Condo Rental - Is the monthly rate listed online realistic?

[JuanaY]

Hello,

I have been searching for condos that are for rent in Chiang Mai from these sites:

Thailand-Property.com

DDProperty.com

ThaiVisaProperty

I wonder is the monthly rate listed/advertised realistic or not?

I am planning to take up a one-year Thai language class in CM later next year and want to have a rough idea on what sort of room would I get with my budget.

If the above websites are not useful, can anyone suggest other links/sources?

Actually I will be visiting CM for a few days at the end of Nov and would want to make use of the opportunity to check out some condos with my own eyes. Is it better for me to go find some real estate agents (are they generally reliable?) or go directly to the sales/management office of serviced condo?

Can't thank you enough for enlightening an ignorant.

[onthedarkside]

I would recommend you do your own research direct with the owners and you will save much money. Might mean that you need to rent a bike or car and drive about looking for the 'For Rent by owner' signs.

[AnotherOneAmerican]

Payap is the choice for serious Thai language studies.

CM Uni had a problem with their language courses a couple years back, all ED VISAs cancelled, no refunds. A lot of people took a hit.

Condos, usually double price online or through agents.

5k/month + utils gets you a decent place in CM, separate bedrooms start from 6k/month.

No need to book in advance, stay in a guesthouse for a couple of weeks while you look around.

[masuk]

Payap is the choice for serious Thai language studies.

CM Uni had a problem with their language courses a couple years back, all ED VISAs cancelled, no refunds. A lot of people took a hit.

Condos, usually double price online or through agents.

5k/month + utils gets you a decent place in CM, separate bedrooms start from 6k/month.

No need to book in advance, stay in a guesthouse for a couple of weeks while you look around.

My experience has been that Estate agents seem to have no formal training, and do not advise their clients on presentation or preparing a property for inspection. Cleaning up before inspection is often not even though of.

All they do is co-ordinate clients, open doors. Model contracts may be found on this site and others. As they warn you, all contracts are heavily weighted in favour of the owners.

If you decide on a place and work needs to be done before hand, do not pay a deposit until the work is actually done. The agents do nothing to expedite such things, so best you hunt and find something for yourself.

It maybe be 'sour grapes' but I've been caught out with a place where none of the promised work was done before I moved in, and the plumbing leaked, the waste pipes were not connected up, water dripped through the ceiling.

Legal advice was that as nothing was in writing, I was on my own.

For all that, there are also some excellent agents who are most helpful.

[circusman]

As said before, pay nothing up front. Be sure any agreed fixes or replacements or upgrades are done before you part with a single satang.