Two days ago, my wife and her best friend, Nee, (also our architect) got together and ganged up on a construction company to give us a good price on building our house. Nee conspired with my wife, Ae, to beat down negotiate with one of Nee’s classmates who now owns a construction business.
Nee removed my wife’s name from the approved plans/drawings and the two of them got together to discuss prices. Having Ae’s foreign (Farang) surname on the drawings may result in a substantial increase in cost quotations.
Armed with the house drawings and the BOQ (Bill of Quantities), the two ladies discussed his proposed “Grade A” and “Grade B” prices. Initially it was 1,600,000 Thai Baht (approximately $50,000) for Grade A and 1,300,000 Thai Baht (approximately $40,0000 for Grade B.
I am sure much haggling negotiating went on and when the dust settled Ae got the price to 1,200,000 Thai Baht. She also took out some of the prices in the BOQ for items such as floor tiles, light fixtures, bathroom design, and kitchen appliances and cabinets.
They also convinced him to throw in a few freebies – burglar bars, some outdoor plumbing and water tanks and few other things.
A contract was drawn up with financial incentives to get work done. He will get 10% when all the beams are in the ground. Another 10% when the outside framing is completed. The list goes on and he only gets paid when work is accomplished – so the faster things get done, the faster my bank balance decreases and he gets his money.
Today, August 12th, the construction guy will meet my wife and give the land the once over in preparation for groundbreaking on the 18th. He will also start to deliver some of the materials tomorrow – beams – for the ceremony and to start work. I am quite surprised and impress as today and tomorrow are holidays for Thailand to honor Her Majesty Queen Sirikit on her 78th Birthday. It is also Mother’s Day in Thailand.
So, we are on track to get things going on the 18th. Now, if only the electric company would run the poles and wires. Supposed to happen next week. But, “next week” seems to be the catch-all phrase for “I don’t have a friggin clue as to when we can start.’
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