Home purchasing tips: What to look out for in a detached house
Many new homeowners in Thailand are enamored with the concept of owning a single detached home due to its general appearance as well as the potential for the property to have a front and backyard. While there’s nothing wrong with owning such a home, there are some factors that you need to keep an eye out for before you finalize any purchasing decision.
Examine the property for possible termite infestation
There has been a growing “boom” in Thailand for single detached homes that were constructed during the early to late 90s. This is because the construction standards at the time were far different resulting in larger lots, rooms and a general feeling of “space” within the house itself. However, while such homes are great to live in, there is a certain danger with purchasing some of the older ones since there is the potential for termite infestations to occur.
Even the most well maintained single detached homes could have a potentially destructive termite infestation in the hardwood that could compromise the durability of the walls and support beams. Due to Thailand’s temperate climate and location within South East Asia, termite infestations do occur regularly and this is one of the reasons why changes to present day building codes often require termite resistant wood or to utilize concrete extensively.
Before purchasing any of the older detached homes via sites like DDProperty, it is recommended that you first have the home evaluated by a pest control service or have the owner produce a report. If you don’t do this, it is likely that within a few years the support structure of the home could be compromised.
Examine the current state of the connecting sockets within the home
Another issue when it comes to some of the older single detached homes is the quality of the electrical sockets and wiring. While present day homes have more robust wiring installed, some of the older single detached homes have been known to have electrical issues due to the age of the wires. It is recommended that you have an electrician inspect the wiring of the house prior to making a purchase to ensure that the wires are still viable despite their age.
Concrete instead of wooden walls
When looking at detached homes, whether new or old, you need to determine whether the walls in between are made of wood or concrete. While the exterior of this type of home is normally concrete, there are some instances where the developer utilizes a combination of wood and internal insulation within the walls as dividers.
This is done to lower the overall cost of the home while at the same time makes the home have spaces where air can flow in between the walls which creates a cooling effect during the summer months. Considering the temperatures that Thailand is subject to during summer, this is actually a good move on the part of the developer; however, there are considerable drawbacks which make concrete walls preferable.
The first drawback is that different rodents and insects can make nests in these spaces between the walls. This can create serious issues if they find a way into the other parts of the home via cracks or small holes they create. Aside from this, wooden walls with insulation are not effective when it comes to blocking sound. This means that if someone is playing music or is noisy in one room, the sound can easily travel around the home. This can be a source of arguments within the house since some people don’t like noise when they are sleeping. As such, it is recommended that when it comes to any detached housing purchase, you should stick to the ones that have concrete walls.
Examine the local area
Due to its location in South East Asia, Thailand is subject to dozens of storms that strike it on an annual basis. This creates areas within the city and in suburban communities that are prone to sudden flooding. The aging drainage system within many of the cities of the country has not been improved significantly in decades which is one of the main causes behind the problem. Before purchasing any property, you have to examine the history of the area via a simple Google search or by asking the locals. If it is prone to flooding, it is not advisable that you purchase a detached home in this area since there is a high likelihood of extensive water damage occurring.
Conclusion
All in all, if you follow the various instructions in this guide, you are likely to make the right decisions when it comes to the type of detached house that you will purchase. Do note that the recommendations in this guide are not that extensive, there are still other factors that you need to take into consideration and, as such, it is highly advisable that you do additional research.
Many new homeowners in Thailand are enamored with the concept of owning a single detached home due to its general appearance as well as the potential for the property to have a front and backyard. While there's nothing wrong with owning such a home, there are some factors that you need to keep an eye out for before you finalize any purchasing decision. Examine the property for possible termite infestation There has been a growing "boom" in Thailand for single detached homes that were constructed during the early to late 90s. This is because the construction standards at the time...
Many new homeowners in Thailand are enamored with the concept of owning a single detached home due to its general appearance as well as the potential for the property to have a front and backyard. While there’s nothing wrong with owning such a home, there are some factors that you need to keep an eye out for before you finalize any purchasing decision.
Examine the property for possible termite infestation
There has been a growing “boom” in Thailand for single detached homes that were constructed during the early to late 90s. This is because the construction standards at the time were far different resulting in larger lots, rooms and a general feeling of “space” within the house itself. However, while such homes are great to live in, there is a certain danger with purchasing some of the older ones since there is the potential for termite infestations to occur.
Even the most well maintained single detached homes could have a potentially destructive termite infestation in the hardwood that could compromise the durability of the walls and support beams. Due to Thailand’s temperate climate and location within South East Asia, termite infestations do occur regularly and this is one of the reasons why changes to present day building codes often require termite resistant wood or to utilize concrete extensively.
Before purchasing any of the older detached homes via sites like DDProperty, it is recommended that you first have the home evaluated by a pest control service or have the owner produce a report. If you don’t do this, it is likely that within a few years the support structure of the home could be compromised.
Examine the current state of the connecting sockets within the home
Another issue when it comes to some of the older single detached homes is the quality of the electrical sockets and wiring. While present day homes have more robust wiring installed, some of the older single detached homes have been known to have electrical issues due to the age of the wires. It is recommended that you have an electrician inspect the wiring of the house prior to making a purchase to ensure that the wires are still viable despite their age.
Concrete instead of wooden walls
When looking at detached homes, whether new or old, you need to determine whether the walls in between are made of wood or concrete. While the exterior of this type of home is normally concrete, there are some instances where the developer utilizes a combination of wood and internal insulation within the walls as dividers.
This is done to lower the overall cost of the home while at the same time makes the home have spaces where air can flow in between the walls which creates a cooling effect during the summer months. Considering the temperatures that Thailand is subject to during summer, this is actually a good move on the part of the developer; however, there are considerable drawbacks which make concrete walls preferable.
The first drawback is that different rodents and insects can make nests in these spaces between the walls. This can create serious issues if they find a way into the other parts of the home via cracks or small holes they create. Aside from this, wooden walls with insulation are not effective when it comes to blocking sound. This means that if someone is playing music or is noisy in one room, the sound can easily travel around the home. This can be a source of arguments within the house since some people don’t like noise when they are sleeping. As such, it is recommended that when it comes to any detached housing purchase, you should stick to the ones that have concrete walls.
Examine the local area
Due to its location in South East Asia, Thailand is subject to dozens of storms that strike it on an annual basis. This creates areas within the city and in suburban communities that are prone to sudden flooding. The aging drainage system within many of the cities of the country has not been improved significantly in decades which is one of the main causes behind the problem. Before purchasing any property, you have to examine the history of the area via a simple Google search or by asking the locals. If it is prone to flooding, it is not advisable that you purchase a detached home in this area since there is a high likelihood of extensive water damage occurring.
Conclusion
All in all, if you follow the various instructions in this guide, you are likely to make the right decisions when it comes to the type of detached house that you will purchase. Do note that the recommendations in this guide are not that extensive, there are still other factors that you need to take into consideration and, as such, it is highly advisable that you do additional research.
