Hi,

Thanks for reading.

I am 27 years old and will be moving to Phuket next week. I will be working on the east side near Koh Keaw/Sapam areas. I was recently in Phuket and enjoyed my stay at Bangtao beach.

I am wondering if anyone can recommend a few different locations (not too far from Koh Keaw/Sapam if possible) as well as the +/- of each. I am looking for either a nice western style 1 bedroom condo or ideally a small house near the beach. My budget is between 10-20k thb per month (ideally about 15k for something pretty nice would be great). What is the best way to find this? I am planning on driving around with a scooter and have about a weeks time in Phuket before starting work so I hope to find something good. Any of the real estate agents worth contacting or better to drive around and call private owners according to signs listed? Which area to live in? I would like to be somewhere nice and peaceful but at the same time I will be by myself so don't want to be isolated either... not patong nor cape panwa for example.

Many thanks for any feedback/suggestions etc.

hello welcome to phuket! i suggest when you get here ride around the areas you like take a thai person with you and just look for houses for rent. Get the thai person to call for you and arrange a time to view the house.

When you find one you like haggle with the price a bit and agree a deposit (usually 1 or 2 months no more than this!) ask for a contract in english read carefully and sign if your happy with it.

This time of year theres loads of free houses for rent, and if your willing to pay 15-20k per month you will find a really nice one.

Bear in mind your not likely to get your Deposit back, so you can ask the land lord to paint or something if you like. I always like to pay 1 month deposit and a month rent upfront, just haggle with the price and explain about the crapppy exchange rate .. Good luck mate!

thank you chuppachops, much appreciated, thanks for the PM too.

hello welcome to phuket! i suggest when you get here ride around the areas you like take a thai person with you and just look for houses for rent. Get the thai person to call for you and arrange a time to view the house.

When you find one you like haggle with the price a bit and agree a deposit (usually 1 or 2 months no more than this!) ask for a contract in english read carefully and sign if your happy with it.

This time of year theres loads of free houses for rent, and if your willing to pay 15-20k per month you will find a really nice one.

Bear in mind your not likely to get your Deposit back, so you can ask the land lord to paint or something if you like. I always like to pay 1 month deposit and a month rent upfront, just haggle with the price and explain about the crapppy exchange rate .. Good luck mate!

I've always got my deposits back - why would you not?

I've always got my deposits back - why would you not?

Because an increasing amount of landlords seem to think its something they can keep and the farang cant do anything much to get back..

I have always got mine also, but I took a lot of care near the end of tenancy's, got on with my landlords, and last couple have been farangs.

But just assuming all is well, is a dangerous game IMO.