Architect/Building company

[gprit]

Looking to buy around 2 Rai building land probably in Nong Bua Lumpha next January when I return.
(Separate ad in classified for that).

Does anyone know a reliable architect/building company that can be trusted to oversee/construct a good quality house?

thanks

[JohnG]

Look down a couple of threads and you'll see where I asked a similar question, also with no response (and on Teakdoor, same again) about builders in Loei, Khon Kaen and Udon.

All I can say is PD House (Loei) are over twice as much as anyone else (which, to be fair, they told me), whatever you do avoid the company next to them at all costs, and I am down to a short list of one: Nuja Land & House, Udon. Not due to start until the end of the year, but very impressed so far with Khun Anucha and everything he's shown me and done.

[Barney]

Private Message sent to both you guys.

[waanjai]

First, it should be clear to all persons involved. Building a house in Thailand while You - the potential house owner - is abroad carries a lot of risks. In all my years in Udon I haven't met anyone who was satisfied with the house built during his absence.

1. Please care for some supervision - either from the family, much better if You are present Yourself. Some people came for a series of short holidays in oder to supervise the construction.

2. Start being in Udon (or whatever province) in order to find a Builder of your choice. Driving once along the Ringroad around Udon yields at least some 20 - probably much more, if there is someone with You who can read Thai - telephone numbers of Builders. No surprise as most of the houses are now build outside of Ringroad.

3. Don't hesitate to get into contact with the Thai house owners already there. If You like someone else's house - the architecture, the concept - ask them who built their great looking house. They will like it and gladly give you all information You want. Their information will most probably include also their up-to-date knowledge about all builders in the area of interest.

4. In a similar matter You could also start with determining the tambol/moobaan in which you want to buy land ready for house building (thidin samlap baan) first and then talk with the Puu Jai Baan about a few builders nearby.

5. The Builders don't hav to be big companies with own architects or house drawers. In Tessabaan Udon (near Tungsi Mueang) on the 5th fllor there are few offering their services and help in getting all permissions, if any are needed.

6. If You do not have a Thai-speaking person at hand during the whole construction period, forget about building. Buy a ready one.

[gprit]

Thanks all - we will be going to Udon in January to try and get things moving.
I agree you can't just 'leave them to get on with it' - the reason I am looking for a reliable architect is that he can monitor progress/quality. I did the same with property renovations in France and hired an independent Project Manager - money well spent. My Thai wife will also be with me so language is no problem.

[waanjai]

I am looking for a reliable architect (to) monitor progress/quality.

Well, I better understand your interest now. These people exist.

But you don't have to search them on the streets. Just go to the construction drawers on 5th floor of the central Municipality building (=Tessabaan). They are very helpful not only in providing you with individual house building plans (we had 25 A1 pages drawn to order in a couple of meetings).

They also offered us the contact to an professional "structural engineering calculation" which we used too. (Good for later house insurances).

And finally they told us that we could hire certain qualified people for professional "construction supervision" which they had on their list. In our case we did not hire someone for construction supervision as we were there all 4 months long.

In case you would be building your house within the city limits (tessabaan area) of Udon they would also be of help in getting the necessary permissions for buiding (gosang baan).

[JohnG]

Thanks all - we will be going to Udon in January to try and get things moving.
I agree you can't just 'leave them to get on with it' - the reason I am looking for a reliable architect is that he can monitor progress/quality. I did the same with property renovations in France and hired an independent Project Manager - money well spent. My Thai wife will also be with me so language is no problem.

I think you are looking for two different animals, as any genuinely qualified architect is unlikely to be available to monitor your build except at considerable cost - any less and he'll be open to backhanders from the builders to sign off on below par work / materials.

I would certainly be wary of some of the "expat experts" advertising their wares, for whom the old adage that a little knowledge is a dangerous thing applies in spades. I have come across a number of these happily showing lacquered dog-turds (or even houses built by someone else, with a friend masquerading as the owner) and then expecting to be paid a farang style salary to supervise something they know next to nothing about, where the projects appear to be coming on apace but the reality is that the supervisor hasn't got the faintest idea about concrete curing times or anything else.

Just because someone claims to have 20 years experience in the area doesn't mean that his experience had anything to do with building houses!

My view would be simple: unless you are here yourself to supervise the work, or you have someone you know and trust and who knows what's involved to do that for you, you have the choice of either (1) paying through the nose for a reputable "known" company like PD House to build for you at twice the price (2) getting an "expat expert" to run things for you and paying twice the price with no guarantees or (3) having a "local' company building unsupervised, with the high probability that you'll pay twice the price in the long run to repair the mistakes and the possibility that even then it'll never be worth what you've paid.

[Ray.Charles]

Last year, I had a, 4-storey, 28-unit, room-for-rent built from my layout. The engineering drawings were done by a 'professional engineer/architect'; construction was contracted with an young engineer who had just completed a similar building. I also retained the the first guy as consultant until the structure was in place.
You can send me a PM for more details, and are also welcome to visit the building.

[Seahawk]

I wish you luck Gprit. At least you are getting some positive feedback.
Take little notice of the negative people who seem to take pleasure in pouring cold water on everything.
Some really good and positive replies above.
Once again, good luck and let us know how you get on.