Finding the House or Condo Rental that is Right for You.

Finding the right house or condo to rent can sometimes be a frustrating process.

Many things can go wrong if you have not taken the time to do some research, find a good agent or both.

This week we would like to offer some tips on how to make finding the right house or condo to rent a more enjoyable experience and save a lot of time in the process.

Studio rental at Siam Oriental Condominium in Pratumnak

What are your needs?

This may sound like a simple question but it is one that is sometimes overlooked.  Are you single or do you have a family? Are you looking for a long-term rental of something for a few months holiday? Are you going to be commuting to a job or taking kids to school?

These are the types of questions you should ask yourself before you start looking at rentals. This way you don’t waste your time and that of the agent.

Obviously if you are looking for a short-term rental for a few months holiday your needs are going to be different than if you are raising a family.

If you are commuting to Laem Chabang for work you probably don’t want to live in Bang Sarey although there are some people who don’t seem to mind fighting the traffic in Pattaya.

These are things to consider before you start your search. Having a house with a lot of room is nice, but it requires more work and money to maintain a yard with a pool than it does to reside in a condo.

How much space do you need?

A lot of the new condos being built in Pattaya are in the 24 to 34 square meter range. These units are typically studios but there are some that are one-bedroom units.

Unless you are single, you will probably need a little more room for long-term stays. A lot of these units have very limited storage and are impractical for people with a lot of clothes or personal possessions. The mini storage units in Jomtien and Pattaya are filled with suitcases that people did not have room to store in the condos they rented.

It is better to rent something with a little more room than you think you will need. Keep in mind though that more room means more cost to cool if you run the air conditioner a lot.

Before you start looking take stock of how much you have to move and what your lifestyle is like. If you have a lot of guests and like to entertain you will probably need more room.

148 square meter rental at Executive Residence 2 in Pratumnak

We had a client once that moved into a 48 square meter studio with his partner and found that there was not enough room for both of their clothes and cookware they brought from their home country. The result was a storage rental where they made regular trips to get things they needed at different times throughout the year.  Once the lease was finished they moved into a larger condo.

What is your budget?

This is a question we ask all of our clients looking for a rental. You would be surprised at the answers we get. “Oh, between 15 and 30 thousand Baht a month I guess” is typical but represents a huge difference in what is available. 

There are thousands of small studios in Pattaya and Jomtien for 15,000 Baht a month. There are also some really beautiful one and two bedroom condos available for 30,000 Baht a month. Not to mention the houses you can get in East Pattaya for that amount.

When thinking about your budget you should always keep the other costs in mind. A 30,000 Baht condo after water and electric could suddenly become 35, 000 Baht a month depending on your usage the rate you are charged for water and electric.

These costs can add up even quicker if you rent a house and the pool and yard maintenance fees are not included so try to look at the big picture when thinking about your budget.

If the location of your rental means you will have to drive a lot you should also try to figure those costs into your budget as well.

A client related a story once about his first rental in Pattaya. He looked online and found a really nice looking condo in Star Beach in Pratumnak so he sent off the deposit and showed up a month later. The owner of the unit asked if he needed a motorbike and he replied no thinking he could walk everywhere. Then he learned that the songthaews didn’t drive by there so he would have to take a motorcycle taxi or car if he wanted to go any distance. All of a sudden 2,500 Baht a month for a bike was added to his monthly costs.

It always pays to do your research before you rent.

House for rent in Na Jomtien

What is the area like where the unit is located?

As I am writing this, someone about a half kilometer away thinks I may enjoy the music they are playing so they have it turned up really loud. It wouldn’t be so bad but they think I really enjoy it about 3am too. 

If you are looking at a rental in Pattaya or Jomtien it is worth a trip to see what it is like at night. This is especially true if you are a light sleeper and close to any of the areas with nighttime venues.

You may think you have found the perfect condo with the best sea view in the city only to find that is it is next to a Karaoke bar that opens at 8 and closes at 4am.

It is always best to spend a little bit of time in the area to see what shops and services are close. Make a mental note of what is in the area and how far it is to the market or convenience store.  I know what you’re thinking, “there is a 7-11 or Family Mart on every corner.” This is not always the case at some villages in East Pattaya so it is definitely something to consider.

If you are the type who likes to eat out or hit the bars every night you may be better off with a place closet to town.

Spending some time in the area at different times of the day and different days of the week will also give you an idea of what the traffic is like. And as anyone who has been in Pattaya for a while knows it can sometimes be a nightmare.

This brings us to the last point in this week’s article.

Work with an agent you can trust.

There are a lot of real estate agents in Pattaya and any good one can answer most of your questions with confidence. There are some however who will tell you anything to earn a commission.

The agent may also be new or unfamiliar with the area you are looking at and unable to give a good answer to what the area is like or what services are available.

A good agent will be able to answer your questions and encourage you to do your research and look around the area. Be wary of an agent who tries to force you into making a decision quickly. You don’t want to be the person who finds the Karaoke bar next door on your first night in the new condo.

So the next time you are ready to look for a new rental let us help you with some of the work. Email us at info@coastalrealestatepattaya.com or call us with a brief idea of what your needs are. 

Better yet, visit us at one of our offices so we can meet you personally and help you find just what you are looking for.

You can also email us at info@coastalrealestatepattaya.com