Condo mistakes in THAILAND - 11 things you need to know BEFORE you rent

Don't make these mistakes when renting a condo in Thailand!
After watching this video, I recommend that you watch my Condo Rental Guide to help you find the perfect condo and avoid scams.
• Renting a condo in Ban...
Chapters
Intro 0:00
Luxury condos 0:33
Inexpensive condos 2:04
Old condos 3:15
Furniture: 5:10
Changes to a condo 5:39
Location 6:08
Convenience 7:01
Walkability 7:48
Noise 8:47
Smells 11:42
Pests 12:13
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Thailand Condo Rental Guide
• Renting a condo in Ban...
Where to stay in Bangkok
• The 10 Best Areas to S...

[@Mikeydawson]

The real estate websites here are really bad, multiple agents list the same place and they hardly take them off if rented, try to get the line app of agents that already lists in the building you like and send them message to see what’s available, and never pay sticker price, the listing is inflated and they expect some negotiation

[@thebangkokguide]

I agree. It's most bait and switch strategies on those websites. I recommend checking out this video, as I go through the best process to find and rent condos as well! kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4G3qqyOqcapbtk

[@vintageexcellence]

I saw on another interview show discounts of about 28% off the asking rent price.

[@Mikeydawson]

@@vintageexcellence it depends on landlord how motivated they are to rent, many empty condos but if the new digital nomad visa comes available it may see many foreigners coming back to live and looking for places to rent

[@thebangkokguide]

@@vintageexcellence I cover this quite a bit in the video I linked. It really depends on the occupancy rate of the building and whether the condo is priced well in comparison to competing units. I recommend making a discounted offer of around 30% as a general rule as well. But once your actually looking, you will also notice that some units come on the market that are very well priced. It can be best to just rent those ones on the spot as they disappear very quickly.

[@duketogoth]

Your video was one of the best quality ones that provides very practical ideas. Thanks a million.

[@thebangkokguide]

I'm glad it was helpful! Thank you for the kind words!

[@josephwells3379]

Great information with examples and details. Best video I have seen. Thank you for pointing out what to consider when looking for a place to stay or live. Thank you. 😊

[@thebangkokguide]

Thank you for the kind words! Much appreciated!

[@LJ-bq9fy]

Wonderful deep insight into things we often don't think about, but should, when buying or renting a condo. I can attest to how important it is to have quiet neighbors, pedestrian-friendly sidewalks, nearby convenience stores. Also, how important it is to not have poor ventilation or live beside a very busy street. One thing I can thoroughly recommend to completely, or at least mostly, eradicate noise issues is to get a pair of 🍎airbuds. I work/sleep on vampire hours and those airbuds set on 'noise cancellation' have saved me from screaming at my neighbors when they do home repairs or young kids make noise in the hallways. Best work-around for

[@thebangkokguide]

That's a good tip! I will look into those, as I am a very light sleeper. Thank you for the kind words as well!

[@dry5555]

Fantastic video, as usual. I'm noise sensitive and the old condos look like a bargain. Solid concrete...yeah, baby! Thank you for spending the time you did on noise. One thing maybe worth mentioning is the noise from renovation work in new condos (at least in KL where I live). It can reverberate across *floors* given the lack of sound proofing. I've had more than a few "just kill me" moments when a neighbor starts using a power drill.

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words! I'm very noise sensitive as well and it's probably one of the more difficult problems to deal with in a lot of condos here. My current condo had a sudden uptick in noise. Drove me nuts for about a week lol

[@carstensanonym7527]

Very old condos also report inside noise of refurbishments to make outweared units more attractive. Especially in Chiang Mai i read (google maps reviews) this issue in the very old and central located (e.g Nimman) condos very often

[@DeeKay68]

Soundproofing has very little to do with construction noise. Vibration through the floors enter into your suite. Concrete walls also are not soundproofing.

[@user-Jenfromdownunder]

Great vlog! Thanks mate 😉👍

[@thebangkokguide]

Cheers!

[@marijusofficial]

Fabulous job Cal as usual,i do agree old condos are so good with isolation not only in Bkk but in some other parts in Thailand.Again i might be needing condo in future so this is a great advice

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words! Cheers!

[@weeooh1]

Wonderful vid with much useful info! Thanks!

[@thebangkokguide]

Thank you 🙏

[@jeffreye7179]

Excellent video. Keep up the great content!!

[@thebangkokguide]

Thank you for the kind words!

[@melmjetset1876]

Thanks for this vid. Very helpful

[@thebangkokguide]

Cheers! Thanks for the kind words!

[@CollinAbroadcasting]

Awesome video! The park you shot the outro at is my favorite park. Such an awesome spot!

