WHO YOU NEED
Who You Need When Buying in Thailand
and what each one does.
A property purchase in Thailand usually involves several professionals, each with a different job. This guide sets out who does what, when you need them and what to ask, so you can see which parts can be coordinated for you.
Start Your ConsultationWHO DOES WHAT
The professionals in a purchase.
Not every purchase needs all of them. This shows the usual jobs and which ones we coordinate.
| Professional | What they do | When you need them | Through Baanward |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawyer | Verifies title, reviews contracts and advises on ownership structure and your remedies. | Before you reserve, sign or pay. | Yes: our lawyer, under a separate legal engagement, with the fee in your quote. |
| Building or construction specialist | Inspects the unit or the building work and records defects and progress. | At construction milestones and before you accept a handover. | Yes, where your agreed scope includes it. |
| Land surveyor | Measures a plot, its boundaries and area, working from the title and the Land Office records. | When you buy a house, a villa or land. | Where your agreed scope needs it. |
| Construction or as-built surveyor | Measures where foundations or a building actually sit compared with the approved drawing. | When the position of a build is in doubt. | Arranged on request where a qualified surveyor is available, confirmed before appointment. |
| Valuer | Gives an independent opinion of value. | When you finance the purchase, or want a second view on the price. | Not a Baanward service. |
| Tax adviser or accountant | Advises on taxes and on company structures. | When you buy through a company or have cross-border tax questions. | Not a Baanward service. |
| Mortgage broker or bank | Arranges and approves a loan. | When you finance the purchase. | Not a Baanward service. |
| Translator or interpreter | Translates documents and interprets at meetings. | When documents or meetings are not in a language you read. | Translation support for property matters. Legal interpretation stays with our lawyer. |
| Selling agent or developer sales team | Shows and sells units and negotiates the price. | Throughout the sale. | Not a Baanward service. We work alongside them. |
BEFORE YOU HIRE ANYONE
Four questions to ask any professional.
- 01
Who pays you?
Ask whether anyone else, such as a seller or developer, pays or refers them, and how that is handled.
- 02
What exactly will you do?
Ask for the scope, the deliverables and where the engagement ends, in writing.
- 03
Who is responsible?
Ask who carries professional responsibility, what qualifications they hold, who signs the report and whether they have any conflict with the other side.
- 04
What does it cost?
Ask for one total, what it covers, any taxes and any third-party costs.
HOW BAANWARD FITS
One point of contact.
We coordinate the lawyer and the technical specialists your property needs under one total quote, and keep documents, appointments and follow-up in one place.
WHAT STAYS SEPARATE
Your other relationships.
Valuers, tax advisers, mortgage brokers and selling agents remain separate relationships. With your permission, we can help you prepare questions for them and share the file.
QUESTIONS
Who you need, in plain terms.
Do I need a lawyer to buy property in Thailand?
It is strongly advisable. Title, the contract and the ownership structure all need a lawyer’s review. Ours advises under a separate legal engagement within the agreed scope.
Can the developer’s or the agent’s lawyer act for me?
A lawyer acts for the person who hires them. Hire a lawyer who acts for you alone, and ask who pays them.
Do I need an independent inspection for a new build?
A new unit can still have defects. An independent inspection before you accept the handover records them while the developer can still put them right.
Is a valuation necessary?
Not always. It can help when you finance the purchase or want a second view on the price, and a lender may require one.
Can Baanward replace my agent?
No. We do not list or sell property. Keep your agent or developer relationship, and we work alongside them.
YOUR THAILAND PROPERTY PARTNER