Post by @te.quila.papi

After living here and making some expensive mistakes, these are the things I would check BEFORE handing over that deposit: 1️⃣ The condo can look perfect… and still have problems. Noise at night, noisy neighbors, termites, water leaks during rainy season, plumbing issues… some problems won’t be obvious during a 15-minute viewing. Inspect EVERYTHING. Ask neighbors. And if someone already lives in the building, pull them aside and ask honestly what it’s like. Don’t be shy — this is going to be your home for the next 12 months. 2️⃣ Be ready for the 3-month payment shock. A very common setup is 1 month’s rent + 2 months’ security deposit, especially for a 12-month lease. That’s a LOT of money to put down at once, so budget for it before you start apartment hunting. 3️⃣ Your deposit is NOT money you want to lose. DOCUMENT EVERYTHING. Take videos and photos of every wall, scratch, stain, appliance, piece of furniture, bathroom fixture, remote control… EVERYTHING. I personally got charged for things that were already there and somehow “disappeared” from the inventory. And suddenly those things were apparently worth their weight in gold. 😭 Yes, you can dispute things, but that can mean time, money and a LOT of stress. 4️⃣ Don’t rent for the swimming pool and gym. Rent for the LOCATION and the actual apartment. Especially if you’re new to Bangkok. A beautiful condo with fancy facilities won’t help much if your daily commute is horrible or you hate the neighborhood. I’d rather have a better location, more usable space and a better-quality room than a giant rooftop pool I use three times a year and living in a 38 sqm condo 😅. 5️⃣ Read the contract like your deposit depends on it… because it does. Check the early termination clause, notice period, maintenance responsibilities, cleaning fees, furniture damage, deposit return conditions and exactly what happens if something breaks. Some renters have reported extremely one-sided repair clauses, so don’t just sign because the agent tells you “this is standard.” 6️⃣ CHECK WHO YOU ARE ACTUALLY PAYING. Before transferring a huge amount of money, make sure the owner, lease and payment details make sense. Ask for the owner’s ID/passport and ownership documentation, and be careful if you’re being asked to transfer money to a random account. The juristic office can also help confirm who actually owns the unit. 7️⃣ Ask about electricity and water BEFORE you sign. ⚡️💧 Don’t assume the bill will be the same everywhere. Ask exactly how electricity and water are calculated, who you pay, whether you receive the actual utility bill and what other charges you’re responsible for. A cheap condo can become much less cheap once the monthly bills arrive. 8️⃣ Test EVERYTHING before moving in. Turn on every air conditioner. Flush every toilet. Test the shower, water pressure, stove, fridge, washing machine, lights, outlets and internet connection. Also check for weird smells, leaks and water stains. Finding a problem before you move in is MUCH easier than proving it appeared later. 9️⃣ Learn the condo’s rules before signing. Visitors, pets, smoking, noise, parking, moving hours, deliveries, Airbnb/short-term guests… every building can have different rules. You don’t want to discover after moving in that something you do regularly can get you fined or into trouble with the juristic office. 🔟 Ask yourself: “What happens when I want to leave?” Don’t only think about moving IN. Ask how much notice you need to give, when the deposit is returned, what deductions can be made and how the final inspection works. Ideally, do a final walkthrough with the landlord/agent and document the condition again. Bangkok has AMAZING condos at ridiculously good prices… but the wrong one can become a very expensive headache. 😅 Save this before you go condo hunting 👀🇹🇭 #Bangkok #BangkokThailand #ThailandTips #LivingInThailand #bangkokcondo