[@thebangkokguide]

Love the park. Probably one of my favorite spots in the city. Cheers!

[@traceylankford8579]

This is why I think you put out about the best content on living in Thailand. No one ever talks about the roaches. I've seen it mentioned in reviews though. Thank you so much for bringing this into the post. It's so important.

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words. And yep, those roaches are pretty inescapable here. I try to keep my place really clean and close off any entry points… but it’s still a challenge!

[@JoeyMoieYW]

Great video and great timing, this is just what I needed as I´m starting to look at condos in Bangkok! Thanks Cal!

[@thebangkokguide]

I’m glad it’s helpful. Thanks for the kind words! Make sure to watch my other video on this topic as it will help you when you start searching: kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4G3qqyOqcapbtksi=ej7Hx--bfRlFnMvR

[@zacghent8564]

Same me too 👍 I arrive in September what month do you land

[@notinservice3724]

great show, I love old condos

[@thebangkokguide]

Me too. I like the aesthetic as well. I’m planning a move back over to one now!

[@marko5937]

Excellent video and advice, Cal! Thank you for sharing your experience with condos in Bangkok - very helpful! - Mark O, east coast, U.S.

[@thebangkokguide]

Thank you for the kind words! Cheers!

[@mangostickyrice555]

Thumbs up 👍 Cal

[@thebangkokguide]

Cheers!

[@SteveSmith-zz4ih]

Noise is a BIG issue, thanks for the info, large cities aren't my cup of tea, so BKK is a miss, down south looks ok or Vietnam Da Lat in the hot season looks good.

[@thebangkokguide]

Both are definitely good options. Noise is tough to escape in BKK!

[@AlanKeeble]

Hi Cal. Recently discovered your great videos on Bangkok condos. Love the clear, up to date info. I've been to Bangkok a number of times and know the usual areas and transport system, and I'm looking at spending four months in Bangkok, October to January, to learn Thai at a school near Asok. Don't want to in Asok but am considering somewhere down the Sukhumvit BTS line. Can you, or anyone else, recommend condo buildings/areas, or even further away but accessible areas - not full of expats, otherwise I won't learn the lingo. Thanks, Alan.

[@thebangkokguide]

Hi Alan, it might be a bit difficult to find a standard condo for only 4 months as most landlords want a minimum 6 month lease. If you’re looking for 4 months I would recommend checking serviced apartments on renthub.in They do much more flexible rentals!

[@PapaOsmubal.OscarBalajadia]

new subscriber here. thanks.

[@thebangkokguide]

Cheers! Thanks!

[@rossp561]

Nice video, but I would add a couple of things. 1. Pay attention to which side of the building your unit is located. If it faces more to the west, it will get hot during the afternoon and thus your electricity bill will be higher. 2. Look at a flood map for Bangkok. Parts of the city do flood during heavy rains, and you don't want to have to wade through it.

[@thebangkokguide]

Good additional tips! Thanks for your input!

[@nixonbd53]

Great information! The brand new condos are so tiny! 25 - 38 sqm is just too small to move about!

[@thebangkokguide]

I agree. I think it depends on what your plans are. They can be perfect as a little base of operations but not ideal home environments.

[@michaeltakayama8415]

Another great vlog, with lots of useful & detailed information. Thanks for sharing your experience. :) A few questions: Let's say that someone is not interested in living in a high-rise condo (perhaps due to fear of heights, for example). Do you have any experience with, and/or knowledge about, low-rise apartment buildings in Bangkok? With regards to location, it seems that vloggers focus mostly on the areas in/around Asoke, On Nut, Silom, etc. But, what is your opinion about living a bit further out - perhaps over on the west side of the Chao Phraya River?

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words! There are plenty of low-rise buildings as well. Normally these are a little bit older but they offer great value! The west side of the Chaopraya is great! This is the Thonburi area and I actually lived there for 3 years. It’s like going back in time. Much quieter and more relaxed. Absolutely love it. I covered it in my guide about places to stay in Bangkok. I recommend checking out this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpiccn6ei8djga8si=7vIqjQvb0uvVIxBF Cheers!

[@neilyounan3241]

Most condos especially the newer ones have a sewage stench problems that come inside the rooms through the toilets don’t let the looks of the exterior fool you.

[@regnorse]

you should be paid double for this.. verrry helpful

[@thebangkokguide]

Thank you for the kind words! Cheers!

[@WanderlustReports]

Great video, Cal! Btw,would you ever consider buying a condo or is renting you preferred way of doing?

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words! Perhaps one day, but I would need to be very settled as the real estate market isn't quite as good of an investment as in western countries. As it is, the market favors renting due to overbuilding. I'll cover this in a video soon as it's a good subject to cover!

