How do I not get ripped off condo hunting?

[Brian Nose]

I'm arriving in BKK next week. Going condo hunting on my own. Looking at Life Sukhumvit and a few others.

 

What's the best, cheapest way to rent a condo (avoiding agent fees etc)? Where do I start?

[problemfarang]

I would say just walk around, look around and ask prices.. 

 

Try to avoid paying 2 or 3 month deposit. I hate that. 

 

Also you are looking at the most expensive areas, i would look other areas. They are cheaper and really easy to reach the area you want

[Sparktrader]

Book a cheap guesthouse first for 5 nights. Then walk around and look.

 

Id stay near ibis riverside. Condos near there. Nice spot. Easy to use ferry n skytrain.

[dj230]

First go to property hub and look at the prices/units to get a feel of the prices, usually you can end up renting a room for whatever the lowest price for the same room is listed at on property hub (same unit style and sq/m)

 

Second go to a few condos and in each condo go see a few units, some units can be drastically different than the others, I would look around the unit for cleanliness, test the ac/water/toilet, look at the quality of appliances/furniture, usually in my experience the quality of the appliances/furniture kind of gives you an idea of if the landlord is a cheapo or not. Check for any bugs or cockroaches, weird smelling rooms etc.

 

If you know how, you can check the ac to see if it's been clean, is clean, or dirty, it's pretty easy to pop off the cover. Usually this is supposed to be cleaned before you move in but many landlords don't. In my experience landlords have been cheapo's, cut corners, etc. I haven't had any that were deliberately trying to scam me but they have done some shady things. Like not hiring a cleaner/cleaning the AC and saying they did. I guess they just really don't want to spend that 1000-2000 baht, seems kind of silly to me but whatever. Pretty easy to see if you know how to check the ac and just look under the bed/couch if they had a cleaner. 

 

Whenever I had issues the landlord has always resolved the issue quickly. 

 

In my experience I always payed the 3 month deposit (first/last + 1 extra month), typically they keep the 1 month deposit until the end and have the first/last paid for in the rent. The contracts seems to favour the landlord in a lot of cases, I always make sure that the landlord is going to replace any appliances that break and are not allowed to enter my room under any circumstances either. Agent fees the landlord pays so you shouldn't worry about that. 

 

Should call and make sure that the internet service providers have fiber internet in your condo, some condos don't have the infrastructure for it. Also it's nice to get a room facing the east side or in the shade because it's not as hot. Also make sure the landlord you're meeting is indeed the owner of the condo, you can ask for their ownership/ID card/ask juristic with them. I had some shady encounters with people trying to rent me a condo saying the landlord is overseas and I had to send the rent money to them instead of the landlord, I always make sure I'm sending the rent money directly to the landlord. 

 

Probably should also make sure you're paying the electric bill straight to the government and not the landlord, not much else in my opinion that you have to look out for but might have missed something.

 

 

 

[1FinickyOne]

Go shopping - make a list - compare and contrast... 

 

Keep it short term lease if you want. 

[swm59nj]

You can choose different buildings you are interested in and make inquiries by contacting them. 
Using rental websites,  the information is sometimes outdated. 
If you use an agent the owner pays the fee. 
 

[LarrySR]

Find a condo that has a bulletin board on display with the owners advertising their units.

While there, look for other owners/renters in the lobby/common/pool area and ask them about the property.

 

The condo manager will know about rentals but often only show you the crummy units where the owner is offering a commission.

 

[featography]

9 hours ago, problemfarang said:

I would say just walk around, look around and ask prices.. 

 

Try to avoid paying 2 or 3 month deposit. I hate that. 

 

Also you are looking at the most expensive areas, i would look other areas. They are cheaper and really easy to reach the area you want

If you have transportation, I would price condos outside the tourist zone, around  the moat, aka old town. You may find better deals around super highway 21. 

[Fairynuff]

9 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Be Dominant..Show em who's Boss, as per your own advice.....dont be "soft" as you say..

Yeah show them who’s boss and see how far you get ????

[Fairynuff]

1 hour ago, featography said:

If you have transportation, I would price condos outside the tourist zone, around  the moat, aka old town. You may find better deals around super highway 21. 

Could you tell me exactly where the moat is in Bangkok? I’ve lived here years and never managed to find it.

