Thailand Expats

dennisinkamala · #1 18-10-2007, 05:18

Hi guys

A bit of advice please, I am looking to rent a house from 1st Dec and have found 3 that are suitable in Kamala. It has to be Kamala as some of the the GF family are there and she is nervous about living on her own away from them.

I dont arrive until 2nd Dec so want to sort out the rentals etc before I arrive.

GF cant (for cant read wont) deal with it as she is in village with daughter and will not return to Patong until I return beause 'I go back, you no trust me, think I go other man'.

It would appear her real sister and her have been reading the message board

and may have spotted one or two of my posts

So the help I need is:

The three links below show the properties I am interested in, can you tell me wht, in your opinion is the best property base on location, build quality etc. I intend to rent initially for a 1 year period and will be spending a lot of time there so need something comfy.

Thanks in anticipation.

http://www.siamrealestate.com/detail/phuket/house/rental-longterm/2-bedroom-2-storey-home-kamala-1/

http://www.siamrealestate.com/detail/phuket/house/rental-longterm/4-bedroom-home-kamala/

http://www.siamrealestate.com/detail/phuket/house/rental-longterm/new-2-bedroom-2-storey-house-2/

Your views on the agent would also be useful.

nelsonone · #2 18-10-2007, 05:36

can't comment on the value out in Kamalalala land DIS but 35K for this type of housing seems within coo-eeto me.....you are looking to take a one year lease right at the start of high season though ....so i doubt you are going to be offered the best possible price available for a one year lease at this point in time

you may wish to find something temporary and then look again after Songkran when the prices drop again......this way you will get a better price to begin and be renogatiating your lease at the low point in the cycle if you choose to renew.....I'm sure the Kamala local lads will give you a better idea of the seasonal going rate of these type of houses than I can

LivinLOS · #3 18-10-2007, 07:24

Bad time of year but they still look over priced to me..

Properties 2 and 3 look very 'thai style'.. Property one (which is still a building site to me) looks like it might be a good build quality.. But really 35k is a lot of money in lala land..

Dodger showed me a pic of a large 3 bed with its own pool for 30k.. While on the lala land crawl the other day I was told by a mate of a 3 bed bungalow with own pool for 20k.. Others in the sub 20k price for nice house no pool. My mate rents a great big place with a huge outdoor area and upstairs deck (cool breeze, indoor outdoor living) for 13k. Forgive me if I keep these close to my chest as I am really considering a change myself and want to look at these after my bali trip.

Also, (and please dont take this the wrong way) why wont your GF go sort this out ?? This is exactly the 'thai grapevine' thing that she should be doing.. I mean does she want a nice life provided or not ?? I personally would be very put out if my missus wasnt jumping at the chance to find herself a nice family home that I was then going to pay for ?!?! Reason being is that finding that nice property remote is just really tough, Thailand is not online and set up that way, its on the ground and beat the street type hunting. Pictures dont give the full lie of the land, is the mosque speaker on the pole outside the bedroom window, is there a creek with a million mossies in it next door, does the neighbour have a nasty dog (probably not in Kamala

) etc etc etc

Last bit of advice, if you have to find something in advance, speak to Dodger about whats available up in his condo project. Nice big place, secure, has 3 pools, good social scene, nicely built western standard apartments, western standard furnishings. Pretty much ideal as a staging base for a new arrival. Should get one in the 20 - 30k range.

landofsmiles · #4 18-10-2007, 10:09

I've heard a lot of these rentals through estate agents are hiked by 50% or more. If you can locate the property owner you can negotiate rates far cheaper.

Why do you have to have a place sorted before you get here? It can all be done in just a few days. If it were me I would get here and slum it in a hotel for a few days, get a bike and ride round Kamala checking out all the properties for rent...all have signs up often with the owners phone number.

Dodger · #5 18-10-2007, 10:33

Dennis, send a pm with your requirements, say monthly rental maximum and desired, furnished/unfurnished, bedrooms, what you ideally would like, with as much personal requirements/detail as possible, rental from. There is loads of property available now, I looked about a month ago for myself, so have been in quite a few, got to know of quite a few not officially on the market but owned by the supermarket store lady etc.

Happy to source a few options for you and negotiate the price to see how low they will go on a one year deal, this time of year they start looking towards high season and potential short term high rental business but we know a few of them, and my gf is pretty good at bargaining. Also take a look at this web site, its where Denver and I stay, 4 pools, 24hr security, (important for gf if left alone) 47 total units with 7 to 10 occupied all year round with one thai partner one farang, so a little community for gf when alone. Ignore agents site as they charge stupid prices but the going rate dealing direct with the owner should be about 30k, both of us pay less but we negotiated in low season, but if you like I'll have a word with a few owners to see whats available, if you like it. Best bit is you can pay monthly so if not good for you, in low season you can look around and move on. Oh yes on top of the rent you pay, 1500 for UBC, if you want it, electricity which will be 600 to 1200, depending if you use aircon, wev'e got internet and most apartments have wifi.
The Kamala Hills Apartments, crap pictures but will give you an idea.

Masterwoodsman · #6 18-10-2007, 12:14

Can't really comment on rental values in Kamala as its not a place i'm familiar with real estate wise...

However i can advise you NOT to deal with this company !!!

1. dishonest
2. overpriced
3. rude staff
4. money orientated priority to customer service
5. very pushy
6. unreliable

Above list based on experience and know others that will back it up....

Dodger · #7 18-10-2007, 12:20

MWD do you mean Siam Real Estate or PIPS?

Masterwoodsman · #8 18-10-2007, 12:27

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dodger

MWD do you mean Siam Real Estate or PIPS?

I was relating to the listings on Dennis' OP which are from Siam....sorry

marc26 · #9 18-10-2007, 12:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Masterwoodsman

Can't really comment on rental values in Kamala as its not a place i'm familiar with real estate wise...

However i can advise you NOT to deal with this company !!!

1. dishonest
2. overpriced
3. rude staff
4. money orientated priority to customer service
5. very pushy
6. unreliable

Above list based on experience and know others that will back it up....

i was just about to write this
i had a horrible experience with this company

thank god i saved my e-mails and was able to show proof they didnt get me the accomodation they promised and then made me drive all the way to their office in Chalong to get my money back

SIAM REAL ESTATE IS WORST COMPANY I EVER DEALT WITH!!!

dennisinkamala · #10 18-10-2007, 15:00

Thanks guys, have pm'd Dodger to take advantage of his kind offer.

Does this mean I can come to the BBQ's and nights out and go dirt tracking afterwards??

Can I get drunk and go ST seeking??

Does it mean I can come golfing and shooting??

Sh*t, cant wait now!!