Breathe New Life into Phuket’s Old Villas-A Guide to your Island Dream

Ever walk through a tropical haven and find yourself before a house that seemed to come from some fairytale? That is so often the feeling when one meanders his way through Phuket villas for sale. These big, old dears in architecture, with ornate facades and whispering palm trees, have tales inscribed upon every nook of their grand halls. But it is not all roses turning that architectural beauty into an eldritch dream of a residence; rather, it is doing a dance-off against history.

Ditching the maps, let’s get down to paperwork. In the first instance, you really must see your way through a legal maze. The regulations are slippery, like a fish fresh from the Andaman Sea. Do your homework, and probably some extra credit, to avoid those big surprises.

That also includes those particular Thai laws relating to land ownership, where it would be advisable to hire a good local attorney. You don’t want your venture to seem like a gentle whisper to a coconut. Now, what about those aesthetics? Ah, the sweet appeal of teak wood and classical Thai roofs. But here is a slice of wisdom passed down from my somewhat talkative real estate friend: old villas have the creaks and groans of retired opera singers. Be prepared to give a little TLC: plumbing upgrades, electrical system overhauls, maybe even termite killers. Yep, those sneaky little munchers love historic wood just about as much as you do.

Now, time to meet the people behind the tools. Getting a good contractor is just about like finding the best mango; often one has to select many rotten ones. And that is not all; they need to understand not only the construction but the soul of the building. Ever seen that ‘nailed it’ meme?