Koh Samui House Builders Guide

Costs in Thailand are relatively low compared to elsewhere in the world, although you will find that due to Samui being an Island the cost of transportation of many materials can be more than you would expect to pay on the mainland.

The first hurdle to negotiate is to find the right builder. There are good and bad on Samui, so it is worth making extensive enquiries to establish the pedigree of the contractor you choose.

To buy your own land and build on it obviously presents the freedom of choice of privacy and distance from other properties. It also means that you can build to your exact specifications and requirements.

Standard practices in Thailand will seem very different from western standards: labour intensive for instance, however this can be cost effective and can produce good results, providing you have chosen a reputable company to work with. It is worth noting that Thai companies can often attempt to over-charge foreigners, based on an assumption of wealth. Having said that, it always worth paying for the best materials, workmen etc as standards are often well below those we expect internationally. Hopefully having chosen the correct partners you can be advised by them. The architect will have some good input here, and you should try to get one who has worked with the builders previously, although you should check each individually and not rely on recommendations between builder and architect.

Beware of builders who use foreign staff such as Burmese, they are usually illegal underpaid and therefore unmotivated. Apart from the moral dilemma that this presents you will also be liable to pay any fine, should they be found by the authorities.

It is essential that you have a hands-on approach to any project in Samui, while you may have chosen well with your contractors etc; this will not prevent a constant flow of problems, not least with sub-contractors and snagging issues. Thai builders do not, for example, consider the clean-up following a build as part of their role. Unless you are there to very specific about what you want you can find that you will need to revisit many parts of the project to get things done or redone. Thai tastes differ from western ones and left to their own devices you may find things not to your taste or even to an acceptable level.

On the plus side there is an abundance of materials and attractive options to choose from for both the house and garden. Make the time for some careful supervision and you can create something very special.  

Samui Villas and Homes Property 101

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