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Looking to start building a house in Phlapphla Chai, outside of Buri Ram. Looking for someone local and experienced to give bid for cost of materials/labor and manage/oversee construction. Want to build with local labor to keep costs down and want reputable person to oversee. House to be small....around 100 square meters. Not fancy, but good quality.
Have you tried asking on the Buriram forum?
BE Forum?Quote:
Originally Posted by Pragmatic
Bit of a ghost town these days, as most of the regional/provincial forums have become.
When in doubt, ask around locally and retrieve as much info and contacts as possible so one can make a clear and intelligent decision regarding these matters.
Avoid extended nepotistic and familiar sources, as it's not always the best avenue.
Thanks for the help. My problem is that I am in the US and trying to find someone to suggest to girlfriend to talk with in the area before building starts. She has a house picked out that she wants with a floor plan. Need quote on labor/materials and what the budget is for items such as tile, counters, cabinets, fixtures etc. This way we are able to see if what we select is more or less than budgeted and get a real cost. I don't want to get an overall bid and find out that what was allowed for tile is only 50% of the cost for the tile we want. Same goes for cabinets, roofing, fixtures......etc.....
I think YOU have to be here when planning and when building your house. Don't leave it to the other half.
Wish I could, but live and work in the US.
Does anyone know of local builders that are reputable and priced fair. I have been advised to a "western" builder, but he starts around 1.2 million simple 2 bedroom, 1 bath. Seems a little much.
As mentioned by Pragmatic, this will not be easy to do remotely.Quote:
Originally Posted by dsfuqua
You need to SEE and TOUCH the materials to check the quality directly. ..cannot buy on appearance alone
same for the cabinets and other finishing
Fixtures, you will need to actually be in those supply outlets, choosing specific items and noting costs.
Your idea of 'good quality fittings' will almost certainly not be the same as the builder or others choosing for you.
If you leave it to others, quite probably you will get a quote for the construction and end up with low quality cabinets /fittings etc because (of course) the builder can then make more money from you!
As for painting / finishing, if you want some crazy colour schemes, often involving lurid green or electric blue, then just let the locals choose it for you!
All joking aside, if you 100% want it to turn out a certain way you need to be here or do massive research with the builder you end up choosing, plus get the girlfriend 'up to speed' with your requirements.
A good contract at the start, agreed by and signed by the builder will also assist.
I am in Dubai working , and my house construction has been ongoing (first 2 stages all but finished) but i did the research in Thailand for the builder before issuing the contract, and returned every 3 months to monitor progress. i was getting daily updates with photos. I had a very good relationship with the builder, who is a professional engineer with a building company, not a bunch of farmers who know how to stick bricks together.. I had also a very good relationship with the OrBorTor Engineer who visited the site weekly (we paid him)and my wife 'project managed' the build. It's essential to a presence. I did that though the different levels mentioned in the last sentence. the contract was detailed and so guided the whole process. My time on those visits was used, in part, in selecting materials needed for the next 3 months. We requested specific items for the build, leaving no doubt with the builder... even some of these items were specified in the contract.
The kitchen for mine was NOT in the contract with the builder, leaving me able to either build it myself or source it from a specialist kitchen company.
Once again, for all the above...research is the key.
Good luck with yours.
Quote:
Originally Posted by shit thats massive
I realize that you're a sneaky troll, but it should be noted and brought to the attention of well intended victims that Alan Whitnall has a keen and deep reputation has a scallawag and way overpriced for the comparative value that might be on offer.
Just as easy to go with a competent Thai team for one's needs -
Quote:
Originally Posted by HuangLao
I'm with HuangLao on this one as back in 2009 when I was in Australia and the missus was thinking about building a house I contacted Alan and after a series of emails back and forth.
I asked if he would supply a bill of quantities for a design provided by us and quote to build.
Anyway to get to the chase in the end he basically told me to stop wasting his time so I did.
I was of the opinion that he run a professional building company and had engineers etc working for him but he told me he didn't have time to "fcuk around with this shit".
Very disappointed. So if was me I would stay clear.
Cheers
Not at all, disappointed in the attitude and unprofessional way I was told to Fcuk off.Quote:
Originally Posted by shit thats massive
I asked for a quote to bill the house and asked if a bill of quantities would be made available to me something I thought would be stanard practice but appareently not.
Yeah one who could translet "professional builder" into "tosser".Quote:
Originally Posted by shit thats massive
I never said you couldn't build houses I said your customer relations and customer service is crap and I agreed with HuangLao that you are most likely overpriced.
But if you are still in business then I guess the lambs just keep coming.
So the OP wanted someone he could get to help him with a bill of quantities and then perhaps help him oversee a build here while he is back in the US.
So all of what he is asking for you would fail miserably as it would require someone would think about what the customer wanted not what you were willing to provide for the bag of gold.
All I was doing was passing on my experience with you and if that is not good for you then tough shit.