in Phuket and couple of local companies, these should be back in the next weeks or so.

I'll be watching with great interest for any photos of your house Andy, and again all hints are greatly appreciated. Thanks for the offer of checking your house out but my wife and I are expecting our first baby to make an appearence in the next week so its going to be a busy time and I don't think she'd thank me for disappearing off right now. Also hope everything is as you expect when you get back in early feb.

richard

Here's the link I mentioned above. http://www.dtcp.go.th/workinfo/house_model/doc_house.html

The site is all in Thai. It's not too hard to click around and find what you are looking for.

Thanks, Farma.

I am currently having a house built from plans obtained from this website (house number 30). And it is working out to be pretty well in the ball park as far as the recommended pricing goes.

The Thai builder who is handling the project was more than happy to make some plan changes free of charge and now the house is 50% completed I am impressed with the whole thing.

I was lucky enough to have a builder mate in Thailand for a visit when they were doing the foundations and columns..he was impressed with the plans and the specs.

Andy

Andy, so pleased to see your post as I am also just beginning the process of having this house constructed and its a great relief to hear that its going well and that you are happy with it so far.

Was there a problem with the foundations and columns that meant it was useful for your builder friend to be there? just wondering whether I should also invite a similarly skilled friend to take a 'holiday' here at that point.

Would also love it if you could post some progress reports here.

thanks again

richard