[@WanderlustReports]

@@thebangkokguide I'll be happy to watch that one...

[@stargate11now]

The small world I’m going there from New York in three weeks and I’m looking at the same complex you happen to live at only question is how is the noise level at your location. I need my space more than I need luxury. Keep up your videos I’ve actually enjoy them

[@thebangkokguide]

It’s alright but I’m less of a fan now as the area is quite congested, and the building is busier than it used to be. I’m considering moving as I’ve been here for a while but overall it has been a great condo. In terms of noise, if your unlucky and have a neighbor that is even a little bit noisy there is a good chance you will hear it. This is quite similar for most of the box style condos. Need the older ones for the best noise proofing!

[@ThunderGator8154]

Regarding higher end condos like the Celes Asoke which was shown in your video, how much can one negotiate/lower (as a percentage range) the asking monthly rent with a 1-year lease? What percentage off the monthly rent is a good starting offer assuming a 1-year lease? Thank you!

[@CattaAttoAI]

Thanks for the amazing information mate. I want to live there for 6 months/ year. Can you do a video with some examples of what you would get now and what area considering this video please? Can you show some condo with how much month they are asking? What would you get if you want to move in a month to Bangkok? What's the perfect condo for you after that much time there and the costs/ month? Thanks 👍

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words. I recommend you watch a couple of my earlier videos about the areas in the city and a full rental guide. I'll be covering more specific condos in upcoming videos as well. Cheers! kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpiccn6ei8djga8si=ZPoBbuR3t3rnk1Iy kzbin.info/www/bejne/f4G3qqyOqcapbtksi=L8bkc7pJYK7sv784

[@CattaAttoAI]

@@thebangkokguide thank you for your help

[@spirittravels.]

Excellent information, thanks. What sort of price range are we talking about for a basic but decent old condo in Bangkok for 1 person please, based on your own experience?

[@thebangkokguide]

It depends on the size of the condo. You can find 40sqm studios in older building for as little as 7,000 baht per month… or 100sqm 2 bedroom units for 14,000 per month. I have friends that pay these prices. And those prices can go up significantly depending on the location and building… for example I lived in a 100sqm condo right next to Asok for 29k.

[@spirittravels.]

@@thebangkokguide Thanks for the update. Much appreciated 👍

[@simplysocial7383]

Good info what condo do you recommend do you have a list on you page. Thanks

[@thebangkokguide]

There are a lot of condos in this city. It depends on the neighborhood, and your preferences. I'll be covering condos in upcoming episodes though.

[@pAuL-nb2ud]

That’s a cool video // since I work in structural engineering these are things I consider when choosing a building (materials, build quality) well done 👍 Edit: What would you suggest for someone on short stay, as in 1-3 months ? 🙂 Edit 2: Nevermind, I found the answer in the other video 👍

[@thebangkokguide]

Thanks for the kind words! In case my answer is different, I’d recommend either a lease takeover on Facebook marketplace (but be careful about scams) or a serviced apartment which is normally listed on the website renthub. Cheers!

[@didierdc]

Any thoughts about the earthquake code? In the event of an earthquake, is it better to live in a new or older condo?

[@ignatiobuns4853]

Another great video! Good job Cal! 😊 Do you happen to know if there are short-term condo rental options available for those of us who will be visiting Bangkok for a few months?

[@thebangkokguide]

Short term rentals are much more difficult to find. Normally landlords want a minimum 6 month lease. I recommend you check Facebook marketplace as there are often lease takeovers, but just be careful about scams on there. You can also check serviced apartments on the website renthub . They normally do short term rentals and offer very good value. Cheers!

[@ignatiobuns4853]

Thanks Cal, I’ll check those out! 😊

[@fearless6947]

Cal has a video called: how to find a condo in bangkok part 1 and part 2. I found one with a short term monthly rental. I had an ed visa, so went for 6 months. The same condo offers monthly. I can not tell you the condo, it might get flooded with expats, I want to return to that condo in the future. I would book a cheap hotel for 18 days and follow the steps to find a condo in that video. If you need to extend, extend hotel. Also consider places one or two stops from the prime location because you are looking for short term rentals. Max bts trains per month would only be around 60 pounds. Obviously 10 minutes away from mrt or bts is a must. I found a condo within 3 days, it was that fast.

