Can i build the house???

**Richem** · 07-03-2011, 02:18 PM

Hi guys, I'm new to TD and so glad i've found it. Me and the wife are looking at making the move to Thailand sometime in the next 5 years.

I'm a builder in Sydney, Australia and would like to build my own house in Thailand. My question is;

Can i as a Farang do any of the hands on building and project management of the job?

Do i need a certain visa or can i just get away with doing the work?

Realisticly will any Thai builders or labourers work with me under my supervision, as i would like to use a combination of Thai and Australian building practices (Mainly Thai)?

Any info from Expats there that have built there own place in Thailand (as in the hands on and project management side of things) would also be much appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Richie.

**oxyjohn** · 07-03-2011, 02:30 PM

you've absolutely got to be hands on and supervise, otherwise there will be shortcuts and poor quality materials

**Loy Toy** · 07-03-2011, 02:37 PM

It's a grey area here with regard to Foreigners doing any type of work whether it being private or commercial without a proper work permit. Some will consider you are breaking the law but others will claim you are not as the house is not a commercial property as it is in your wife's name.

If you get questioned just tell them you are supervising your Wife's Thai workers or better still training them with regard to international standards.

Keep your head low and the local kumnan happy (a nice bottle of 100 pipers whiskey or basket of fruit) and you should not have any problems.

Good luck with your build.

**Travelmate** · 07-03-2011, 02:48 PM

No you can't.
It is against the law. But you can employ a building company and have them follow your ideas.
Visit the building project with your wife at your side.

**Norton** · 07-03-2011, 02:52 PM

Originally Posted by Richem

Can i as a Farang do any of the hands on building and project management of the job? Do i need a certain visa or can i just get away with doing the work?

Without getting into the subtleties of the "law" pretty much what oxyjohn and Lot Toy said.

Originally Posted by Richem

Realisticly will any Thai builders or labourers work with me under my supervision, as i would like to use a combination of Thai and Australian building practices (Mainly Thai)?

Yes. Thai builders will do. You will have to shop around a bit though and look at what they have built. Thai workers under your supervision not likely to work.

With no Thai language skill, biggest problem you will face is communicating your wishes to the builder.

**Richem** · 07-03-2011, 03:13 PM

Originally Posted by Norton

Originally Posted by Richem

Can i as a Farang do any of the hands on building and project management of the job? Do i need a certain visa or can i just get away with doing the work?

Without getting into the subtleties of the "law" pretty much what oxyjohn and Lot Toy said.

Originally Posted by Richem

Realisticly will any Thai builders or labourers work with me under my supervision, as i would like to use a combination of Thai and Australian building practices (Mainly Thai)?

Yes. Thai builders will do. You will have to shop around a bit though and look at what they have built. Thai workers under your supervision not likely to work.

With no Thai language skill, biggest problem you will face is communicating your wishes to the builder.

My Thai is pretty good but i wouldn't say fluent and should be a little better by the time we start building (within 5 years)
Thanks for your help and advise, much apreciated.

**setaputra** · 07-03-2011, 03:34 PM

Loy Toy has the best answer. And widen your search to other forums. PM me if you want some web addreeses

**superman** · 07-03-2011, 03:53 PM

I worked on my house and the builder didn't complain. Neither did anyone else. I still do jobs now, and am unconcerned who sees me. There again for someone to complain, due to my location, they would have to go well out of their way to do so, and what would they gain by complaining ? On top of that, I doubt they'd know who to complain to.

**Richem** · 07-03-2011, 04:03 PM

Originally Posted by superman

I worked on my house and the builder didn't complain. Neither did anyone else. I still do jobs now, and am unconcerned who sees me. There again for someone to complain, due to my location, they would have to go well out of their way to do so, and what would they gain by complaining ? On top of that, I doubt they'd know who to complain to.

Thanks for the reply, i thought the chances were that it would be fine, though just wanted to make sure as it could be considered working and if i didn't have the correct visa i wouldn't want to be booted out of Thailand for something so little/stupid.

Thanks mate and when the time comes i think i'll just take my chances and do the build (hopefully with a group of good Thai blokes).

**dirtydog** · 07-03-2011, 04:05 PM

Loads of threads here on people that have built houses in Thailand.
Building in Thailand Famous Threads - TeakDoor.com - The Thailand Forum

**Richem** · 07-03-2011, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by setaputra

Loy Toy has the best answer. And widen your search to other forums. PM me if you want some web addreeses

Thanks for the offer regarding other web addresses, i'm only very new to these forum sites and don't know how to PM or don't even know if i have enough posts to PM you but i would love to get the web addresses some how. Can you PM me or doesn't it work that way?

Thanks again and if i work out this PM stuff i'll do it.

Cheers Mate.

**Richem** · 07-03-2011, 04:11 PM

Originally Posted by dirtydog

Loads of threads here on people that have built houses in Thailand.
Building in Thailand Famous Threads - TeakDoor.com - The Thailand Forum

Thanks for the link DD i had a quick look and there seems to be heaps of good stuff on there. I've been looking through TD for about a week or two now and finally have worked up the balls to start posting and asking questions etc as i have very poor computer skills.
Thanks again mate.

