As the SEZ concept evolves in Cambodia, a variety of zones have emerged, each with differing characteristics and aims. In 2005, after special economic zones (SEZs) were formally introduced in Cambodia through the Sub Decree, Svay Reing’s Manhattan SEZ became the first to began construction the same year. The Sihanoukville SEZ remains Cambodia’s largest with over 1,000 hectares in the area. The $320 million development is said to be capable of hosting 300 factories, offering about 80,000 jobs. As the SEZ concept evolves in Cambodia, a variety of zones have emerged, each with differing characteristics and aims. Currently, around 30 approved SEZs in Cambodia have been authorized by the Cambodia Special Economic Zone Board (CSEZB), which operates under the umbrella of the Council for the Development of Cambodia (CDC). However, while many organizations have obtained SEZ licenses, there is a limited number of SEZs actually operating. “Overall, an SEZ is a safe place for FDI because the conditions are found to be stable, safe and have less inherent investment and direct operational risk as opposed to locating outside of an SEZ,” said Charles Esterhoy, COO of Phnom Penh Special Economic Zone (PPSEZ). [caption id="attachment_77479" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Vireak Mai, Phnom Penh Post[/caption] SEZs are generally able to save foreign investors from investing extra funds in land development, infrastructure, security and ongoing maintenance. With a Qualified Investment Project (QIP) license, SEZ tenants will receive tax exemptions on production materials and equipment depending on whether they are in an export or domestic industry. Set period Profit tax exemptions are also available. SEZs can also offer up to 50 years of renewable leases to foreign investors, often allowing them to develop, subdivide or sublease the property. Meanwhile, Cambodian companies can purchase the land outright for development. While property prices in the Phnom Penh CBD and other developing industrial areas are heating up, prices at SEZs generally only see increases based on the costs of operations and the growth plans of that specific SEZ. Comparing prices across SEZs within Cambodia is, therefore, difficult - as each location is unique in what it provides investors and its overall business model. Cambodia currently has some of the highest costs of shipping and slowest freight speeds in the ASEAN region. Efficient import and export of materials and goods into/out of Special Economic zones is, therefore, a vital aspect of their operations for prospective FDI. One such example has been the recent implementation of the ASYCUDA system at PPSEZ, according to Esterhoy, which allows “brokers to process shipments on-line and with much more efficiency.” Oknha Sear Rithy, board of director for Kerry Worldbridge Logistics Ltd., likewise stressed the need to provide efficient logistic solutions in order to increase FDI in Cambodia. The Kerry Worldbridge Special Economic Zone (KWB SEZ), which opened in Dangkao last week, will be able to provide huge regional reach and efficiency in terms of supply-chain logistics, as the zone draws on Hong Kong-listed Kerry Logistics Network Limited’s vast experience in this field, inside and outside of Cambodia. [caption id="attachment_77480" align="aligncenter" width="300"] Vireak Mai, Phnom Penh Post[/caption] Cambodia also has some of the highest electricity prices in the region. This means, SEZs focus on reducing costs of electricity within the zone and guaranteeing its consistency, two factors especially important for manufacturers relocating to Cambodia. PPSEZ have partnered with Colben Energy to provide efficient electrical power distribution and stable backup power inside PPSEZ for this reason. Meanwhile, Oknha Sear Rithy said that KWB SEZ is currently speaking with renewable energy providers regarding plans to bring green energy solutions to the newly- bonded industrial zone. These energy solutions are potentially cheaper than the Cambodian grid can currently offer, and provide for FDI conscious of their environmental footprint. SEZs are assisting in the diversification of Cambodian export industries and have a close relationship with the Government - but are fully backed by private capital. This makes the application of new and innovative industrial policies particularly easy in SEZs, many acting as testing zones for wider policy initiatives. As per the 2005 Sub Decree that first instated SEZs in Cambodia, all Cambodian SEZs must employ a majority local work force. Although foreign managers, technicians and experts may be hired, the foreign staff should not exceed 10% of the total workforce. Zone developers often work with the Ministry of Labour to conduct vocational training to promote new skills and knowledge throughout the workforce. Potential investors in the semi-high tech manufacturing sector often worry that they may face a skills-gap when they move into the Cambodian labour market, one which is still principally engaged in lower-skilled manufacturing sectors such as garments and agriculture. However, SEZs are increasingly offering integrated vocational training facilities within their SEZs, supported by the Government, to ensure their staff can meet the demands of new and higher-skilled industrial developments being brought to the country through FDI. “These sectors,” sais Esterhoy, “create new opportunities, new skills and illustrate the potential of the Cambodian work force.” Both Esterhoy and Oknha Sear Rithy are seeing a consistent stream of interest from many specialized and semi-high tech manufacturing sectors who are seeking not only a stable manufacturing environment but also a stable business environment. Cambodian SEZs can apparently offer this.

