We are starting a project to build a house outside Chiang Mai.

Wife says if you go to Tessaban/Amphur they have architects and will guarantee approval for a design you negotiate with them....ie. private architectural practices are having to pay on a different scale for approval.

Anyone had experience of this?

How we will ever get anything built to the spec, of course, is another matter!

Our builder had books of designs showing floor plans and artists impressions. We photographed examples that were reasonably close to what we wanted and went away to decide on just one. Then we sat down with the builder and discussed amendments to the basic spec. and agreed on the fittings. For example, we discussed the electrical system in detail and made sure that he would include farang style bathrooms and kitchen. Then I pulled out pages that I had printed from the coolthaihouse website and checked the quality of materials with him. We also had a look at some of his work in progress. Finally, we agreed a fixed price and completion date which has left him to carry the subsequent increases in material costs.

The Amphur looked at the chanoot and the basic house spec, talked to the builder, made a record entry on the computer system and said that we could go ahead.

We didn't need an architect for any of this. However, the building work has been watched just about every day to make sure that everything was done as agreed. I think that is essential.

We have had no major problems and I don't regret not using an architect. It may be that we were lucky to find a good builder but who could tell whether an architect would do a better job than the builder and ourselves together?

If you would like any more specific information about how we went about it, just ask.

Good luck with your project!

We are starting a project to build a house outside Chiang Mai.

Wife says if you go to Tessaban/Amphur they have architects and will guarantee approval for a design you negotiate with them....ie. private architectural practices are having to pay on a different scale for approval.

Anyone had experience of this?

How we will ever get anything built to the spec, of course, is another matter!

When you say Tessaban/Amphur, does this mean the local land office where you would go to change names on title deeds etc? I'm in the same position & the architects ive spoken to are all expensive and do not fill me with confidence.