How much to build a house in village 50 kms from Khon Kaen

[kekalot 570]

I am at a loss why Farangs need to build the biggest house in the village, situate their parking space so that everyone can see the SUV, the second car and the motorbikes, build a perimeter wall, and finish up with something that is much too large for the people living there. Hang on, thinking about it, maybe I do know why.

We live in an 8 x 8 metres house with the wife's granddaughter, (I am building a 3 x 8 metre extension) that I reckon I could build again for ฿200 000.-, double that with a new kitchen and bathroom.

I have met cooked and seen his house and other built projects, I can personally vouch that his house is nice and comfy, definitely not a rickety old shack.

however, I can't say that I have ever visited one of those farang mansions anywhere in Thailand. I did see the pictures and it's easy to figure out that they are obviously not cheap to build.

but I am quite modest when it comes to housing myself, I have lived in real Thai style sub par rooms/appartments in Thailand.

and if I was to be building I would definitely go bother cooked to get a few hints and tips and get him a case of beer.

[scubacat 1]

This is a forum where people write there opinions about issues and thai life and where most people help each other with advise but for those that no it all already why even log in surely you have bar to prop up somewhere ??

[Sd12 14]

A year after we married i came over for 9 months to build a house. Already had land beside Kutchap. We saw half a dozen houses getting built beside Udon Thani and loved the design. I arrived on the 5th July 2011. We phoned the number off the billboard advert beside the building site. The lady who owned the company said she could build for us for 950,000baht and came to meet us there one hour later. She drove us to Kutchap to see the site with one of her workers, to see if the land had settled okay. The very next day she transported a few workers to start building after we had decided on small interior and exterior details. She also had a contract made on paper to pay in 5 instalments on satisfactory completion of each stage. The house was finished in 2 months, and the builders were a really good bunch who stayed on site at my mother in laws next door and a few formed a lasting friendship with them that still has one or two come to visit them to this day. I paid an extra 100,000baht for a perimeter wall, steel railings and gate and a driveway. It has 2 bathrooms, 3 bedrooms, kitchen and lounge/dining area. During construction the lady got another 3 house building jobs with the same design with people passing and having a look during construction. Took all the workers out for a buffet night after as a thank you. Maybe we were lucky but we were about 40 km away in Udon Thani during construction and only came to see the progress every other day or when the lady phoned to ask us to come and see it. My father in law was friendly with them though and kept an eye on things. It is not inevitable that it will turn into a bad experience.

[scubacat 1]

Too true sd 12 there are very good thai builders out there that can do a good job

[watcharacters 4,500]

If not look at alanthebuilder

Then you'll know you paid to much.

Does that mean Mr. Alan is not in favor?

[samsensam 7,743]

A man with "a good heart" as they say in Thailand. Of course they are referring to the mans generosity.

For a GF I would build a one room (4 by 8 to 10 M) house. It will cost less then 500K, give you some experience with contractors and u can always add on more rooms. She may not be too happy, but u will feel better if the relationship goes South. I have seen a few funny things in Thailand.

my mate was building his dirt poor gf a house in the village. another lady in the village was also having a house built. instead of being grateful that my mate was building her a house all he got was moaning and complaints that the other house was better.

around 28,000 GBP spent to complete 80% of the house before the relationship broke down. she didnt even have the common sense to keep him happy until the house was finished.

there's probably quite a few part built properties out there.

he ended up marrying a lovely filipino lady.

[Mr Somtam 442]

We are building a house inq nakhon sawan at the moment. Builders are paid per day, we get the materials ourselves after discussing what we want with the builders. The house is 96 sqm including a large outside balcony of 24 sqm, so indoors is 72 sqm. House is on 3 meter high concrete poles with foundation. So downstairs we have an extra 96 sqm living spaces with tiled floor. 2 bedrooms, one toilet, one bathroom, kitchen. Walls are qcon blocks 20 cm thick outside and 10 cm thick inside. Steel roof with trachang roof tiles. 4 meters high, 45 degrees slope, no fancy edges. I keep track of the costs in a spreadsheet and we have now spent about 700 k baht. I calculated appr. Another 100 k baht finished, with bathroom, toilet, simple kitchen, tiles, paint, electrics. So total 800 k baht, maybe 850 k. Thats about 12000 per sqm.

[Naam 14,105]

but that was not incl land i guess?

I had everything included, Land, professional very modern kitchen, 2 bathrooms each 14 sqm, tiles to the ceiling, a prof. Aircon system with 5 regulators, ....

really happy with everything they did

who or what are regulators?

[Naam 14,105]

would some kind soul please be kind enough and enlighten me how many m² living area "2 and 3-bedroom" houses have and in addition an explanation what exactly a "farang style" house is?

[Dakling 178]

would some kind soul please be kind enough and enlighten me how many m² living area "2 and 3-bedroom" houses have and in addition an explanation what exactly a "farang style" house is?

Typical modest 2 br house would be about 10m x 8m or 80m2. Add another 15m2 or so for another bedroom and you are up to 95m2.

If you want more than one bathroom, covered parking, covered outdoor seating areas the houses will get larger quickly. Outdoor areas will cost less per m2 but they will still cost. Small houses can be expensive on a per m2 basis as they still need all the expensive bits and pieces.

When people say "farang style" they typically mean that the roof is concrete tiles or similar, electrical and plumbing is to western standards, the bathrooms are fully tiled with western fittings and amenities and that some form of a western kitchen is fitted.

[ericnoodeeka 237]

built this 5 year ago near sakon, live here with my wife and our daughter, cost me about 1.6 million at the time. the inlaws and family live in their home, i didnt get ripped of and no freeloaders come in my home, so u can do it if u pick the right person and u are lucky.

[ericnoodeeka 237]

built this 5 year ago near sakon, live here with my wife and our daughter, cost me about 1.6 million at the time. the inlaws and family live in their home, i didnt get ripped of and no freeloaders come in my home, so u can do it if u pick the right person and u are lucky.

[jacky54 4,808]

I would employ a good project manager after looking at work he had overseen already. Trust me it's just not worth the stress and conflict with the mrs trying to get builders to do things either properly or the way you want. Unless you are lucky with the builders they will do your head in.

[ericnoodeeka 237]

I would employ a good project manager after looking at work he had overseen already. Trust me it's just not worth the stress and conflict with the mrs trying to get builders to do things either properly or the way you want. Unless you are lucky with the builders they will do your head in.

also some advice i took from an older and wiser farrang, i used all neighbours for labouring work,they all got a year work out of me, hence now nobody resents me and we all get along fine.

[Mr Somtam 442]

We are building a house inq nakhon sawan at the moment. Builders are paid per day, we get the materials ourselves after discussing what we want with the builders. The house is 96 sqm including a large outside balcony of 24 sqm, so indoors is 72 sqm. House is on 3 meter high concrete poles with foundation. So downstairs we have an extra 96 sqm living spaces with tiled floor. 2 bedrooms, one toilet, one bathroom, kitchen. Walls are qcon blocks 20 cm thick outside and 10 cm thick inside. Steel roof with trachang roof tiles. 4 meters high, 45 degrees slope, no fancy edges. I keep track of the costs in a spreadsheet and we have now spent about 700 k baht. I calculated appr. Another 100 k baht finished, with bathroom, toilet, simple kitchen, tiles, paint, electrics. So total 800 k baht, maybe 850 k. Thats about 12000 per sqm.

Just to give an idea here are some pictures: