Northern Thai, the company that lays claim to being Pattaya’s longest established real estate brokers, has announced plans to expand its network of offices from two to five!
The surprise news was given to the company’s employees at the regular monthly staff meeting in February.
I describe it as a “surprise” because I had formed the opinion that the group’s expansion plans were more centred on the Philippines than here in Pattaya, writes John Davids.
It seems I couldn’t have been more wrong.
I was invited to attend the staff meeting at its usual venue – the NT office on the ground floor of View Talay 5 in Jomtien.
NT managing director John Seymour announced that he intends to open offices that will allow the group to cover all the city – from Naklua in the north to Jomtien in the south and to East Pattaya. The Second Road office opposite the Royal Garden Plaza would continue as its headquarters.

New Jomtien office
As this magazine went to press the finishing touches were being put to NT’s new office (pictured) opposite the Jomtien Complex in the building formerly occupied by the North Shore brokerage.
I had expected John Seymour to say that, as soon as this new office opens, the one in View Talay 5 would close. But the VT5 office is being retained, although probably in a scaled-down operation with fewer staff and a partition will be installed so less floor space will be devoted to NT’s main work.
“Most of the business for the VT5 office comes from people in the actual building and those immediately around it,” said John. “Its position is such that there is little ‘walk-in’ trade. Hence the decision to take on the building on the main Thappraya Road to get that walk-in trade from the Jomtien area.”
John tells me that he has struck a deal with the owners of VT5 which would allow NT to retain its office there on terms that suit both parties.
What of the other offices?
“I’m currently in negotiations in both Naklua and East Pattaya – in Soi Siam Country Club area,” said John. “But I can’t be more specific until everything has been signed.”

Running costs
John then looked at the costs of running the new offices and explained, among other things, how the advertising budget would remain unaltered but the costs would be spread. He said: “I am confident that we will make money in all three new offices and this will help to secure our future and pave the way towards further expansion in the months and years to come.”
Staff were told that the new offices will open up new career opportunities. At the same time John said that two sales staff were leaving of their own volition and that this, too, should allow staff to progress into those roles.
He said: “I see this company growing in strength and size over the next five years with more branches and more opportunity for career advancement for those who wish to move up. We have weathered the storm for three years and there is a glimpse of fair skies ahead.”

Q and A session
After hearing these announcements the meeting moved into an inter-active session in which John quizzed staff members on their product knowledge.
This was in a bid the hammer home the importance of being able to give customers accurate information.
Typical client questions such as “if I die here in Thailand, what happens if I don’t have a will?” and “when a condo is bought in a company name can it be changed into a foreign name later?” were among those posed to NT staff.
Other topics covered at the meeting included the need for accurate information when taking property listings, the importance of keeping costs down and an overview of the real estate market and the world economy.
John concluded by thanking staff for their dedication during difficult times saying: “Teamwork will win the day.” Ω