| Property Management |
| It's easy to imagine that in paradise things look after themselves, but in reality the same rules apply to property maintenance as in the rest of the world. Empty properties can deteriorate rapidly, and whilst seeming to be idyllic, the climate in Phuket is not 'property-friendly'. |
Congratulations!
You have now completed the purchase of
your property in Phuket.
If you have not already done so, you now need to give some thought as to
who is going to look after the property whilst you are not here. You have
made a significant investment. Your investment needs to be well looked after
otherwise it can be costly in terms of unexpected and unnecessary repairs.
It's easy to imagine that in paradise things look after themselves,
but in reality the same rules apply to property maintenance as in the rest
of the world. Empty properties can deteriorate rapidly, and whilst seeming
to be idyllic, the climate in Phuket is not 'property-friendly'.
You will be surprised how quickly the combination of sun and salt air can
act as a paint or varnish stripper to exterior finishes, and how dust forms
a sticky layer on interior furnishings. When the rainy season comes, monsoon
rains test every little crevice.
Fortunately for you, the advent of the property boom in Phuket with many of
the initial investors buying holiday homes has also seen the establishment
of a number of companies specializing in the maintenance and management of
estates, villas and apartments.
A professional property management company will be able to advise you on how
to care for your property and what preventative maintenance should be applied
to keep it in good order. The old English adage that 'A stitch in time
saves nine' translates into any language, and is never truer than when
referring to property maintenance.
If you have purchased an apartment, it is most likely that the estate management
will be responsible for the exterior of the building, and you will be charged
a monthly fee for this service. If your apartment is a registered 'Condominium',
then the responsibilities of the Condominium Juristic Person [CJP] for the
maintenance of the building should be straightforward. Otherwise you should
check carefully what is included in your 'Common Area' management
services agreement.
 It is unlikely that these services will cover the care and maintenance of
the interior of your apartment. A property management company on the other
hand, will be able to provide you with such services including regular cleaning,
and the maintenance and repair of such items as air-conditioners and water
systems.
If you have purchased an individual villa property, either set-alone or within
an estate complex you should look to engage the services of a management company
able to provide :
- General housekeeping services
- Property maintenance and repair services
- Garden maintenance services
- Swimming pool maintenance and repair services
Remember that even within an estate complex, the estate's common area
services will end at your garden gate and you will be responsible for the
maintenance of your own property.
Whilst many of the management companies sub-contract these services and simply
act to manage and oversee the various works, others employ their own staff
and assign them to your property as required. This can offer greater flexibility
in terms of the frequency of service visits and even which staff service your
property.
Some of the management companies can also employ staff on your behalf to be
permanently assigned to your property. This takes away the headache of employing
your own staff, paying their taxes and national insurance, whilst providing
the comfort of knowing that they are properly trained and under the constant
supervision of the management company when you are away from Phuket.
Whether you have an apartment or villa, an often forgotten consideration is
the payment of utility and other bills. A professional management company
will be able to provide this service for you and ensure that your electricity
meter does not suddenly disappear, your telephone or UBC service is cut or
your insurance policy expires, because the bills were not paid on time.
Next time you visit, your property it will be welcoming and in good order.
In the meantime you can sleep easy knowing that the management company is
caring for your investment in paradise………
Information by Lynx Management
Tel: +66 (0) 76 239 944
Website: www.phuket-villas.com
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