Avalon

[johnnyk]

Well, good of you to reply, but from your comments it appears that the other posters complaints weren't unsubstantiated in the least, as you stated in your earlier post? Especially as you highlight the fact that the problems you experienced were 'not nearly as severe as others'.

Good luck to you for getting your issues resolved, but it seems unfair to comment that other posters were making unsubstantiated comments and maybe they turned to posting here as a last resort?

Not a dig at you and good luck to you being happy with your lot - I wish I was. Maybe you were the guy sprawled out by his pool looking without a care in the world when I drove up there the other week - I hated the place by the way (sorry).

caller,
I should have been more precise. I know some of the people who had severe problems and posting pics to illustrate them was certainly substantial and fair to my mind. I don't know anything about their relations with the developer, only that mine were always cordial and I got what I wanted, and sometimes more, when I had a problem.

What I objected to were those who simply posted bilge that contained no facts or details, simply vague ranting with some sort of hidden agenda. The thread has now been deleted so I can't quote them directly but these people never said they had bought there but still seemed to have some kind of mad-on about the developer.

Well, just because they don't like someone doesn't convey the right to post defamatory comments while hiding behind a keyboard. What if I knew their real neames and posted they were pedos because I wanted to get at them?
Not on, of course.
Naturally I have a material interest as I am an owner and it could affect my values which is fair enough and I only ever commented about my own experience with the project and the developer.

Anyway, horses for courses. If one doesn't like then one shouldn't buy.
I didn't come here to buy a Spanish style house but from the dozen projects I saw I liked it best as I thought it offered the best value, amenities and location for my budget and I don't have any regrets so far.
And no, it wasn't me sprawled by the pool. I'm freezing my 'nads off in Canada where spring has been promised for sometime in 2008.

When I'm next there I'll PM you and you can come by for a drink.
cheers

[caller]

Hi JK - yes, a beer would be good if I'm there!

Funny about that guy and the pool, he's stuck in my mind, I think because he seemed so relaxed and unbothered about, what I perceived as a real lack of privacy (but I am a Brit).

It's been interesting to see over the last 3 years how the place has literally developed and also to note some of the re-sale prices being asked.

My use of the word 'hate' was too strong and feel WL expressed it better how I feel? I think it would have benefited from some control over what was built where and with the exception of one row of the initial house design, it just appears very unco-ordinated (is that a word), but as you say, each to their own.

I guess someone else will think the same about what I eventually end up with (if it's not in Korat).

[johnnyk]

Some houses do lack privacy but plantings can fix that quite easily, quickly and cheaply unless of course one opted for a fully paved terrace.
I had my garden put in in two days for example and it gives decent privacy now and will grow quickly.
No question some of the initial design parameters have gone by the wayside. At first it was fairly strict about what could be built and so on but some of that has fallen victim to financial considerations, I suspect.
One reason may be that the number of plots in the first stage was reduced by the municipality who wanted more public green space. Not a bad thing but this no doubt threw some financial projections out the window.
Seems to me recouping some of that may be the reason for the awful (not full of awe!) rental units being built at the foot of phase 2. They are totally out of scale and ugly to boot with what seem to me to be some real design screwups... putting the swimming pools under the structures in the shade????
I had thought northern euros came to Thiland to find some warm sun but I may be misguided in that assumption!
Mai bin lai, the beer will be well chilled when you turn up.

[johnnyk]

Something that might be worth noting about the spirited discussion here of avalon over time -
The majority of owners are skandis whom I suspect do not post or even look at HHAD so we don't really know what proportion of owners are happy or not.

[miked]

Kendo,
yes dodgy builders in the u.k.doing general work.but not new builds.building regs in the u.k. are so strict that new builds carry a 10 year warranty.
i have sent you a p.m. and hope that you will send me photo's of your house. do you mind if i reproduce sections of them togrther with my honest comments.??
miked

[kendo]

Miked Just e-mailed you some pics.

