While no hard and fast rule says you have to work with a real estate agent to find your new home to rent or buy, a professional realtor can help guide you through what can be a complicated and stressful process. Besides, it’s part of an agent’s job to negotiate the best deal possible on your behalf. If you can’t get a referral for an excellent real estate agent in Bangkok, there are other ways to find an agent. Let’s explore a few of them as well as the qualities you’ll want to look for.
How can I find a real estate agent?
First and foremost, the obvious place to start your real estate agent search is with family, friends and colleagues. Many of them will have gone through a similar experience and may know someone wonderful to recommend. They might also brief you on the whole process where some reputed agents may make use of seller lead generation tools that help in narrowing down the right clients. Finding someone you can trust wholeheartedly will make you feel more comfortable with the process. Plus, as you’re going to be spending a lot of time with that agent in the coming weeks or months, you’ll want to find someone you like and who fully understands what you’re after.
Having said that, whilst referrals are a good place to start, that doesn’t mean you have to work with the first agent you find. Take time to interview a few candidates to ensure you find someone who has both the personality and professionalism you seek.
If you can’t find an agent via referral, here are a few other options to consider:
- Walk or drive around your chosen neighbourhood and look for ‘for rent’ and ‘for sale’ signs on the buildings you’re interested in. Jot down the name and contact number of the real estate agent or agency listed and contact them.
- Attend a couple of open-houses and talk to the agent who is selling/renting the condominiums. You may find someone you would like to work with.
- Many local websites list real estate agents and properties for rent/sale by city. Examples include dotproperty.com. thailand-property.com, bkkcondos.com, thaiapartment.com, bandkokcondofinder.com and cbre.co.th.
What should I look for in a real estate agent?
Buying or renting a home in Bangkok is a big decision, so you’ll want to work with an agent who is going to get the best possible deal for you. Keep in mind that unlike in the West, Thailand does not require agents (either foreigner or local) to have a license, so that means the industry is mostly unregulated and many underhand agents are working out there. With that in mind, here are a few points to consider when choosing an agent.
A good agent should be very familiar with the real estate market in your chosen area. An experienced agent can give you a feel for the market, tell you how long houses typically take to sell and whether they’re mostly selling at, above or below asking price. This can help you decide how to price your home if you’re selling and how to structure your offer if you’re buying. The same applies if you’re looking to rent, an excellent agent will know what the going rates are or what can be negotiated without over-promising.
As time is often of the essence in these matters, a good agent will be on call 24/7 to move your case along. Be clear how you want to communicate with them – phone, e-mail, WhatsApp, Line, etc. Also, as you may need to see dozens of condos or houses before you find the right one. Select an agent who will be able to show you houses at a time that’s convenient for you (for example, some agents don’t work weekends).
We hope this article has been useful and that you’re well on your way to finding the best possible real estate agent in Bangkok to help you secure the home of your dreams.