The decision to move to Thailand has been made. You have said goodbye to your friends, had a reluctant final embrace with Maureen from accounts and cancelled all your newspapers.
Now you are stepping into the unknown, and into the stress of buying or renting a property in Thailand. Well fret no more. This guide will tell you what to be aware of when you climb aboard a tuk-tuk and go looking for your new Thai home.
Flooding
You are likely to be choosing your new abode when the sun is beating down – so the thought of what happens when it rains will be far from your mind. But when it rains in Thailand, it pours, and this produces terrible flooding which could be catastrophic to your house.
To be sure that you are not a victim of this, ask some neighbors if the street floods or try and find a farang who has some local knowledge – you will normally see them near the beer section of the local 7-11 (there is always at least one). Also make sure that your Soi is not built lower than other streets in the area or it will fill up like a swimming pool during tropical thunderstorms. Dead end Sois might also not be the best option as rainwater won’t have a place to go.
Noise
Thai people are generally a quiet and respectful bunch but they also seem blissfully oblivious to the concept of noise pollution. Even well-mannered neighbors may occasionally blast out music in the early hours of a Sunday morning to honor a family celebration. Complaining about would be viewed by the police as more of a nuisance than the noise itself, so keep a pair of earplugs handy for these special occasions. However, if you are looking at properties near a university then there is that most dreadful of things to contend with. Students. Be aware: these people like to party. Also look out for dogs in the neighborhood and don’t be fooled by their size – the smaller they are, the more they usually tend to bark.
Termites
Where I live at the moment is a beautiful, traditional Thai wooden house. Although it is pretty, closer inspection reveals that termites have eaten through some of the ceiling supports. My girlfriend’s family adopt a Mai Pen Rai (no worries) attitude, whilst I go upstairs to bed every night, thinking that I may wake up in the downstairs living room.
Most modern houses and new developments in Thailand avoid this problem by being made of concrete, but be very aware of this problem if you are thinking of living in a traditional wooden house or in a house built on wooden foundations (something commonly found in houses over 20 years old).
Creepy Crawlies
Thailand is a lush tropical country – so at some stage of your life here, you will have unwanted insects in your home. What you don’t want, though, is to have them lined up to meet you when you move in.
Ants and mosquitos are the main offenders. Have a look to see that mosquito guards are fitted (and fitted correctly) on the windows. For ants, then have a good rummage around the kitchen and dining area for signs that these tricky little blighters have taken up residence before you. For those renting a house in Bangkok rats can also be a problem as open trash cans full of yummy Thai food attract a lot of unwanted attention from what lurks beneath the sewer drains.
Security
Many areas have some sort of security system in place. In my neighborhood, there are security guards whose job it is to sleep, listen to the radio and ring a bell every hour (although never on the hour). They also occasionally lift up a barrier to let cars pass and check the many security cameras for sightings of pretty girls.
If you don’t have this ‘luxury’ then use your common sense and visit your potential neighborhood at daytime and at night to see if any undesirables are in residence.
What experiences, good or bad, do you have of house-hunting in Thailand? Share your experiences in the comments box below.
