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November 2014
How to Increase the Curb Appeal of Your House in Thailand: Five Tips to Sell Your Home Faster When the time comes to sell your house in Thailand, you may be competing with many homeowners who are also selling similar properties. If there are two homes in a similar area selling for similar prices, how do you think a real estate agent will decide which to focus on? The agent will most likely choose the home that makes the best first impression, which will then increase the chances of him or her making the sale. If you want to sell your home faster and for a better price, it is worth the time and money to invest in sprucing up your home and add that “curb appeal.” Before going to the top five tips, one should always ensure that everything in the house presented in the best possible way, that the beds are made and that the bathrooms tidy and clean. The first impression of a potential buyer is more often than not the only chance you get! Make sure that the agent allows you sufficient time to get the house ready for each viewing.
Strategically Plant Trees Planting some trees in the front of the house can really enhance the overall look and feel of a house. Many people, but especially foreigners in Thailand may value privacy in their home and trees are an elegant and sustainable way to provide that. You can use trees to cover the edges of the home, which may in turn make the entire thing seem bigger or wider. Not to mention that more shade on the actual home can help drastically lower your energy bills by making your air con work less—this could be a big selling feature to people who are sick and tired of forking over thousands of baht to pay for their electricity.
If you have been living in your house for several years, consider the following tips to get your house in perfect shape to sell;
Beautify the Lawn
If you have a lawn and there are any dry or brown patches, it is in your favor to make the (inexpensive) effort to re-seed and water it. You want your lawn to look as shiny and new as possible; picture perfect without needing an airbrush. If you don’t have a lawn, you can still add colorful flowers along the walkway or even in window boxes.
Create an Outdoor Sitting Area
Power Wash (or re-paint)
One of the main reasons many foreigners move to Thailand is for the weather. Having a seating area, even if it’s small or down-to-earth looking will help potential buyers imagine how they can enjoy the outdoors within the comforts of their future home. It’s a small investment but a powerful one to add permanent outdoor seating with a pretty stone bench under a tree, or nice wooden bench swing. Once you add it, you’ll wish you had it all along!
If you were trying to sell your car, would you leave it in your driveway covered in dust and mud? No; in fact you’d probably take it to the car wash. Selling a house should follow the same logic, but surprisingly is not something that many home-sellers think of. A dirty house will appear grungy and worn: not attractive qualities for a person looking to spend loads of money on a new place to live. All it usually takes is a good power washing. If it requires more than that though, do not underestimate the value of a fresh coat of paint. Paint can literally make a house appear 10 years newer than it actually is.
Add Solar Powered Lights Around the Walkway Just because the sun goes down, that does not mean passerby won’t see the For Sale sign out front. Never underestimate the power of a beautifully lit property at night. It can add a charming or even luxurious effect to the house. The best part is that it doesn’t cost a lot and does not take much effort to install. Just pick up some solar-powered lamps that will illuminate as soon as night falls. All you have to do is stick them into the ground so they stay put and you’ve got yourself a beautiful façade 24/7.
PROPERTY TODAY, November 2014
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8% rise in Cha-Am Prices Expected Residential property prices in the Cha-Am property markets are expected to grow by 8 percent this year, according to the latest research from Colliers International in its Research and Forecast report. According to the real estate firm all property markets in Thailand have been affected by the political situation in the past year, but Cha Am, Hua Hin and Pranburi still continued to grow slightly during the crisis. Most new condominium projects launched in the past year are more focused on below the high-end bracket. In addition, some new projects from listed developers that are expected to be launched in the near future are also targeting this group. Thai buyers are the main target group, especially for the condominium market in the past one to two years; most are more focused on the coast area. Most Thai buyers are more interested in the condominium projects selling for less than THB4 million. This is because they are buying a second home and a condominium unit is the best choice. The residential areas in Cha Am and Hua Hin have expanded further to the southern part of Hua Hin and to the west of Phetkasem Road during past few years. Some small roads that are planned for expansion are becoming the new hot locations for property development, such as Hua Hin soi 112 and Hin Lek Fai Sub-District, as the Department of Public Works and Town and Country Planning is planning to expand the old town to cover Hin Lek Fai Sub-District. Colliers International expect new launches of at least two to three condominium projects the rest of the year, with most projects having an average selling price of betweenTHB1.5 million and THB3 million per unit. This figure will drive sales to grow by at least 8 percent in the remaining second half of the year, the agency predicted.
PROPERTY TODAY, November 2014
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PROPERTY TODAY, November 2014
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PROPERTY TODAY, November 2014
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PROPERTY TODAY, November 2014