When looking to buy property in Thailand, hiring a reputable and trustworthy real estate agent is important. This isn’t a process that should be rushed and must be approached with great care and consideration. In this article, we’re going to take you through some valuable questions that we recommend asking a prospective real estate agent before rushing in and making your decision.
1 – What experience do you have in the region I am interested in?
An important part of the process when buying a home involves evaluating the communities and regions that you are interested in buying in. As such, it is worth speaking to your prospective real estate agent and finding out how much experience they have with a given region and how knowledgeable they are. The best agents will be able to comment on how the region is evolving and what its infrastructure is like. In addition to that, quality real estate agents will ask you questions about why you are looking to buy (whether it be to live in or rent out to tourists), and what type of lifestyle you are looking for.
2 – What is your expertise in the type of property that I am looking to buy?
Another crucial question is to gauge how much experience they have in the specific type of property you are looking to buy. Do they have much expertise in selling luxury condos? It is important that your chosen agent can help you focus on what makes a condo stand out, with in-depth knowledge about the things that matter most to someone looking to invest in a condo.
3 – Tell me about your experience and your negotiation style
Don’t be afraid to put your real estate agent on the spot and ask them about their negotiation skills and overall experience in the field. You want to have confidence in their ability to represent you and get the best possible deals and asking this type of question in the early stages will allow you to get a good idea as to what type of representation they can offer you.
4 – What are the legalities I should be aware of and can you guide me through it?
Buying property in Thailand as a foreigner can be an overwhelming experience. As such, it is crucial that you learn to navigate the legal minefield as carefully as possible. The beat real estate agents will have a thorough knowledge and understanding of your rights and all of the things that you must be aware of. They should also be able to help you with the legal aspect of things including paperwork, closing issues, and the intricacies of finding legal representation in Thailand.
5 – What would your approach to winning a bidding war be?
There may be competition when looking to buy high-quality property in Thailand and as such it will be paramount that you have a real estate agent on your side who knows how to come out on top. Unless your real estate agent understands the very basics of winning a bidding war then you may lose out on some great opportunities. Ask them the question and see how they respond – if they do so with confidence and provide a knowledgeable response then you may be onto a winner.
6 – What is your experience in helping foreigners buy property in Thailand?
Buying a home in Thailand is a complicated process for foreigners so it will be good to know that you are working with a real estate agent that has significant experience in working with people like you. Find out how much experience they have with handling cases similarly to yours.
7 – Do you have any past clients that can talk to me?
Don’t be afraid to ask to speak with a past client or two. This isn’t necessarily an essentiality as hopefully your prospect real estate agent will have plenty of testimonials and social proof of their achievements. In any case, they may be willing to put you in touch with some satisfied customers who have used their services and successfully navigated Thailand’s complicated legal process for foreigners buying property.
8 – Do you have any partnerships with home service professionals?
When buying a property in Thailand it’s also important to ensure that your property can be properly maintained. The best real estate agents will have strong relationships with lawyers, appraisers, surveyors, cleaners and other handymen such as painters, plumbers, and electricians. You can leverage these relationships by having a number of contacts on standby should you ever find yourself in need of their services.
9 – Can you tell me about your relationship with past clients?
Figuring out what their after care is like is also another vital step in this process. You want to know whether your real estate agent is going to sell you a property and never be seen or heard from again, or if you are going to be able to rely on their future support if in the event of a problem. The fact is, the best real estate agents are not only experts in buying property, but owning and maintaining property as well.
10 – Go with your gut
Yes, you should take the time to ask as much questions as you can but sometimes you just have to go with what your gut is trying to tell you. Is the real estate agent listening to you? Are they asking you excellent questions? Do you get the impression that they understand what you want? Do you feel as though you could easily put your confidence in them? And of course, the important question is, do you like them? If each of those questions are answered with yes, then it would seem you have a respectful real estate agent on your side and will be worth pursuing further.
Conclusion
We hope that this article has been helpful to you. If you would like to explore our services further or need assistance with securing a property in Thailand and would like to work with a reputable real estate agent with a wealth of experience, then please feel free to get in touch with us today at Lazudi. We will gladly answer any questions that you might have for us. 
