Phuket Property Agents

[SeanPhuket]

Hi guys

Anyone here know of any good and PROFESSIONAL real estate agents on the island?

Looking to sell my house, but all the agents I've seen so far come over as a bit useless, clueless and lazy.

By good I mean someone with European standards and skills

Any ideas? Thanks in advance

Sean

[LivinLOS]

Part of the fact that everyone seems to have everyones listings, means agents dont seem to put much effort marketing resales (and resales go so slow unless they are real value)..

I would take the scattergun approach and simply have them all list it..

[gotlost]

Your first sentence should read, Is there any GOOD and PROFESSIONAL REAL ESTATE AGENTS IN THAILAND?

[Lannatyne]

By European standards, I presume you mean

ones who don't inflate commissions to stupid levels of up to 10%,

ones who actually give you a valuation rather than haven't a clue and just sell it at whatever figure the seller dreams up,

ones who get their fees once they've actually done their job and sold a place, rather than simply make an introduction,

ones who think that advertising and marketing costs are a normal expense of business, rather than something extra to what they're supposed to do,

ones who actually visit the property, rather than let you supply the photos and all they do is bung it on the website / in the shop window

No, none of them around here. You'll have difficulty in finding agents here who used to do the same job in their own country. They're all shysters from other walks of life who simply see 5% on a sale as a means to get income so they can live here.

[bubblegum]

Where in Phuket?

[CroBiker]

They are useless, unprofessional, lazy and some of them outright stupid.

When entering their premisses and greeting them they look at you without replies. Rude, no basic manners...Most of them are old guys with no expertise in field, going through midlife crisis hence usually surrounded by dozen clueless and uneducated girls.

Still, I would recommend plus.co.th, SET listed company. Their office is just opposite Tesco Lotus at Billion Plaza. Look for guy called Kenneth, Phuket Branch Manager...he's been good to me so far. Do not bother talking to any of female staff though, they are pathetic...

Edited January 28, 2010 by CroBiker

[steelepulse]

You might also want to have a website whipped up and get someone to do some SEO work on it so it will bring in some visitors.

[xylophone]

Had my house with several agents in Patong and ended up selling it myself and it took 7 months. PM me and I can give you the names of two whom I found to be OK.

[SeanPhuket]

WOW a thread where everyone is agreeing on something. These guys must be bad!!

LivinLOS - Thanks, I have kind of gone for this approach with a few but this is where I have found how inept they are.

bubblegum - In Thalang, lovely area.

CroBiker - I have spoken with a couple of the girls from Plus and yes you are completely right! They said Thais wouldn't buy the house because it was of a 'foreign style' but said they would market the place to Thais and not foreigners. Sounds rather odd doesn't it. Thank you though, I will try to contact Kenneth directly.

Hmmmmm, maybe the Governor should next target the real estate business. Get a little regulation in there and kick out all the cowboys and their pathetic operations.

Come on agent a few of you must have read this thread, now come and explain yourselves and stand up for yourselves!

Thanks all for your input

*edit* repeated the same thing twice

Edited January 29, 2010 by SeanPhuket

[bustersizemore]

By European standards, I presume you mean

ones who don't inflate commissions to stupid levels of up to 10%,

ones who actually give you a valuation rather than haven't a clue and just sell it at whatever figure the seller dreams up,

ones who get their fees once they've actually done their job and sold a place, rather than simply make an introduction,

ones who think that advertising and marketing costs are a normal expense of business, rather than something extra to what they're supposed to do,

ones who actually visit the property, rather than let you supply the photos and all they do is bung it on the website / in the shop window

No, none of them around here. You'll have difficulty in finding agents here who used to do the same job in their own country. They're all shysters from other walks of life who simply see 5% on a sale as a means to get income so they can live here.

Professional should include ethical & knowledgeable, very rare in Thailand, whether it be Thai or foreigner. That includes many of the foreign "lawyers"/legal consultants in Phuket.

A majority do not have the education or experience to adequately perform their duties and are not able to competitively engage in those occupations in their home countries. Thus, what you have here is an "adverse selection" of "professionals".  

One thing I will say is that many of the foreigners engaged in these professions are more trustworthy than their Thai counterpart.