I fully agree with you on this one Chownah.
There are correct ways of politely supervising instead of the 10 ton blow to the head method. In the U.S. if some one was insistent at watching me do there auto body work I would show them the cute sign (at the bottom-teaching charges double)
But lets face it, In Thailand they do things a little different then where we all come from. And even though you are sure the contractor fully understands you, he might still do it his what cause he is used to doing it that way for 20 years. I find that offering a little gin kow & coca cola & food from our garden. Along with not being timid & bustin a sweat helping the crew dig or clean up or whatever I can do to make there job easier goes a long way.That way to you can somewhat participate & see iff any changes to your designs are being made & politely offer a different view without ever making your contractor feel inferior. I am very lucky to have stumbled into a very good & kindhearted contractor that builds(or overbuilds)with the right rebar cement & no cheating on the materials.He has been charging me the same price as I can find(if he is making another 10% congrads to him)
That & having a good Thai woman(slightly hotheaded at times) has proven to be the ticket.And not only that the people love working for a kind person. Now some of the local hardware stores me & my girl would rather talk to the Quais!!!!
Cost Of Buiding Materials
Started by phutoie2, 2007-11-22 21:34
#27
phutoie2
Super Member Posted 2008-01-02 21:40:03
I am on site everyday as I am now retired over here, and I like talking to all the builders and see how work is progressing and they are following my plans & design. Its all interesting and I think the best way for a house building project. There is another farang house in the next Soi and the British chap was never here for any part of the construction, just put all the money in his girlfriends bank account. Its a lovely house, and he only visits once a year. Due out at Christmas, so I look forward to meeting him. I'd be interested to hear also about the necessity of being on site everyday. The general consensus is that it's necessary, however if you're working full time like myself it isn't possible. I'm a plumber by trade, my father is a builder so I grow up around tradesman, most of whom were self employed. I've never met one who liked owners watching them and asking questions while they worked. They all find it distracting and even dangerous. Regular visits and chats about the job were welcome, but being constantly watched and questioned wasn't. It gave them the feeling of distrust. Considering that the general distrust of builders that exists here, I'm curious how the fell about all the monitoring while they work. You do not have to be on site for every hour of the day, just a few minutes will do and I would not dream of interfering in the methods of construction, however I have to supply and pay for a daily supply of ice and top up 25 litre water bottles for the small team of builders from time to time.. There is also the collection of invoices for the payment of materials. The local tessa baan architect drew up plans for my house from my own design and the builder and his wife spent several hours at my house discussing the whole project. You have to monitor the building otherwise you will end up with windows that should 'nt be there and doors that should!!.. Our builders are local people who we get on really well with, remember they are rice and pig farmers too. Rice cutting has just finished up here and work halted for a few days, oh and then the election and new year!, but all back on site tomorrow hopefully. Last week met up with a Plymouth chap who has just bought 3 rai of farm land for his GF, picked a house from a catologue, apparently there is a choice of quality of building materials to be used - high, medium & cheap!! options. He has just spent his Christmas break here and had some 270 trucks of earth delivered and compacted, plus an excavator to dig out an Olympic size pond. The house on its own costs 1.8 million baht and he will send over 5 payments of 360k baht. He has to return to work in the UK and left everything in the hands of GF and family. I went over to see his land and told my wife what he was up to. No surprise - just the usual 'up to him' |
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