[suej]

We are also Avalon owners. As one of the first to move in nearly 2 years ago we are very satisfied with our villa. It far exceeded our expectations for what we paid less than a decent car in the uk.

Yes we have had our problems as you would expect with a new build. We still have some settlement cracks which are being done when i am out in the summer. On the whole we have had no major problems , when we have had issues the developer and we have,he has dealt with them. There was one misunderstanding not to do with the building work which was sorted .

I agree with JohnnyK Avalon is a good site well situated , good security and it is developing into a pleasant estate as people have planted their gardens. Im sorry for those having problems but the many people i know on Avalon are happy with their puchase a few are not ( a few )

Im out in July / August we will have to meet Johnny, Alan is into fishing if your interested ?

[2dandan]

I'm also an Avalon owner and like JohnnyK and Photoguy, I actually like my house too. I know lots of other owners of different nationalities and generally they all enjoy their houses in Avalon.

ps. I think that I may have been the carefree guy relaxing at my pool.

[miked]

just received some pictures from kendo of his house. it looks well planed and built. just shows if you take the trouble to get involved you get a good quality and value for money.
kendo, thanks for the picture
miked

[Super Joe]

taking your original point miked, after all the good builders are taken up by, say the first 15 developers, what are the later developers left to work with ?
its ok if they know good builders from outside the province
many arent proper tradesmen as you said miked, but some obviously are

if people buy the lower priced properties i donk think they can expect high quality finishing work or materials, but they should get a structually sound house, with safe electrics etc
.

[miked]

i do think that thais build for show and not quality. two good examples of this, no earth wiring and single brick construction. the house that i,m renting gets as hot as hell and i keep getting kicks from my computer etc etc. its 3 years old, looks wonderful but i doubt in 10 years if it will still be standing. its got a fantastic shaped roof, but the roof panels have been bolted down from outside ( very common here) and it leaks in at least 10 places. top quality teak wood used for windows with hinges and locks so primative looks like a butcher fitted them. the whole house has been built for show without any thought of how to keep the heat and rain out. so many problems, cracking walls etc it really needs to be pulled down. this house is i repeat is 3 years old.!!!!
miked

[johnnyk]

I'm also an Avalon owner and like JohnnyK and Photoguy, I actually like my house too. I know lots of other owners of different nationalities and generally they all enjoy their houses in Avalon.

ps. I think that I may have been the carefree guy relaxing at my pool.

if he was wearing a kilt instead of a thong it probably was you

[crazy88]

Miked

Although very slightly off topic,why are you still renting the place ?



paper thin walls

getting electrocuted

multiple roof leaks

structural problems

should be torn down

Just curious as you make it sound like something I would not put my dogs in given a choice .



Crazy 88

PS. I am also intrigued as to why a building would have "top quality" teakwood windows (worth more than the rest of the place put together by the sound of it) and the cheapest,nastiest roof available that has not even been done properly ???

[miked]

crazy 8 i think you have missed the point of my post. i never said the windows are top quality teak wood. what i did say is the windows have been made from top quality teak wood. you can have the best material in the world but that doesn't mean the end result will be top quality. in fact a decent amount of money was spent on materials for the house. the house is owned by my thai brother in law and he just let a local builder construct thinking that he would get a good job done. he did not. even the materials for the roof are o.k but the construction is awful and thats why its got so many leaks .all he was worried about that the finished job would look the best house in the village. as for the walls he never thought about double brick or cavity walls or earth wiring because these like foundations cannot been seen, unlike the merc. sitting in the car port.
as for why we live here. its just a base, it gives me an address here and a secure connection for my computers. my wife and i have several business interests here and and in the uk. its cheap to live here and we spend little time here. while away we don't have to worry about security because they are next door.
miked

[Super Joe]

the house is owned by my thai brother in law and he just let a local builder construct thinking that he would get a good job done

im surprised a thai wasnt more thorough before having house built
.