24 Pattaya Today PATTAYA TODAY PROPERTY 2/24
PAttaya Interview
Vol. 8 No. 14 1 - 15 April 2009
An Enterprising Collaboration by Pattaya
Ocean Property & WM Renovations As sales radically slow down, the Pattaya property market is diversifying by moving in two directions: rentals and renovations. These two trends spell hope for WM Renovations, the partnership between Mal Patterson and Watson Chong, an Australian and Sino-Thai. Renovations marked one of the first Western inroads into the Pattaya property market approximately twenty years ago as property, especially condos, built by Thai developers were stripped out and transformed into residences acceptable to foreigners. House and condo owners who eventually wish to upgrade are understandably
adopting a more cautious and prudent approach in the current economic climate. Rather than buying new properties, many are investing in renovations to radically improve the quality of their holdings to be better able to sell when the property market eventually recovers. The type of renovations often takes the form of an extra bedroom, a new kitchen or bathroom internally, or a swimming pool, or even substantially improving the landscaping outside. Alternatively, for those who welcome a more drastic modification, especially the owners of the older style of condo, a complete upgrade and renovation are often in order.
These, conveniently, are the fortes of WM Renovations, who have recently had orders for, and completed a number of such renovations for their clients. Their clientele are reassured by the substantial expertise and experience represented by Watson and Mal. Watson Chong is the owner and developer of Siam Place, a housing estate on Soi Country Club, comprising more than 40 houses, ranging from bungalows to luxury 2-storey villas. Watson has also been active for several years around the city, building contemporary and Thai-Bali style houses. Mal Patterson, on the other hand, concentrates on the retail
real estate side of things, as he’s been active for 30 years in the Australian real estate market in Melbourne and has been selling and managing property here in Pattaya for the past year as the owner of Pattaya Ocean Property. Considering their respective spheres of expertise, it obviously made absolute sense for them to combine their individual talents in a joint enterprise, namely WM Renovations, whilst still pursuing their individual businesses. They way WM Renovations operates is to sit down with their clients and thoroughly discuss their requirements, obviously leading the discussion by guiding the
client through all the possibilities. Having discovered exactly what the client’s requirements are, Watson then prepares a 3D computer generated image of their proposals, being able to cycle through the various possibilities of layout and interior design at the touch of a button, until the customer is completely happy. WM Renovations then provides an obligation free quote, based on the final draft and if their client is satisfied, the work can commence virtually immediately. Because both Watson and Mal believe in the handson approach, they personally oversee the progress of each job to guarantee quality control and as their personal motto is to exceed their clients’ expectations the com-
pany is rewarded with many extremely satisfied customers. These happy clients then broadcast their satisfaction, winning more clients for WM Renovations through personal recommendations, and so it goes. As for the rental side of the business, this is the responsibility of Pattaya Ocean Property. Mal says he is finding many people, who might otherwise have bought outright on coming to Pattaya, are now sitting on the fence in this current buyer’s market. The prospective buyers are now renting condos in the range of Bt40-50,000 per month and prospecting from their safe havens to hold out until they find a property completely to their satisfaction. This is the current trend.