For your information

The value-added wars
Because of the huge influx of serviced apartments onto the Bangkok real estate scene, higher rung properties now need to differentiate themselves from their competitors, as well as lower level properties, through value-added services. These Grade A serviced residences use value-added services to battle for your baht. For some discerning tenants this is what tips the scales and gets them to sign on the dotted line. Some of these services and perks include bed turn-down, dishwashing, custom made furniture, customised maid service, baby sitting, pet sitting, car care service, wireless LAN, and free shuttle service to the BTS skytrain, MRTA subway and local shopping centres. The future of value-added services will probably focus more on communication, business and entertainment technologies.


Changing rules
For the first time since its introduction in 1935, Thailand has overhauled its Hotel Act to provide new, more specific definitions separating the hotel and serviced apartment sectors. Serviced apartment owners now have less than a year to either comply with new standards limiting how they operate, or obtain a hotel license so they may continue doing business essentially as they have done in the past.

The new Hotel Act, passed last year, and effective from May of this year, states that any property offering rates for stays of less than one month is in fact operating as a hotel, and must therefore obtain a license to do so by 12 May 2006.

Prime CBD locations
• Sukhumvit (Soi 1-24) – Soi 15 and Soi 24 are particularly trendy addresses.
• Sukhumvit (Soi 25-63) – The name places in this quadrant include Thong Lo (Sukhumvit 55) and Ekkamai (Sukhumvit 63)
• Silom-Sathon – Anything along Silom Road, Sathon Road or in between. The area around Soi Sala Daeng is particularly choice.
• Lumpini – This very green area stretches from Lumpini Park to Phetchaburi Road and includes Soi Lang Suan, Wireless Road, Soi Ruam Rudee, Rajadamri Road, Chitlom and Ploenchit.
• Riverside – Anything along the Charoen Krung Road side of the Chao Phraya River

Other helpful tips
When you visit a property, make it a point to talk to other residents, the staff and the manager in order to get a feel for the mood and style of the place. Better still, stay a night or two before you move in, use the facilities, eat in the restaurant, walk around the neighbourhood, see how easy it is to get a cab or how long it takes you to get to the BTS or MRTA. Also, find out if there are new buildings going up next to you that will block your view or create bothersome noise. Learn who your neighbours are? Are they single tenants, young couples, retirees, or families with children? And don't be afraid to use a broker or real estate agent to help you find your new home.