I understand (just) what ntvillas2 is saying about not wanting to make use of skills that we have. There does also seem to be a reluctance to ask outsiders for help/guidance on how to improve things.

johnwills wrote:There does also seem to be a reluctance to ask outsiders for help/guidance on how to improve things.

Could it be that the Thais believe that if it isn't broke - don't fix it?

Your wrong Doc. If we don't teach these poor folks how to do it our way, we will be tarred and feathered.

Sounds like one of those damned if you do and damned if you don't situations.

For me - I shall continue to leave them to their own devices and risk being tarred and feathered.

Some people want a house built for a million baht or so, (15,000 UK pounds or aprox. 30,000 US$) and then complain when it isn't up to Western standards

Go figure !

ntvillas2 wrote:Thailand Wont Offer you a Chance to do what you do Best. i build for 35 years and could learn them well in a school. but you would not get permit to teach. Thailand needs only to spend a Small amount on Teaching and learn them the proper Way.
i pay now 250 per day and they are happy so its What they want.
Its a shame Udon is not got the prices like Bkk For property sales. Then i could make loads money.
Mobaan 5% is The best i have has yet so 15% would be great

wan.ker

i am a Builder not a Teacher in English. Thais try to Do the Job to fast and are slow to Think how it should be done.
you are good At English so you could Write my Book for me.
If i Tell Them 2 or 3 Times They start to get the Message. so what more can i say.


Learn them How to use a level.
And How to Set a Floor to Tile.
or how to Plumb a House with Hot and Cold Water.
How to read a plan to scale

People who are Not shown the proper Way to do Things learn others to do the Same.

So Thailand needs Skilled Workers to pass on the Skills to young boys wanting to be Builders

I shouldn't think there are many young boys in Thailand who want to be builders. The wages are low, the weather is way too hot and their skin turns brown. Not good for a Thai. Far better to get construction workers from Laos.

I don't think it's particularly fair to say that the Thai workers are slow and need to be 'learned' how to do things like laying floor tiles and installing hot and cold water. Most of the time they have to make do with inferior tools, a lack of decent materials and a shortage of cash.

I find Thai workers to be remarkably ingenious, inventive and far more capable than some Farangs I know.

As for passing on skills...take a look around. It's absolutely amazing that they have struggled on for the last twenty odd thousand years without our perfectionism to help them!

Now, as far as writing your book ntvillas2, what would you call it: 'Learning Thai?' No, that makes sense, how's about: 'Learning Young Thai Boys Fings.' Hmm...not too sure about that title....what about: 'Me Bilder, You Fick.' That should sell well.....yeah, post all the details and we'll all get started. Shouldn't take longer than about twenty minutes.

To stay on topic,
There is a very long list of which jobs I am not allowed to do, but maybe it would be nice to know which jobs are allowed for foreigners.
Does anybody know which jobs are possible to do?
I 've heard that there are a lot of farang tourguides working without a workpermit, but are allowed to work as long as there is also a Thai tourguide working together with them.

Is English teacher the only option? Do you have to be a native speaker?
(When I read some articles from native English people, I think my grammar is better, ha ha.)

And do people from Laos have more privileges, working in Thailand? They are foreigners too.

ntvillas2 wrote:So Thailand needs Skilled Workers to pass on the Skills to young boys wanting to be Builders

I have, at times, been called an "arrogant bas*ard" - but I do belive that you have me beaten. Congratulations.

Udon Thani is full of houses that have been built by Thais without your so called "expert" and "knowledgable" guidance and no doubt, your wonderful, insightful and patient methods of "learning" them. Those houses are still standing with minimal complications from all that I have seen in the house that I live in as well as all of the hotels that I have stayed in.

Before you concern yourself with learning proper grammar - you might wish to immerse yourself into a significant and lengthy course in Thai culture and learning how to live in a culture that is alien to yours.

From a business perspective - if you wish to sell you houses to falangs on this forum, you might wish to tone down your rhetoric.

Well said Doc
I think the bad grammar might be down to Mrs ntvillas2 doing some of the postings.....in which case, Well done Mrs ntvillas for your command of the English language

Back to the thread

Are you allowed to do repairs/alterations to your own property or do you again need a work permit or do you have to employ Thai people to do it for you

I ask this because....I'm about to buy a house,then look for a better house that needs renovation ,subsequently move into renovated house (rent or sell previous house) then look again for better house that needs work again ......Get the drift ....Upgrading each time and doing the work myself
Any thoughts Pro/Con graciously welcomed reguarding work permits etc.,

Hi Panik,
Yeh I'm also interested in doing exactly the same thing when I retire to UT so I am very interested in the legal pros & cons.
I have been in the building trade almost all my working life, graduated from being a building technician to a building estimator and then a quantity surveyor, and now run my own electrical contracting firm, so I have a fair knowledge of the building trade (Brit style - no Thai experiance).
Although I want to retire to UT with my TGF I don't want to 'stagnate' by having too much time to do nothing (if you get my drift). My thoughts were to do what you
are saying, and also if successful to maybe buy an additional home to renovate and sell - but is it allowed ? Or maybe I would be allowed to "run things in the background" using my TGF as the "Front Man" (that doesn't sound right grammar wise - must try to keep Queen's English or I'll be condemmed along with ntvillas2 !!!).
Oh, and it goes without saying that I would be looking to make a small profit on the works to supplement my retirement pension.
So what's the score all you 'experts' on the Thai immigration laws ? Is this idea a starter, a maybe (with some rules to follow), or a strict 'No No' ?

I know a couple of individuals that have bought old properties and fixed them up fo resale!As a matter of fact,the reason I moved to Nong Khai was because of one of these individuals telling me about his experience and the lack of problems in doing so even though it was illegal!

Harry1534 wrote:I shouldn't think there are many young boys in Thailand who want to be builders. The wages are low, the weather is way too hot and their skin turns brown. Not good for a Thai. Far better to get construction workers from Laos.

I don't think it's particularly fair to say that the Thai workers are slow and need to be 'learned' how to do things like laying floor tiles and installing hot and cold water. Most of the time they have to make do with inferior tools, a lack of decent materials and a shortage of cash.

I find Thai workers to be remarkably ingenious, inventive and far more capable than some Farangs I know.

As for passing on skills...take a look around. It's absolutely amazing that they have struggled on for the last twenty odd thousand years without our perfectionism to help them!

Now, as far as writing your book ntvillas2, what would you call it: 'Learning Thai?' No, that makes sense, how's about: 'Learning Young Thai Boys Fings.' Hmm...not too sure about that title....what about: 'Me Bilder, You Fick.' That should sell well.....yeah, post all the details and we'll all get started. Shouldn't take longer than about twenty minutes.