There are surveyors in Thailand, just not in Pattaya. If you want a formal valuation or appraisal, you will need to get a qualified surveyor down from Bangkok. To provide such a service a property company must be certified by the SEC. No-one in Pattaya is so certified. The closest thing you have is Sallmanns. The Pattaya office is not certified, but the Bangkok office is and the Pattaya office can arrange for you to have someone come down. Of course, it is something you pay for and the client is the person (whether the buyer or seller) who commissions the report.

Something else that I don't think has been mentioned is to do a check on the legal ownership of the land, especially when buying a house. A lawyer can do this for you at the land office, and also make absolutely sure you get the land title deeds ('chanot') before you part with money. You also need to make sure the 'Tabian Baan' (house registration book) is in your company's/wife's Thai friend's name. The isssuing of a Tabian Baan also means the house construction has been approved by the local authority.

And finally, if you're just buying land, its possible to do a search to check on the going rates at the land office, although you have to be a bit careful, because mmany buyesr/sellers will reduce the real price to save on tax.

There are surveyors in Thailand, just not in Pattaya. If you want a formal valuation or appraisal, you will need to get a qualified surveyor down from Bangkok. To provide such a service a property company must be certified by the SEC. No-one in Pattaya is so certified. The closest thing you have is Sallmanns. The Pattaya office is not certified, but the Bangkok office is and the Pattaya office can arrange for you to have someone come down. Of course, it is something you pay for and the client is the person (whether the buyer or seller) who commissions the report.

Something else that I don't think has been mentioned is to do a check on the legal ownership of the land, especially when buying a house. A lawyer can do this for you at the land office, and also make absolutely sure you get the land title deeds ('chanot') before you part with money. You also need to make sure the 'Tabian Baan' (house registration book) is in your company's/wife's Thai friend's name. The isssuing of a Tabian Baan also means the house construction has been approved by the local authority.

And finally, if you're just buying land, its possible to do a search to check on the going rates at the land office, although you have to be a bit careful, because mmany buyesr/sellers will reduce the real price to save on tax.

You are absolutely right about using a lawyer. Every single buyer should use a lawyer, and not one that works for the property agent. It must be an independent lawyer, appointed by you. If you don't, everything may be ok, but then again you may get ripped off. It happens. The fact that the documentation is in Thai means that for most farangs it is essential that you have someone you can trust with the requisite knowledge acting solely for you. It is also important to get a trustworthy lawyer, but that is an altogether different issue. The firm I use is in Bangkok, but still very affordable and with an excellent reputation.