[@ignatiobuns4853]

@@fearless6947 Thanks for pointing me in the direction of those videos, they were great! And thanks for the advice regarding location selection. Do you have any recommendations for a first time visitor who's looking for accommodations outside of the busier areas of Sukhumvit near MRT/BTS, with moderate expat/tourist community, near a mall and/or food shopping/market options? I looked a bit at Thong Lor, Phra Kanong, and On Nut but there are so many to choose from it's tough to decide. Perhaps when I arrive I'll just spend a week cruising up and down the various rail lines to see which areas catch my attention. Thanks again! 😁

[@fearless6947]

@@ignatiobuns4853 when you arrive, just spend a week cruising up and down the various rail lines to see which areas catch your attention. If your goal is 3 months, those places you mention sounds good. You won't get it exactly perfect, but it would be good enough for a couple months, and should be able to get your deposit back. Over time staying in Bangkok, you will get a feel for where you really like to stay, when you return.

[@mergenether]

different topic but do you have vitiligo? i have too brother :) it looks kinda cool btw

[@thebangkokguide]

Yeah I do. Thanks for the kind words! Cheers!

[@BB-yi6qn]

The United States and Canada have large territories, and there are beautiful large villas in the suburbs. Are there beautiful large villas in the suburbs of Thailand?

[@thebangkokguide]

Yeah there are! There are a lot of housing developments here which copied the Suburban North American style!

[@chev6901]

How much does it cost to rent a studo or one bedroom in the oldest condos? Thank you.

[@thebangkokguide]

You can find a studio for around 7000 baht or even less in the older buildings.

[@horstguenterstahr7728]

with a visitor visa in the USA. Visitor visa is important. But let it be noted that it is a visitor visa. If you want to work, you need a green card, your leave is vacation. Be careful, working secretly is prohibited by law. There are enough unemployed people in America.

[@thebangkokguide]

This is correct…-although this video is about condos in Thailand

[@gif24gt60]

Do u recommend asking for a 50% discount off the rent when negotiating?

[@thebangkokguide]

It really depends on the condo and how close it is to fair market prices. I normally recommend asking for a 30% discount, but some condos come to market that are priced very well….they normally get rented almost immediately!

[@carlosei1]

Is it possible to get rid of cockroaches entirely through periodic fumigation of your condo? (I have a very strong aversion to cockroaches.)

[@thebangkokguide]

You can do periodic fumigation and most condos do it regularly as well. If you keep the place very clean you shouldn’t have problems.

[@carlosei1]

@@thebangkokguide Thank you! That's what I needed to hear!

[@user-ev5ph6be4o]

สวัสดีครับ

[@jiatinedaddy]

Really great information when looking for a condo in Bangkok. Keep on posting.

[@thebangkokguide]

Thank you for the kind words! Cheers!

[@beautifulcrush9930]

You call these “condos” but you’re talking about renting rather than buying. Do you have information on purchase prices of condos?

[@thebangkokguide]

Yes, this is a video about renting condos… it’s in the title. I will cover buying condos in a later video though! Cheers!

[@BB-yi6qn]

The weather in Canada is cold, so you don’t need to buy an air conditioner, which can save a lot on electricity bills. Unlike Thailand, where you have to turn on the air conditioner every day and the electricity bill is very expensive , Right ?

[@thebangkokguide]

Actually I pay a lot less for electric and utilities here as Canada has very cold weather which requires heating in the winter… and then hot weather which requires air conditioning in the summer. I think my utility bills were about 3-4x higher in Canada.

[@jamalgreen3056]

The first and main thing he needs to mention is to not rent in hot spot touristy areas with a lot of foreign investors.But of course that’s too much like right instead let’s attract more people to the same areas like Bangkok,Pattaya and Phuket🤔🤣.

[@thebangkokguide]

I cover locations in a different video… this video is just about the different condo styles and problems to avoid.

[@gameplayfirst6548]

I doubt anyone thinking about Bangkok would be happy in the places you suggest. We want the convenience and possibilities of a bigger city. I was about to agree to your first sentence, but realized that you don't talk about areas, but just hate bigger cities in general.

[@rydmerlin]

You are quite pale. Do you always wear sunscreen in the sun? Arms legs etc?

[@thebangkokguide]

Actually I rarely wear sunscreen… but I try to avoid getting too much sun as I definitely burn quite quickly here!

[@richardabazley]

Cal, You speak so slowly that I've had to speed you up to 1.25 just so you sound normal. What gives?😮

[@thebangkokguide]

I think I just speed slowly sometimes… 1.25 can be a good option!

[@richardabazley]

@@thebangkokguide I did actually have to do that but still grateful for the excellent content as someone travelling in Thailand right now, with the intention of possibly moving here sometime in the future.....😊

[@ReallyStrongGuy]

Love the content, but MAN that slow speech pattern drags on too long on my TV. Have to watch elsewhere at 1.5x

[@thebangkokguide]

Fair point! Thanks for the input!

[@ReallyStrongGuy]

@@thebangkokguide For sure! Glad you understood the intention. Cheers!