If you’re planning to sell or rent your property, make sure you avoid the following property sale mistakes to ensure you attract the most buyers and renters and get the best price for your property. Dirty and smelly digsYour house needs to be cleaner than it’s ever been while it’s for sale. When making the decision to sell your property, get help from family, friends - or professional cleaners if need be. Pay special attention to bathrooms, kitchens, general living areas and backyards. No dishes or messy kitchens. Clean and fresh is the best smell when selling. Regardless of how great your home appears, if visitors are immediately confronted with overwhelming or unpleasant odours when entering a home, the likelihood that a sale takes place is extremely slim.Don’t list POA – Or No Sale PricePotential buyers generally read the home’s description and expect to see a listed price. As such, we strongly recommend that you include a price on any listing. If a home features a long list of unique details but lacks a sales price, buyers tend to think the home is very expensive or potentially overpriced. Make it easy for someone to investigate your home further by providing as many details as possible – including a list price.Nobody likes a reluctant sellerIt is not unusual for an individual or a family to become attached to a home. Especially when the residence is filled with great memories. However, once you make the decision to sell, you must keep the objective of a sale in the forefront of your mind. Try your best to keep emotions in check. Step back, and allow your real estate agent the freedom to perform their job.Lousy AgentGiven that real estate is an unregulated profession in Cambodia, you undertake thorough research before choosing an agent to sell your home. You can start you research on our Realestate.com.kh Real Estate Agent Directory Page. Consider if an agent makes themselves readily available to buyers. Agents who seem to rush clients, or seem distracted, do not have the interest of the buyer or seller at the forefront. Likewise, determine if the agent seems professional, honest and genuinely desires to make a sale. A dud agent could well be your number one property sale mistake, but with Realestate.com.kh this will never be an issue!Missed part 1? Get on Realestate.com.kh today, the best source of information for property buyers & sellers in Cambodia - and almost 50,000 property listings to search through.

Phnom Penh commercial property space is expanding everyday. Whether it be the rise of office space in the central city, or the spread of ranging industrial areas on the cities outskirts.Phnom Penh Office Villas:Traditionally, as a city lacking a skyline, villas were the preferred option for businesses seeking Phnom Penh commercial property for office purposes. This was because a villa is flexible for anyone seeking Phnom Penh commercial property. A villa can easily be used for many things: an office, family home, restaurant, guesthouse, production area – or any variety of these things. Villas are affordable and flexible. Villas are more expensive than flats, at around $3,500 to $4,500 per sq. m. Typical rental prices for villas range from as low as around $6/sq. metre to $25/sq. metre. However, longer leases or opting to sign as an anchor tenant may see these rates reduced. Beware though – working out a fair lease can be a challenge in the Phnom Penh commercial property market, and Cambodia generally, as villas (and other property for that matter) will often be priced according to your presumed budget rather than fair market value. Increasingly, however, villas around Phnom Penh are being pulled down to make way for new luxury developments and condominiums, or being secured and modified for retail purposes. A decrease in supply has increased the value of those villas that still remain.Phnom Penh Graded Offices:Presently, prime and mid-level office space across Phnom Penh is rising dramatically, with a variety of new tower projects opening now, or planning to open in the near and not so distant future. These new office complexes are often coming to town at the cost of knocking down villas, flats and other older real estate. Phnom Penh commercial property options are only set to boom in the upcoming future, especially with the rise of ASEAN and the AEC.New office developments are generally being built to improved construction standards and offer more and more amenities suited to businesses, Khmer and International. A building’s grade is classified by its design, quality, location, size, services, amenities, facilities and the internal management systems it provides. The rental price is reflected by this grade throughout the Phnom Penh commercial property market.In Phnom Penh real estate, the office space sector is for the most part made up of Grade C/C- standard offices – according to CBRE’s July 2013 MarketView analysis – constituting around 70 percent of the macro-office space market in Cambodia.  Grade B/B+ offices make up the remainder. For example, the 22-storey Phnom Penh Tower and Canadia Tower office complex offer Grade B+ office space to the growing Phnom Penh real estate sphere, and, accordingly,  these facilities entail a modern layout and fixtures. Fully serviced office centres such as these are proving popular with international companies who wish to move operations to Cambodia, as are more modest versions of the same office block model. These complexes offer businesses  security and integrated facilities perfect for start-ups.Grade B standards are still noticeably higher in comparison to the majority of offerings in the Phnom Penh commercial property market- but, obviously, fall below that of Grade A. This differentiation is usually in terms of location and facilities offered. Several new Grade A office developments are being constructed across Phnom Penh, with the nation’s forerunner, Vattanac Capital Tower, now open – the country’s first Grade A office space venue. Vattanac will provide over 35,000 square metres of prime office space to Phnom Penh businesses. Along with this, GT Tower is set for completion this year, to become the fourth largest office tower in Cambodia.Regardless of grading, as Phnom Penh is still an unsaturated office space market, these new office spaces are entering the market at competitive rental prices compared to the greater region.Can't wait to find an office space? Find Phnom Penh's most professional agents through our online portal. Or you can just use the search engine to enter in your criteria and you will be presented with a large list of Phnom Penh real estate properties.

