Wanted Good Real Estate Agent ..

[cooper2111]

Can anyone recommend good real estate agents I should be using to sell my home. What would a typical agents fee be?

Looking to sell pretty quickly so would need committed agents.

[Loaded]

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/790883-chiang-mai-estate-agents/?hl=%20estate%20%20agent

http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/743896-recommendations-for-a-good-english-speaking-real-estate-agent-in-cm/?hl=+estate%20+agent

[cooper2111]

Cheers Loaded .... appreciate the link

[howlee101]

The wife and I just returned to the US from a house hunting trip in Chiang Mai. Prior to our trip we searched many real estate websites trying to get a short list of houses we wanted to visit on our arrival. I sent numerous request for information but unfortunately we only got about two responses. Although discouraged as to the lack of responses, I kept a positive attitude thinking my Thai wife could call the contact phone numbers we got from the respective websites. Again frustration was the rule of the day as most of the numbers we called went unanswered (and we did leave voice mails) or the listing agent was busy and couldn’t assist us.

However, we were fortunate to get a return call from a gentleman who told us he was out of town but gave us a name of another real estate agent. My wife called the number and this lady, named “Oh”, turned out to be a godsend. Not only did she pick us up at our hotel, she spent most of the day showing us the houses we wanted to see to include numerous other properties. Actually, we spent the next 10 days with her and her husband as they went out of their way to help us find the house fitting our budget and style. Her husband, Matt who relocated to Chiang Mai from Singapore, was a wealth of knowledge about the local area that assisting us greatly in deciding where to buy. He even gave me a lot of great advice on what I need to do prior to relocating on a retirement visa. With their outstanding assistance, we were able to find our future retirement home. Matt was very meticulous in preparing the paperwork and explained to the wife and I the details of the contract to ensure we were protected in making our purchase.

The reason for my lengthy post is because I wanted make the Thai Visa members aware of this couple should they need any real estate and/or relocation assistance. I don’t have any ties to them but wanted all to know of their outstanding customer service and integrity (which I found severely lacking with most other agents) . If anyone should need their services, then recommend you contact them at:

Matt

Oh

[haybilly]

Simon @ PerfectHomes--a good guy.

[cooper2111]

Thanks Howlee101 for sharing your own experiences, if you can back to me with the link that's missing from the end that would be sweet!

Cheers Haybilly! I'm aware of perfect homes, so I appreciate the personal recommendation.

[gracelately]

My advice would be self market and save yourself a heap of dosh.

From my own experience local agents are frustrating to work with, while those managed by a western front man I would distrust, since manipulation and personal gain seem to out weigh ethics.

Photographs are critical – get them right together with a concise and honest description. Then list and market aggressively on as many sites you can.

Finally, be prepared to offer a finders fee to folk you consider able to spread the word. It’s a proven way of finding that elusive buyer.

Good luck!

[cooper2111]

cheers . appreciate you taking the time out..all points noted. grazie

[beau thai]

My own experience with agents with 'western front men' is the opposite of the above- diligent and trustworthy rather than manipulation and personal gain. Like any business they want to make a profit but they also understand that word of mouth is important so give good service.

No doubt rogues are out there but it's quite wrong to generalise and say all are frustrating etc.

Selling a property is frustrating, period. Self marketing is frustrating, time consuming and has limited reach.

But maybe try it if you have time on your hands but remember you only pay an agent for success- not for failure.

[MaeJoMTB]

Best way to sell your home, advertise it yourself.

Sign on the gate, flyers, online adverts you post yourself.

Offer a commission to neighbors and friends that introduce you to buyers.

Make the price realistic.

[zeichen]

HT properties have a very good website and the husband and wife team are very decent people. They sold us our first house and they really made sure we got a good deal.

My wife and I liked them so much we invited them to our wedding. They even gave us a very nice present which definitely wasn't expected.

Their office isn't far from Pantip Plaza near the Night Bazaar.

[Lobo4819]

You need to be aware of a few things just for a reality check. First, Chiang Mai is in an increasingly dangerous situation of oversupply - yet they keep building. Tons of completed condos and development houses sitting new and empty with more on the way. Next, Thais for the most part prefer to buy new - more status and no issues with ghosts. Lastly, the brokers in Thailand, although there are a lot of nice people who are brokers, are not known for their aggressiveness and enthusiasm in selling your home. They would rather someone walk into the office after finding it themselves and ask them to write the contract for them. Most brokers have non-exclusive listing agreements.

So, since the key phrase in the above paragraph is "find it themselves," you are back to marketing and selling it yourself, as has previously been mentioned.

The last reality check is, do you want to make money on the house or just lick your wounds and move on? I have always heard that in Thailand, never put money into something that you are not willing to just walk away from.

