Preparing Your Property for Sale

Most of the value added in a sale is added before the first viewing. Phuket is a competitive market with a lot of similar stock, and the properties that sell quickly are almost always the ones that were made ready first.

Fix the small things

Buyers do not price repairs, they price doubt. A stained ceiling from an old leak, a pool pump that sounds wrong, aircon that has not been serviced — each one invites the question of what else has been neglected. The cost of putting them right is almost always less than the discount they invite.

Deal with the tropics

Humidity, salt air and sun are hard on a building. Mould on north-facing walls, faded decking, corroded fittings and tired sealant around wet areas are the things overseas buyers notice most, because they are the things they worry about maintaining from abroad.

Present the garden and the pool

Outdoor space is a large part of what people are buying here. A cut-back garden, clean pool tiles and clear water do more for a listing than new furniture indoors.

Get the paperwork out first

Title deed, house registration book, condominium documents, warranty papers, service contracts and any building permits. Assembling these at the start rather than mid-negotiation prevents the delays that kill deals.

Decide about furniture

A large share of Phuket sales are furnished. Decide early what is included, list it, and price accordingly — renegotiating the contents at the contract stage is a common and avoidable friction.