the thing that annoyed me with the Lao border, it's not just the fact it's a full visa sticker, that takes up a full page, they also completely missed a full blank page, and stuck it on the next page, and they did it more than once, then everyone else just continued from the latest entry, anyone else notice that?? 🙄😳
When I was a tourist, I didn't bother if they changed slightly more, but what I do find annoying, is when you are no longer a tourist, and i know the value of things, but they just overcharge me because they think I'm rich, or think I'm a tourist.
get yourself a dash cam, nobody can deny what is playing on a video in front of them, you say you will get a local Thai to help with negotiations, just be aware some will add money for themselves during the negotiations, (a sort of undeclared commission) if someone has helped you, okay they deserve something in return, maybe a bit of money or a few beers, but in a land or house purchase they could add thousands on, being the middle man/woman and you wouldn't even know, many farangs think something is cheap, just because it's cheaper than there home country, when in fact it could be much more than the going rate.
Where are you in Thailand?? If it's rural nobody cares, just be prepared to pay for any damage if an accident is your fault, to many people commenting thinking it's the same rules as their home country.
Remember with the METV visa, if you do a border bounce just before the expiry use by date, you will get stamped in for another 60 days, that you can extend once at your local immigration office, doing it that way you can get 8 to 9 months out of that visa.