Renovating a property in Thailand? Read this first

So before signing any agreement, it is important to understand the clauses that relate to additional costs or expenses.

By Robert Virasin

 

 

Life and Law in Thailand with Robert Virasin

 

As land prices in prime locations in Thailand go up, condominiums are getting smaller and more expensive. Many people have chosen the option to purchase larger, less expensive properties with the goal of renovating the property. There is a risk to making this choice. There is a lot of misleading and inaccurate information available when attempting to choose a contractor.

 

Locating a contractor to do the job, within your price constraints, can be difficult. Many contractors are unlicensed, do not have experience, and provide low estimates to obtain the job without the ability to complete the job. When researching contractors it’s important to review their references, talk to previous clients, and to even physically view their work. It is easy for a contractor to point at a picture and say that it is their work.

 

Experienced contractors should provide drawings and architectural blueprints covering every square metre of the property with detailed renovation costs. If they cannot provide you documentation outlining what they will be doing as part of the renovation, they’re probably guessing at what needs to be done.

 

Full story: https://www.phuketgazette.net/lifestyle/renovating-property-thailand-read-first

 

-- © Copyright Phuket Gazette 2017-10-19

Hardly worth reporting. Just use a contractor that you know does good work at a highly reasonable rate. Lots of them around :)

In my experience great contractors are in such high demand that they are mostly not available and if they are the job must be 'big' enough to make it worthwhile for them. Often that leaves the shitty ones who are available.

Or just do it yourself..... are so many people that useless?

Rarely have met a thai contractor that can read english contracts. This afvice seems useless.

5 hours ago, tryasimight said:

Or just do it yourself..... are so many people that useless?

 

Not a very practical suggestion for condo-dwellers. Where would they store the equipment and tools? Hardly worth buying them all for just one job anyway.

Mmmm.... pay incrementally and personally observe the job as it goes. If you know nothing about building... don’t do it in the first place.

On 10/19/2017 at 11:54 PM, tryasimight said:

Or just do it yourself..... are so many people that useless?

Yep, that is how i end up doing it. Mostly the important and visual stuff especially plumbing, electricity and most tile work. The kids (not that small anymore!) do the painting. They got pretty good at it. I just use workers to do the heavy lifting. :) Now it takes about 1.5-2 weeks to completely gut out and renew a 30m2 condo and bring it up to modern standards. Between 50k-75k depending on what is replaced and added.

 

On 10/23/2017 at 2:52 AM, Khun Jean said:

Yep, that is how i end up doing it. Mostly the important and visual stuff especially plumbing, electricity and most tile work. The kids (not that small anymore!) do the painting. They got pretty good at it. I just use workers to do the heavy lifting. :) Now it takes about 1.5-2 weeks to completely gut out and renew a 30m2 condo and bring it up to modern standards. Between 50k-75k depending on what is replaced and added.

 

I did a similar reno on house that I had transported to a rural block in Oz. I learnt a lot from my mistakes but ended up with some pretty cool tools. I would not hesitate to do it again.

Building contractors?  Farmers masquerading as tradesmen is the norm.

So easy to spot qualified and experienced renovation contractors. They are those that are renovating shops and restaurants at shopping malls.