The space play · buy older, refurbish, win on both
Bangkok new-build 1-beds today average 35-50 sqm · developers maximise unit count. Older prime-area buildings (1995-2010) routinely have 80-150 sqm 2-beds · built when land was cheaper and developers competed on space, not unit volume. We source the right older unit, run the complete redesign-refurbishment-refurnishing through Maison Siam, and deliver a bespoke premium apartment that no new condo can match · often at 30-50% below comparable new-build pricing.
The size gap · what new builds gave up
Why · pre-2010 developers built for owner-occupiers and serious tenants. Post-2015 developers maximise unit count per floor (more units = more deposits = more cash flow during construction). The old-vs-new space gap isn't an accident · it's a market shift. Today, the only way to get 100+ sqm in prime Phrom Phong / Sathorn is older stock or ultra-luxury branded · and ultra-luxury costs 4-5x.
The economics · why this beats new-build
A worked example · same Phrom Phong corridor, two different paths with the same ~16M THB budget.
The refurbished unit is bespoke · architecture-grade redesign, premium finishes, smart home, furniture. The new-build is mass-market with developer finishes. Both costs equal, outcomes are not equivalent · the refurb wins on space, on quality, on character, and on location flexibility (old buildings sit on prime corridors that are no longer being built).
How we run this end-to-end
01 · Source
Not every old building is worth refurbishing. We screen for: solid juristic health, sinking-fund balance, structural integrity, foreign-quota availability, prime-corridor location, generous unit sizes (the buildings developers built when land was cheaper). Examples · Empire Place Sathorn, The Met, Wireless Heights, Saladaeng Residences. Most are 1995-2010 builds in central locations the post-2015 developers can't replicate at any price.
02 · Vet
Same 12-question checklist as our resale Track 2 · juristic minutes, sinking fund, owner-occupier ratio, recent capital execution, view risk, neighbouring zoning. Plus the refurb-specific layer · structural drawings, electrical capacity, plumbing condition, MEP routing for what's planned. We surface red flags before the offer.
03 · Negotiate
Our offer reflects the unit's condition, not the seller's anchor. Older units that need work are typically 15-25% below comparable refurbished stock · we negotiate accordingly. 3% Khorna property-hunter commission on transaction · same as standard resale.
04 · Design
Sister architecture firm leads the redesign · floor plan optimised, walls reconfigured if structurally feasible, kitchen + bathroom reimagined, lighting and acoustic treatments, smart-home integration. You get architecture-grade plans · not a furniture-store catalogue substitute.
05 · Build
Vetted contractor network, permit handling, juristic-person coordination, sequencing across trades. Typical 100-130 sqm full refurb · 12-16 weeks. Smaller cosmetic-only · 4-8 weeks. Maison Siam handles all of it · you see daily progress photos and a dashboard.
06 · Furnish
Our procurement tech queries Thai + international suppliers in real-time · trade pricing, in-stock availability, lead times, quality-tier filtering. The same chair you'd buy at retail for 45,000 THB we source at 28,000 THB through trade channels. Across a full apartment that's 15-25% off retail on furnishings · plus we filter for quality, not just look.
07 · Operate
Maison Siam onboarding the moment build + furnishing complete · listing, pricing, guest comms (rental case) or just immediate move-in (residence case). Refurbished older units rent at 8-15% premium to comparable new-build studios because of the space + bespoke factor.
Proprietary product-sourcing tech · the procurement edge
Maison Siam's procurement tech queries our Thai + international supplier network in real-time · trade pricing, in-stock availability, lead times, quality-tier filtering. Across a full 100 sqm refurb that's typically 600,000 to 1,500,000 THB savings on furnishings vs walking into the retail showrooms yourself · with better product selection, because we filter for quality and longevity, not just photogenic appearance.
Furniture
Italian leather sofa · 38K trade vs 62K retail
Kitchen
European-spec German kitchen package · 380K trade vs 580K retail
Lighting
Architectural lighting full-package · 95K trade vs 145K retail
Stone + tile
Italian marble flooring · 4,200 THB/sqm trade vs 6,800 THB/sqm retail
Smart home
Lutron + Sonos integration · 280K turnkey vs 420K retail-grade
Custom millwork
Walk-in closet built-in · 185K trade vs 290K retail
Examples are illustrative · actual procurement reflects unit specification, scope, and timing. Goods charged at cost with full receipts · no markup. Maison Siam fee is the design + project-management coordination only.
Older buildings on our shortlist
The Met (Sathorn)
2009 · 85-280 sqm
WOHA design · iconic structure · premium juristic
Empire Place (Sathorn)
2009 · 80-220 sqm
Generous units · solid juristic · BTS-direct
Saladaeng Residences
2007 · 90-180 sqm
CBD interchange · senior tenant pool
Wireless Heights
2003 · 100-220 sqm
Wireless prime · large floor plates
President Park (Sukhumvit 24)
1998 · 120-280 sqm
Family-grade · low density · garden
Hampton Thonglor
2005 · 85-160 sqm
Pre-Thonglor-boom pricing · BTS-walkable
The Royal Saladaeng
2008 · 100-200 sqm
Lumpini Park views · concierge · low-density
All Seasons Mansion
2002 · 150-300 sqm
Wireless-Lumpini · diplomatic-grade · ultra-low density
We track foreign-quota availability + current unit listings + juristic health on each. The list rotates · ask us for the latest available units in any of these or others we haven't surfaced.
What this costs you · transparent
Total typical add to the unit price for a 100 sqm refurb · 25-40% of unit value, returning an asset worth 60-100% more than the original purchase. Numbers run on a worksheet before you commit to anything · we don't move ahead until the refurb math is clear.
Talk to us
Tell us your budget, target area, target square-meters · we identify 3 older buildings with foreign-quota availability and run a refurb scope + cost worksheet for each. Free, no obligation.