Is it true that real estate agencies in Thailand only provide access to their own properties for rent?

Real Estate in Thailand Leasing Properties Property Agents Expat Living Renting in Thailand

Mar 27, 2023

2 years ago

ORIGINAL POSTER

Just finishing my first year's lease. I've been visiting Thailand for a couple decades but just started doing the leasing thing so dealing with agents is just new in the last year or so. Looking for a new lease and it seems like each real estate office only offers their own limited selection of properties - is this true? 

I'm used to how things operate in the West where all agents have access to all available properties for rent or for sale.  Is it really true that you can go to different agencies and be offered different available properties?

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TLDR : Answer Summary

In Thailand, real estate agents typically offer a limited selection of properties that they manage, rather than a comprehensive view of all available listings. Unlike in many Western countries, where agents often have access to a centralized database of all properties for sale or rent, here you may need to contact multiple agents to find different housing options. Users have shared experiences indicating that the system involves reaching out to the specific agency handling a property of interest, rather than an agent providing a wide array of choices.

Bob **********

Yes

2 years ago

Steve **********

I learned this the hard way. Sent a specific property link to a few agents I was working with and said I want one just like this. No one came close. Eventually my dim witted brain kicked in and I simply clicked the contact us button on the advert and a week later signed my lease.

No idea why I didn’t start that way.

2 years ago

Kat ******

@Steve *********

ta da 😆

2 years ago

Reply to

Kat ******

Try "Property Scout" fabulous, represents many Agents, like Domain in Australia, on each property is the acting agents name 👍

2 years ago

Kev **********

Most of them either "no have" or to lazy to help you.

2 years ago

Reply to

Kev **********

Mike *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

My experience is Canada and the US which only requires one agent for everyhing/anything available.

Definitely a different game here.

2 years ago

Peter *********

Obviously

2 years ago

Steve *******

Of course. That's pretty much how it works in the UK.

2 years ago

Michael ********

Same way as UK Same way as Singapore

2 years ago

Lynnette *******

Thats how it works with most UK agents in the "west". They only deal with their own properties.

2 years ago

Bennett ********

Yes, that's the way it works here. Friends referred us to their real estate brokers - but they were only able to offer listings they held. So when we decided on a certain neighborhood, we searched out buildings, & contacted whoever was handling that listing. Weird to westerners, but that's the system here. Your cannot just ask your agent to find you an apartment in X building, you need to contact whoever handles leasing in that building.

2 years ago

Brandon ************

Yes this is true. There's no central database of properties like many countries. When you contact an agent you'll only see the properties that specific agent has access to. So you need to contact many agents.

2 years ago

Mike *****

ORIGINAL POSTER

Thank you sir! (*Wow!)

2 years ago

Reply to

Mike *****

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