The gap nobody fills
In many countries a new home is checked by building control and often by a buyer’s surveyor. In Thailand, a buyer accepting a new condo or villa usually relies on the developer’s own sign-off. The developer is not acting in bad faith; they are simply checking their own work. An independent inspector works only for you, on one side of each unit, never both.
What inspections find
Most findings are minor finishes. But nearly every inspection also finds something that matters: a shower without proper waterproofing, a terrace that falls towards the house, a socket without an earth, an RCD that does not trip, a pool without bonding. These are the defects that become leaks, damage and safety risks. Read common defects in Phuket villas, damp in villas and damp in condos for typical examples.
The money side
An inspection costs a small fraction of the property price — condos from 15,000 THB and villas from 30,000 THB, see fees. A single waterproofing failure found after handover can cost more than that to diagnose and repair, before counting damage to finishes, furniture and rental income. Fixed before handover, it costs you nothing.
Leverage at the right moment
Before you sign for the keys, the developer wants the sale completed. After, your defects join a queue. A photographed report delivered before handover puts every item on record while you still hold the strongest position. Our guide on dealing with your developer explains how to use it.
Safety
Some defects are not about money. Missing earths, RCDs that fail to trip, and pools without equipotential bonding are genuine risks to whoever lives in or rents the property. Testing every circuit and the pool electrics is part of every inspection, and safety items are classified Critical.
Which inspection when
- Building or buying off-plan: construction stage inspections
- Handover coming up: a pre-handover inspection
- Already moved in: an inspection within the defects-liability period
- Repairs to oversee: project management
- Letting the property: an inventory
- Several units: multi-unit inspections
Seeing what you get
Before you book, look at the sample report and the services we offer. We cover all of Phuket and Koh Samui at the same fees.