**hillbilly** · 07-03-2011, 04:30 PM

Where you build a house has a lot to do with whether you can work on site or not.

**Richem** · 07-03-2011, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by hillbilly

Where you build a house has a lot to do with whether you can work on site or not.

Does this have to do with beening seen by authorities or knobs that have nothing better to do with there time then create problems for people? Or have a miss understood something?
I was thinking of building in Rayong or Chanthaburi (probably Rayong) but something a little low key and not in a gated community.

**Travelmate** · 07-03-2011, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by Richem

i have very poor computer skills

It shows.
You can use the "search" function to help assist with any queries you may have.

**Loy Toy** · 07-03-2011, 05:03 PM

Originally Posted by Richem

Does this have to do with beening seen by authorities or knobs that have nothing better to do with there time then create problems for people? Or have a miss understood something? I was thinking of building in Rayong or Chanthaburi (probably Rayong) but something a little low key and not in a gated community.

Jealousy can be a big problem here and if don't use the local expatriate business community to support you in earning them a profit. You will have some pompous cvnt making it difficult for you if you are not careful. Don't make waves with the locals and call them morons (like a lot of others do) even if they are morons. Have patience.

Be very careful about who you befriend and don't run around the bars sprouting off that you are a builder and are constructing your own home.

Keep a low profile and make sure you deliver that basket of fruit to the local head man with your wife in tow.

**Travelmate** · 07-03-2011, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

your wife in tow.

Yup bring the Boss of the family. very important.

**Richem** · 07-03-2011, 05:46 PM

Originally Posted by Loy Toy

Originally Posted by Richem

Does this have to do with beening seen by authorities or knobs that have nothing better to do with there time then create problems for people? Or have a miss understood something? I was thinking of building in Rayong or Chanthaburi (probably Rayong) but something a little low key and not in a gated community.

Jealousy can be a big problem here and if don't use the local expatriate business community to support you in earning them a profit. You will have some pompous cvnt making it difficult for you if you are not careful. Don't make waves with the locals and call them morons (like a lot of others do) even if they are morons. Have patience.

Be very careful about who you befriend and don't run around the bars sprouting off that you are a builder and are constructing your own home.

Keep a low profile and make sure you deliver that basket of fruit to the local head man with your wife in tow.

Thanks sounds like good advice. I think of myself as a low key and i normally keep to myself most of the time. Thanks again for the advice.

**Richem** · 07-03-2011, 05:50 PM

Originally Posted by Travelmate

Originally Posted by Richem

i have very poor computer skills

It shows.
You can use the "search" function to help assist with any queries you may have.

Yeah nice one Travelmate, I'm an Aussie so enjoy taking the piss... I've found a lot of the posts on TD extremely funny and enjoy how most of you are able to joke around and take the piss out of one another, its great.

**Spin** · 07-03-2011, 06:13 PM

Originally Posted by Travelmate

It is against the law

No it isn't, The gf works for the labour dept and I asked her to check the labour laws regarding this 2 years ago. There is nothing in the law or the guidleines that the labour depatment follow that says a farang building his own house is illegal.
All this nonsense about not being able to cut your own grass etc etc is total bollocks as well.
The labour dept would be very interested if you were building somebody elses house though....for profit.

**dirtydog** · 07-03-2011, 06:16 PM

Originally Posted by Spin

The labour dept would be very interested if you were building somebody elses house though....for profit.

The profit doesn't come into it.

**Spin** · 07-03-2011, 06:19 PM

^ It would if they wanted a cut to look the other way

**DrAndy** · 08-03-2011, 07:17 AM

Originally Posted by Richem

Can i as a Farang do any of the hands on building and project management of the job?

There is no problem project managing the building work; in fact, you should do that to keep the costs down and the work standard up

as for doing any of the work yourself, probably not worth it as Thai labour is very cheap. having said that, I have built my own kitchens and furniture because I enjoy doing that

Originally Posted by Richem

can i just get away with doing the work?

as above; you can work on your own house without problems

Originally Posted by Richem

Realisticly will any Thai builders or labourers work with me under my supervision

you would hire a sub-contractor who makes sure all the workers are there and working; you liase with him as to the standard of work and the design etc.

he would also be the guy who gives you the initial quote for the work, and who you would negotiate with for any changes

**Rigger** · 08-03-2011, 07:32 AM

I know many guys that built their own homes in Issan and even know a few that are building them for other farangs all on the sly. I really cant see it being a problem as long as you still employ some local labor and two dont get nasty with the local labor when they fok up, dont turn up, get drunk, and complete every task to about 80/90% and the leave it as they think its good enoungh.
After being involved in four building projects of my own and witnessing at least 20 others, for the shake of your marrige and your mind just get the thais to build it

**DrAndy** · 08-03-2011, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by Rigger

After being involved in four building projects of my own and witnessing at least 20 others, for the shake of your marrige and your mind just get the thais to build it

and for the sake of the house, make sure you supervise them

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