SO, you must price it right for a market in the throes of oversupply, then market it your self. How? Research what is already on the market in your price range, and for the value you think you offer. Figure out what your lowest net is that you can be satisfied with, even if it involves a loss. Price it a little over that number. Print up one set of flyers with some photos and brief description of your house. Next, print up a second set of flyers offering a X% commission as a 'finders fee' to anyone who brings you a buyer that closes. Give these out to everyone you know, stuff mailboxes with them, give them to the Burmese vendors at the big intersections (pay them a bit to give them to all the drivers at the red lights, along with the finders fee flyers) Print in Thai and English. Advertise on all the free web sites, post in all the Rimping stores and anywhere else that has a bulletin board.

Without mentioning names or numbers, there are some employees at some of the land offices that have rather healthy side-businesses in bringing buyers to you, and they can also save you some money on the transfer fees.

Find a good attorney to write you a "fill in the blanks" contract in Thai and English. Print out copies of the chanote and floor plan - an interested buyer will want to take those to the bank, perhaps before indicating any interest in buying. Be open to writing two contracts - one for the bank for the buyer's financing, and one for the real price.

If your price is right (low), you will get showings, and showings will result in contracts. If you get no showings after doing all of the above, your price is too high so lower it. It is a numbers game. It is not difficult, but you must be committed. It can get dicey figuring out who would get the finders fee sometimes, but it is good to have those entrepreneurial neighbors competing to see who gets the money.

Don't just list it with one broker and sit back waiting for the buyers to come - you will grow moss on your north side. Feel free to PM me.

[bangmai]

Use a "guestbook" to keep track of all visitors, and note their agent, if any. Let them sign it. I would say a separate contract for the bank would be felonious fraud that could really come back to bite you. They may be reselling the loan, and if the buyer of the loan found out......Fudging a little to get the LO value is much more routine, and I think that can be done with the bank people sitting there. I've recently read that new LO values will take effect 01-01-2016..and that can always be interesting.

[evenstevens]

HT properties have a very good website and the husband and wife team are very decent people. They sold us our first house and they really made sure we got a good deal.

My wife and I liked them so much we invited them to our wedding. They even gave us a very nice present which definitely wasn't expected.

Their office isn't far from Pantip Plaza near the Night Bazaar.

same broker gave me the fingers up

around 2001 i paid a visit to their office,and they showed me a few condos in the area,they were very nice at that

subsequently when i put my ranch at mae rim, up for sale early 2013, i contacted them through email, and gave them a full brief on our property, but got no reply at all

around a year later when doing another broker exercise, i threw the same net out to them,and supplied them with number of photos plus my website to boot

you guessed it again no reply, the fingers up response is fine by me,as they probably feel it was too hard of a sell,but if this is the case, if they had a good professional attitude,they could have replied to my enquirys, and told me so (a few did)

during my 2yrs and 3 months, i contacted 41 brokers in c/mai

3 stand out by a country mile,.... simon of perfect homes, this pommy, is a straight shooter,lays all the cards on the table,and if he gets a sniff on a potential deal, he got the professional nous to close off the deal

the other two, are a elite propertys and my c/mai house, meechok plaza , oh forgot our local girl, maerim real estate,she is prepared to put the miles in for you

and those 4 mentioned, have always answered any emails,or cell calls,and promptly i might add, all the above is just my personal experiences

a very nice morning to all

[cooper2111]

appreciate all the replies and your time taken - cheers!

[Farangdanny]

Seeing some positive posts on HT Property, I sent them an email> very pleasant surprise, they replied quickly making appointment to view my property. Arrived on time. Asked me to send some photos !! and copies of deeds. I sent these the next day. No confirmation of receipt was received ! Since then, I have sent five emails and two messages on their site. NO REPLIES, so I guess the negative posts on here are correct !!!

HT properties have a very good website and the husband and wife team are very decent people. They sold us our first house and they really made sure we got a good deal.

My wife and I liked them so much we invited them to our wedding. They even gave us a very nice present which definitely wasn't expected.

Their office isn't far from Pantip Plaza near the Night Bazaar.

same broker gave me the fingers up

around 2001 i paid a visit to their office,and they showed me a few condos in the area,they were very nice at that

subsequently when i put my ranch at mae rim, up for sale early 2013, i contacted them through email, and gave them a full brief on our property, but got no reply at all

around a year later when doing another broker exercise, i threw the same net out to them,and supplied them with number of photos plus my website to boot

you guessed it again no reply, the fingers up response is fine by me,as they probably feel it was too hard of a sell,but if this is the case, if they had a good professional attitude,they could have replied to my enquirys, and told me so (a few did)

during my 2yrs and 3 months, i contacted 41 brokers in c/mai

3 stand out by a country mile,.... simon of perfect homes, this pommy, is a straight shooter,lays all the cards on the table,and if he gets a sniff on a potential deal, he got the professional nous to close off the deal

the other two, are a elite propertys and my c/mai house, meechok plaza , oh forgot our local girl, maerim real estate,she is prepared to put the miles in for you

and those 4 mentioned, have always answered any emails,or cell calls,and promptly i might add, all the above is just my personal experiences

a very nice morning to all