Experience: A key factor for buyers and investors

Issue 10 | Feature brought to you by Trichada

A technique that buyers can use to help with their Phuket purchase

The plethora of Phuket developments can be simply mindboggling for potential buyers and investors looking at property on the southern Thailand island, but one major differentiating factor that can be used effectively when opting for your choice of property is simply the experience of the developer.

Sadly, there are very occasional stories of developers throughout Thailand, and especially in its resorts, taking deposits and disappearing altogether – and indeed some property developers will even recount stories of building contractors themselves taking money and disappearing.

A solid, trackable and checkable trackrecord of successful developments and happy customers is one simple but vital tool that buyers can use when looking for their perfect property. Wise advice indeed, and words that come from one such experienced Phuket developer, Doug Ferguson, with 12-years of experience on the island – both as a developer and an investor. Not only that – most of his work has been in the same location – Bang Tao – so he’s become somewhat of an expert – not only in Phuket property development but also in that specific geographical location on the island.

One factor facing first-time Phuket property developers is a distinct lack of knowledge, but that’s not something that buyers and investors at Trichada, a 24- unit, single-storey pool villa development, have to worry about.

Doug and his team have the knowledge, the contacts and two previous developments under their belt at the widely-acclaimed Sai Taan project.

He is recognised not only by the local real estate agents for being a quality property developer, but also with the local authorities and government officials – an all-important factor when dealing with things like property transfers at the land office.

Experience also matters for things which, to a first time developer, might seem as simple as installing electricity or dealing with drainage. In Thailand there’s often no such thing as “simple” and that’s where a lot of first-time developers can fall down.

Doug, and his team, have certainly stood the test of time and know how to get things done on the island – and Trichada is proof of that.

For Trichada he has created something special and something that has attracted “quality” buyers from around the world that are buying for what Doug describes as a “self-funding” holiday home that could double as a potential retirement destination in the years to come.

Two-bedroom units, with 100 sqm of internal space, start at THB 11.5 million while the largest three-bedroom unit, at 140 sqm, comes with a price tag of THB 15.5 million. The units at Trichada come fully-fitted to allow the individual purchaser to decorate their home to their own taste. Doug and his team though are on hand and offer a furniture package and help for anyone that needs it.

Experience counts for a lot, and it’s certainly something that should never be ignored nor taken for granted