Mind the calendar
Samui’s heaviest rain usually arrives from October to December. A villa handed over in the dry months may not meet a real storm until well into its first year, by which time the warranty conversation has gone cold. Waterproofing details deserve extra attention, because the weather will not test them for you before you sign.
Hillside plots and drainage
Many of the best views on Samui come with a slope. Check where surface water goes in a downpour: retaining walls need weep holes that are clear, drainage channels need somewhere to discharge, and nothing should fall back towards the house. Look for cracking or bulging in retaining walls and in paving at the edge of the plot.
Roofs, terraces and wet rooms
- Moisture readings at skirtings, thresholds and the ceilings under terraces
- Falls on terraces and in showers towards every drain
- Silicone alone is not waterproofing: look for proper upstands and membranes where they can be seen
- Run every shower and basin together and watch every drain clear
Pool, pumps and electrics
Check that the pool has equipotential bonding, that the pump room is ventilated and drained, and that pool lighting is low-voltage and protected. Every circuit in the consumer unit should be labelled, and wet areas should be protected by a residual-current device that trips when tested.
Air conditioning and condensate
Run every unit on cool for at least twenty minutes, check the air is properly cold and confirm the condensate is draining outside. Pipes laid flat or falling backwards show nothing at handover and leave a stained ceiling a year later.
Finishes and the specification
Tap tiles for hollow areas, sight along walls and floors in low light, open and close every door and window, and compare fittings, appliances and materials with the specification attached to your contract. Our condo handover checklist and common villa defects guides go into more detail.
Before you sign
Put every defect in writing, numbered and photographed, and get the developer’s agreement on dates for fixing them before you accept the keys. We inspect on Samui with the same checklist, report and fixed fees as Phuket.