[Frenske]

Just one question. Do you as a renter have to pay for the service charge /maintenance fee or is it usually included in the rent?

[1FinickyOne]

2 hours ago, featography said:

If you have transportation, I would price condos outside the tourist zone, around  the moat, aka old town. You may find better deals around super highway 21. 

they are talking about Bkk not CM - and I think you are referring to hwy 11 - not that it matters 

[ross163103]

Hunt in another country. The stories are endless of people getting ripped off here.

 

[thainet]

32 minutes ago, Frenske said:

Just one question. Do you as a renter have to pay for the service charge /maintenance fee or is it usually included in the rent?

Depends on the landlord. For me personally I include it in my apartment rentals, but usually do 50/50 on my house rentals. I have standard contracts (that I made myself) and just massage them a bit for each new tenant and circumstance.

[Freddy42OZ]

3 hours ago, featography said:

If you have transportation, I would price condos outside the tourist zone, around  the moat, aka old town. You may find better deals around super highway 21. 

I didn't know Bangkok had a moat.

 

 

[hotchilli]

13 hours ago, Brian Nose said:

What's the best, cheapest way to rent a condo (avoiding agent fees etc)? Where do I start?

Rent inside your budget... if it's too high walk away.

[dj230]

1 hour ago, Frenske said:

Just one question. Do you as a renter have to pay for the service charge /maintenance fee or is it usually included in the rent?

I’ve never had to pay any maintenance or service charge fees, only bills I pay is water and electric and the landlord takes care of the rest. 
 

I remember I saw a bill for 30k baht in the app for the condo and turns out it was an annual fee the landlord had to pay. Kind of made me wonder how much money they make on these rentals, I was renting for a really good price. Probably enough to cover mortgage and a bit more 

[richard_smith237]

3 hours ago, Fairynuff said:

13 hours ago, Sticky Rice Balls said:

Be Dominant..Show em who's Boss, as per your own advice.....dont be "soft" as you say..

Yeah show them who’s boss and see how far you get ????

Sticky's a comedian... he sees it as his position to bring levity to the masses....   sometimes gets upset when people don’t like his jokes and ends up calling them Jerks..  which is somewhat aggressive for someone who claims to bring levity to the masses !!!...

 

Anyway....   I’m pretty sure he meant the opposite of what he wrote....   funny, eh ? 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

45 minutes ago, dj230 said:

I’ve never had to pay any maintenance or service charge fees, only bills I pay is water and electric and the landlord takes care of the rest. 
 

I remember I saw a bill for 30k baht in the app for the condo and turns out it was an annual fee the landlord had to pay. Kind of made me wonder how much money they make on these rentals, I was renting for a really good price. Probably enough to cover mortgage and a bit more 

Agreed...  maintenance fees are paid by the lessor (landlord). 

 

That said, in the past I have agreed that any repair for damage caused by myself is paid for by myself. 

 

Any repairs for equipment which failed on its own the landlord covers (i.e. of the cooker / water heater / AC fails etc). 

 

Anything less than an expected cost of 1000 Baht the lessee pays (its just easier). 

 

Ensure that AC servicing is agreed upon in a lease - i.e. AC is serviced every 6 months, either by the Landlord or paid for by the lessee - no big deal, just ensure you know where you stand so you are not arguing when your AC needs a clean etc.

 

 

 

 

[richard_smith237]

14 hours ago, Brian Nose said:

I'm arriving in BKK next week. Going condo hunting on my own. Looking at Life Sukhumvit and a few others.

 

What's the best, cheapest way to rent a condo (avoiding agent fees etc)? Where do I start?

A good place to start is with advice on location etc.

 

Explain what you are looking for etc...  Your age, work requirements, transport requirements etc..

 

i.e. someone in their 20’s early 30’s with regular online income, looking for nightlife, without a car may want a Condo somewhere near Thonglor, Phrompong or On Nut etc...   But if they have a regular job they may want to live in an area closer to work etc.. 

 

 

[Hummin]

14 hours ago, problemfarang said:

I would say just walk around, look around and ask prices.. 

 

Try to avoid paying 2 or 3 month deposit. I hate that. 

 

Also you are looking at the most expensive areas, i would look other areas. They are cheaper and really easy to reach the area you want

Good luck doing the walk.

