Property Hunting in Pattaya
Discovering a suitable home can be a difficult task regardless of where you reside, but it can be particularly demanding in Pattaya, and indeed throughout Thailand.
In contrast to the United States, Canada, and various other nations, Thailand has an unrestricted listing policy. This means that a property owner can list their property with numerous agencies simultaneously, with the belief that more agents would increase the likelihood of selling. However, we will delve into this matter later. For now, let us examine some of the techniques individuals employ to search for homes in the Pattaya region.
Word of mouth and Referrals
Believe it or not word of mouth and referrals is still an excellent way to find a home. Pattaya has a vibrant night life and a lot of expat clubs and groups so sometime simply mentioning that you are looking for or selling a house or condo can generate quite a few properties for you to view or potential buyers for your property. Of course, at Coastal Real Estate we love referrals from past clients and friends. It means we are doing our job and people are confident that if they send us a client we will do our best to help them.
Driving around
I understand that in the 21st century, the internet is the go-to resource for most people, and it's uncommon for individuals to drive around looking for a house. However, you might be surprised to learn that quite a few home buyers and renters still enjoy driving around the neighborhoods they like, searching for signs indicating a house for rent or sale.
Although this approach can be time-consuming, and it isn't as practical if you're searching for condos, many quality properties are still sold or rented out with nothing more than a sign on the gate. Therefore, our agents strive to persuade homeowners who list their properties with us to allow us to put up our "for sale" or "for rent" signs at their homes because it is still an effective way to attract attention.
Moreover, going back to the word of mouth technique, anyone who walks or drives past the home may not be actively seeking to buy, but they could pass the information on to friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors. As a result, this old-fashioned approach remains effective, even with the advent of the internet.
Visiting an Agency
Placing signs in their windows with their latest rental and sale offerings is a common practice among agencies located on streets with high pedestrian traffic. This strategy can effectively catch the attention of people looking for a new home. Our former office on Soi Diana was able to successfully close many deals by having people come in after seeing the signs in our windows. Whether they were interested in the advertised property or something else, it was a great starting point to start the conversation. If you have the time, visiting a local agency can be a beneficial way to gather information and begin your property search. We encourage individuals to visit our office in Pattaya for a chat about real estate, despite our location not being heavily trafficked by pedestrians. We have ample parking available and are always eager to assist with any inquiries.
The Internet
The Internet is the go-to option for finding a new home in Pattaya, with hundreds of agencies having websites where you can browse properties in your preferred location or development. However, it's essential to exercise caution as the property you're interested in may no longer be available or may have a different price. Some agencies don't update their listings regularly, and some even leave unavailable properties on their sites to trick you into buying or renting something else.
If you have listed your property with Coastal Real Estate, you can rest assured that our dedicated team keeps in touch with property owners to ensure that our listings are accurate and up to date.
It's a common misconception that bigger property websites with more listings are always better. Some sites display a vast number of properties, including duplicate listings from multiple agencies, which may be misleading. The same property can be listed at different prices, and if the original agency fails to update their site, the information on secondary sites can be incorrect. Some agencies even list the same property multiple times to increase their chances of getting inquiries.
Furthermore, some popular property websites in Thailand do not research or add new developments, resulting in missed opportunities for users to learn about new housing or condo projects. Some of these sites have also stopped displaying logos of the agencies, making it harder for users to know who they are dealing with. Therefore, having the most extensive listing of properties doesn't always equate to the best or most reliable website.
Social Media
If you're a Facebook, Twitter, or any other social media user, you may have come across advertisements for houses and condos available in Pattaya. If you're in the Pattaya or Bangkok area, you might have even seen our ads. Various agencies and individual agents regularly post properties for sale or rent on these platforms, making it a great way to attract potential clients. While the selection may be limited compared to an agency's window display, it's still a good way to see which agencies are active in the market.
In conclusion, we recommend that you visit an agency's website directly to begin your property search. This is because the agency's website will be up-to-date, and its staff will be knowledgeable if they're professional. There are many ways to look for properties in Pattaya, but we feel that starting with an agency's website is the best approach.
