Hua Hin Property: Problems in Paradise

[seasides]

Here's an interesting story - nothing surprising though:

http://www.dailyxpress.net/2008/03/07/e ... at_346.php

[buksida]

Old "news", we already had this on it here:

http://www.huahinafterdark.com/forum/lo ... t8372.html

There maybe some truth in that article but not all is what it seems.

[Takiap]

Reading about and hearing about some of the experiences property buyers have, I'm so glad the wife and I had our place built the way we did. We saw a house on the internet which we thought looked nice, we printed it out and went to the tessaban for the plans. I should mention that one of the property agents quoted 50,000 baht to draw up plans while the tessaban charges 6,000. We then got some quotes from different builders and settled with a Thai chap. We gave him some of the money up front and he started within a few days. Once he reached a certain stage we gave him another payment and he carried on. The whole job was split into four payments and he never once let us down in any way at all. In fact he did a few extra bits without ever wanting to be paid for them.
Our neighbour on the other hand has had nothing but trouble having bought a house via a Swedish local. Leaking roof, ceiling coming down, walls cracking and tiles lifting, he has had it all. Now, two years later, he still does not have legit power to the house but instead has to get power from the Swedish chap who charges double rate for it.

I think to a great extent, so much is being done to convince pottential buyers that agents are easier, developments are safer, etc but the truth is, this is not always the case. How often does one hear about a house being broken into outside of a development compared to this happening inside developments? How many people get ripped off by developers compared to the number being ripped off by local Thai builders.

Either way, there are risks involved and all we can hope for is that those involved with these scam get caught and that justice is served. Afterall, its people like that who will give this town a bad name.

[JW]

Its always good to hear from the people like yourself who have good experiences, pleased all worked out well for you. It isn't all doom and gloom out there.

[Takiap]

Yes JW, nothing unpleasant at all as far as our builder was concerned. In fact, if the time ever comes that we build again, we'll certainly try and locate the same guy.
The only problem we experienced was getting things passed but that was due to corruption more than anything else and, well it was all done in the end....lol.

[huahinsimon]

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show ... ature.html

here is a longer version of the OP's submission.

[edwinadanish]

hello

I am new to Huahin. Only here for about two month.

I want to buy a house so I do not keep renting and lose money. I saw some nice houses on soi 88 when i drove there on my bike. I really liked avenue 88 when i looked but when i asked about this in town i heard a bad thing.

An agent owner from england at Siamproperty agent told me that this is a bad place to buy because the developer does not take care of customers and has many problems. He told me to buy at a place called banyan but i also yesterday in the town heard that the owner of this has run away with the deposits of the customers!

Does anyone know the truth here or isthis rumour stuff only? i want to buy but I am scared as a stranger to this land not lose my money like I read here many other people do. thank you

[splitlid]

hello

I am new to Huahin. Only here for about two month.

I want to buy a house so I do not keep renting and lose money. I saw some nice houses on soi 88 when i drove there on my bike. I really liked avenue 88 when i looked but when i asked about this in town i heard a bad thing.

An agent owner from england at Siamproperty agent told me that this is a bad place to buy because the developer does not take care of customers and has many problems. He told me to buy at a place called banyan but i also yesterday in the town heard that the owner of this has run away with the deposits of the customers!

Does anyone know the truth here or isthis rumour stuff only? i want to buy but I am scared as a stranger to this land not lose my money like I read here many other people do. thank you

shouldnt this be in the FOO section.

classic comedy.

[T.I.G.R.]

wherever it is, it should be noted that the advice on Avenue 88 was correct.

We've had personal experience with this person as have at least two other posters here....you're welcome to p.m. for details.

[edwinadanish]

hello again.

I hope my message does not sound bad and I thought the houses I saw at avenue 88 looked really very good so I think there must be a good developer there. I also spoke to a person i met there and he was happy.

can someone tell me where is the ebst place to get independent advice in the town. I am in Bangkok some of the time so maybe there is a government place or something there that keep records?

Also the agent was not so bad speaking about the development just you know didn't want to recommend it and wanted very much to recommend the banyan all the time.

i am old and get sometimes confused so I only remember the things they talk about a lot and this was the banyan place I am sure. But i do not play golf anyway so I don't know why they talk so much about only this place.

thank you for help anyway to the people who gave me advice on a private message.

[tarakandi]

The scams highlighted here are only the tip of the iceberg and you can?t expect HHAD to be too proactive in exposing these companies, as most if not all have at sometime or other advertised with HHAD.

[Lev]

The scams highlighted here are only the tip of the iceberg and you can?t expect HHAD to be too proactive in exposing these companies, as most if not all have at sometime or other advertised with HHAD.

And most of the people that blame HHAD for these unfortunate events also have a hidden agenda ... what is yours?

[tarakandi]

I did not realise that I had blamed HHAD for anything, must have hit a nerve.

My point is this forum should be used to highlight the various scams and scammers

[DawnHRD]

I did not realise that I had blamed HHAD for anything, must have hit a nerve.

My point is this forum should be used to highlight the various scams and scammers

I'm not speaking as a mod now, just as a member. HHAD has been threatened with legal action once before by a certain developer who didn't like what people were saying about him & his developments on this site.

I have personally heard rumours about some developers in this town that would make me inclined to think that they would possibly be dangerous people to cross.

It's all very well for you to keep your anonymity but blame a forum for not crusading against scammers. How does HHAD guard against someone posting untruths? They hide behind a username & HHAD takes the flack - do you think that's fair?

HHAD provides honest & fair advice. It also provides a pm service where members can discuss things in private. I'm at a loss to know just what more you think you or any other member is entitled to.

[huahinsimon]

The scams highlighted here are only the tip of the iceberg and you can?t expect HHAD to be too proactive in exposing these companies, as most if not all have at sometime or other advertised with HHAD.

And most of the people that blame HHAD for these unfortunate events also have a hidden agenda ... what is yours?

Doesent seem like tarakandi did any blaming. Even said can't epect HHAD to be too proactive in exposing companies.

I don't think HHAD should do any exposing. HHAD has a tight rope to tread. If they allow critical posts HHAD gets threatened, yet HHAD wants to allow posters their say- good and bad, but cant be sure some stories are not fabricated by competitors. It's tough. I commend HHAD for doing a good job on this. There is no where else in this fair city where negative opinion, often justified, is published. Upps not quite true, the new monthy has had some critical reports on selected developers.

HHS