 

Condos is sold through agents and developers offices so better look for the companies with good reputation. Google is your friend

[brianthainess]

3 hours ago, Freddy42OZ said:

I didn't know Bangkok had a moat.

 

 

Just look for a drawbridge and portcullis. 

[Aussieroaming]

5 hours ago, Freddy42OZ said:

I didn't know Bangkok had a moat.

 

 

Bangkok hasn't got a moat but there are a few royal enclaves around the Dusit area that have a pretty substantial sized moat and they have military guard posts on the inner side of the moat. It's worth a walk around them and it is a great area for runners because the military must maintain the footpath/cycle path area in case someone important wants to take a stroll. 

[SiSePuede419]

Easy.

 

Don't buy a condo and you won't be ripped off. ????

[Sparktrader]

Move to Isaan, cheap.

[BangkokAlan]

You don't pay agent fees the landlord does. Find a building you like, go to the juristic 9managememt office) and ask them if rooms available as owners leave some apt with them rather than agents

[dj230]

12 hours ago, richard_smith237 said:

Agreed...  maintenance fees are paid by the lessor (landlord). 

 

That said, in the past I have agreed that any repair for damage caused by myself is paid for by myself. 

 

Any repairs for equipment which failed on its own the landlord covers (i.e. of the cooker / water heater / AC fails etc). 

 

Anything less than an expected cost of 1000 Baht the lessee pays (its just easier). 

 

Ensure that AC servicing is agreed upon in a lease - i.e. AC is serviced every 6 months, either by the Landlord or paid for by the lessee - no big deal, just ensure you know where you stand so you are not arguing when your AC needs a clean etc.

 

 

 

 

I usually just let the deposit cover any damages (it's usually wear and tear sort of stuff, like a scratch or something on the wall or floor), I usually go into a contract thinking I won't get that 1 month deposit back anyways because sometimes I leave early and its not much to be honest after things like cleaning/ac cleaning, usually the contracts I've seen say the tenant has to pay for ac cleaning before leaving. I figure if I pay to fix something and then they try keeping the deposit I'm paying twice. The landlords have been pretty cool though in my experience. The condos in Bangkok have been pretty low quality too in my opinion so it's kind of bound for stuff to break, I was in a brand new condo in Pleonchit a year ago in a nice area, won't name it because of Thailand being notorious for defamation but the condo was so poorly built, water leaked sometimes in the windows (numerous units said this in the group chat), the flooring cracked, walls cracked (in the corners), etc. condo is a few years old. 

 

There were a few instances that I have seen some really shady landlords, I didn't eventually renting from them. The good old show you one condo online and when you view it they show you another which is inferior is always annoying, I never end up renting from those agents. 

 

I usually do a walk around video recording of the unit when I move in and move out, I have never experienced a landlord claiming I damaged something I didn't in Thailand but enough stories about that stuff online for me to do it cause it takes a few minutes.

 

[The Hammer2021]

Stand up to them! Shout! Bang your fist on a table! Bargain hard- WHATEVER  PRICE  THEY OFFER JUST get really  angry - learn  to swear in Thai! That helps.

You won't get ripped off- you won't get  a condo but you won't get ripped  off!

[OneMoreFarang]

On 8/24/2022 at 10:49 PM, Brian Nose said:

What's the best, cheapest way to rent a condo (avoiding agent fees etc)? Where do I start?

Even if you ask directly at the counter of the building that doesn't mean the owner won't pay a commission. Sometimes/often the people behind the counter collect the commission. And if the owner doesn't want to give them a commission, then they conveniently forget that that unit exist. Welcome to Thailand!

 

And obviously any information about free units with phone number might be from the owner or an agent. You just don't know. And also shops etc. in those buildings charge the same commission.

[OneMoreFarang]

On 8/24/2022 at 11:52 PM, Sparktrader said:

Id stay near ibis riverside. Condos near there. Nice spot. Easy to use ferry n skytrain.

Personally I would try to stay as close as possible to where you mostly spend your day or night. 

And if work in A but go regular out at night in B then I suggest try to find something in B.

Obviously it is annoying to get to work every day. But it even more annoying to have a long way after you go out at night.

 

Even in lower Sukhumvit you can get reasonable prices. Just don't look only at the first and new buildings in the soi. A few hundred meter into the soi (easy with motorcycle taxis) are prices often a lot better.