Building Costs - Why So High?

[Nawtilus]

I would like to find a thai autocad operator that speaks good english to correct and then translate the remainder of some drawings I have. In Bkk but.

[ThailandTony]

As an extension to my earlier post....the small house I have currently under construction (without supervision) has been problematic since day 1, what follows is a brief list of some of the major issues. Bear in mind I sent full general arrangement drawings to the builder before starting construction!

1. They put the house in the wrong place (on the plot of land)!

2. They cast the 1st 3 columns too short

3. They put the entrance porch in the wrong place

4. They removed 4 essential columns from the build

5. They changed the column locations

6. As a result of 5 they changed the bedroom sizes

7. As a result of 5 they relocated the doors and had them opening a different way

8. They have not provided a single engineered drawing

This is just scratching the surface....lol....this will ultimately be a holiday home for visiting family so I am not so fussed but be warned! I only got this information by scrutinising the photo's my thii rak sends me every week. God help me when they start the walls and finishes....lol....never mind eh!

[ThailandTony]

Note the columns on the left....about 1 metre short....lol

[ThailandTony]

I would like to find a thai autocad operator that speaks good english to correct and then translate the remainder of some drawings I have. In Bkk but.

You want English to Thai Nawtilus?.....I have a friend with a contact in Pattaya who does this type of work, but I can't reach the friend til I gp home on 18/1/07....any good to you?

[Nawtilus]

Yeah, no rush and maybe good excuse to go to Pattaya lol.

What i have is drawings on a disc in cad format, I have printed them and there has been several ammendments.

But after the architect has now been canned for being unproffessional and incompentent, I still like the design, I just want to fix up the mistakes and provide all the written info in both thai and english together, plus change some design points, but no major work really. I would have to sit with him to go through it and make sure the translations are correct and the drawings ammended correctly.

Any idea what he would charge for it for a day, or hourly perhaps.

[ThailandTony]

This is what you get for 620k (about 5200 per m2) in Chaiyaphum

[ThailandTony]

My friend quoted about 6000 baht to work up a full set of drawings so will be a fraction of this...mai peng....still leaves enough for some entertainment....lol....will PM you when I have details.

[Nawtilus]

Ok, that sounds fine and may be able to use him in future as I want to use these drawings again perhaps.

Are you in Pattaya I presume ?? Maybe catch up for a drink if we come down to do this, my friend advised of a new hotel that we have been wanting to try out.

[Nawtilus]

by the way, can you check he has the latest autocad software as these were drawn with that and have trouble with anyone being able to open it without it.

[ThailandTony]

Ok, that sounds fine and may be able to use him in future as I want to use these drawings again perhaps.

Are you in Pattaya I presume ?? Maybe catch up for a drink if we come down to do this, my friend advised of a new hotel that we have been wanting to try out.

Not now, was there for a couple of years 2003/4 and moved back to the village a couple of years ago 2005/6, still visit regularly but working in Bahrain now and for the immediate future. Heading home for a holiday in a couple of weeks but will be up in Chaiyaphum. Whats the name of the hotel?

[ThailandTony]

by the way, can you check he has the latest autocad software as these were drawn with that and have trouble with anyone being able to open it without it.

Will do, what is the current version 2005?

[Nawtilus]

No, 2006 at least and I think there was a '2007 lite' version or something like that.

The hotel is 'Shagwell Mansions', with a name like that and run by aussies, I gotta go.

[Francis Maube]

It usually makes more sense to rent long term than owning your own place once you have weighted the Baht cost, Quality,Ownership and Visa issues. There are of course quite a few exceptions but quality will always drag down value. Pouring money into a house where the ownership of the land it stands on will remain a grey area for decades to come, coupled with the real possibility of visa restriction is way beyond any rational thinking, unless of course one can afford to lose money. Rational thinking naturally not part of the game in LOS but I would have though westerners were immune to the disease but, maybe not judging by the number of houses going up in Phuket at an ever increasing price.

[ThailandTony]

No, 2006 at least and I think there was a '2007 lite' version or something like that.

The hotel is 'Shagwell Mansions', with a name like that and run by aussies, I gotta go.

Yeah it is, I know it well as I used to live in the Condo opposite. The guy who owns it is an Aussie artist. Woz just looking for a photo from when they opened the "club" there but must be on my laptop at home. It's nice enough, good value, good "tucker", but a bit out of the way. Watch yourself down there at night though, the road its on is notorious for the snatch n grab mob (my missus was a victim the 1st time she went out alone after moving into the condo). Happy holidays!

[ThailandTony]

It usually makes more sense to rent long term than owning your own place once you have weighted the Baht cost, Quality,Ownership and Visa issues. There are of course quite a few exceptions but quality will always drag down value. Pouring money into a house where the ownership of the land it stands on will remain a grey area for decades to come, coupled with the real possibility of visa restriction is way beyond any rational thinking, unless of course one can afford to lose money. Rational thinking naturally not part of the game in LOS but I would have though westerners were immune to the disease but, maybe not judging by the number of houses going up in Phuket at an ever increasing price.

I think there are different categories of "resident" and as with anything it is horses for course. Condo ownership makes sense for Falangs who want to own their assets and perhaps pass them on to their non-Thai family. For me, married to a Thai with a couple of kids I plan to leave all my assets to them so I have no problem registering everything to my wife. For those concerned about relationship longevity (who are most likely based in BKK or one of the tourist destinations) then renting is sensible. Also if you can afford the investment your property will also appreciate, house or condo.

[Big Guy]

Prices seem way too high, have just finished building a 2 story block of units in phuket, to a western standard, myself providing materials and sub contracting the labour, total cost was 1.3 mill on 210 sq m which is just over 6100bt per sqm. I have built several times before over here so know the ins and outs but don't see any reason why a novice shouldn't be able to get a place built to a good standard minus kitchen for less than 10000 per sq m

Hey Big Guy! Where did you build?

Have a 230 sq m 2 story home and 3different blocks of bungalows (2 single story and 1 double story ) in Kathu Phuket.