The Phnom Penh Retail Property market is undergoing vast changes, and these changes are altering the face of the city. International brands are joining the burgeoning Cambodian market faster than ever. Some of these new brands are specifically chasing the increasingly available aspirational middle class dollar; others are focusing on the Khmer and expat high-end retail market. Meanwhile, local retailers continue to grow and expand their operations in leaps and bounds.In reply to this, the Phnom Penh retail properties market is growing quickly and demand for retail space in certain areas of the city is driving rental prices higher than ever before. Yet, inner city congestion and lack of affordable housing options inside the CBD are redefining the preferred retail zones around town, adjusting the Phnom Penh real estate market accordingly.Another trend is in regards to the advent of high quality shopping centers and malls. Cambodia’s first international shopping mall opened its doors in June 2014: Aeon Mall. Aeon has since seen high demand for store space from both international and local retailers. A new breed of international franchisers who have for many years ignored the Cambodian market and refused to enter it, see the attractiveness of occupying slots in complexes such as Aeon Mall as it reflects international standards of retail space and retail space management. The new mall has convinced some of these franchisers that opportunities exist and that there are viable spaces for them to locate their brand. Parkson Mall on Russian Boulevard is the next of its kind to open in Phnom Penh, and is currently under construction.Popular Retail Zones in Phnom Penh:Every food and beverage retailer is ideally seeking space on a corner in BKK1, and/or a corner in Tonle Bassac or Daun Penh. Corners are particularly popular for retail space in the Phnom Penh real estate sphere because they automatically offer at least six to eight parking spaces. Parking is a real and growing issue in high density areas of Phnom Penh as more and more vehicles get on the road and more people move into, or work, in popular urban areas.Bigger brands are increasingly seeking properties on the street corners just over Monivong Bridge in Chbar Ampov. These retailers are moving to this area of town because they have realised that they’ve got to follow the market - and that’s where the Khmer middle-class are now living. Also, growing traffic is making it harder for consumers to come into central Phnom Penh to shop.  Similar retail development is happening for similar reasons in the western and northern parts of the city, around Sen Sok and Phnom Penh Thmey, next to central Tuol Kork.Begin your search for the best Phnom Penh retail real estate in town by communicating with Phnom Penh's most professional agents right here through our online portal. Or you can just use the search engine to enter in your criteria and you will be presented with a large list of Phnom Penh real estate properties.

The up and coming ASEAN hub has everything from the latest breed of luxury sky rise condominiums and opulent french inspired villas located throughout the city's hotspots, to a host of affordable apartments, flats and borey houses outside of the inner-city. If you are looking for prime retail space or serviced offices for your business, Phnom Penh real estate has all variety of offerings and more and more new developments are appearing every day. The city is compact and manageable for a first time buyer, with very encouraging rules for foreign investors. It's a great time to consider Phnom Penh Real Estate investment opportunities.Phnom Penh Residential Property Price Ranges:Flats located in central Phnom Penh cost around $3000 USD p/m2, as averaged across the prime residential areas of Daun Penh, Tuol Kork, Chamkarmon, and 7 Makara. Rents range from $9 – $13 p/m2 per month.Villas are generally more expensive than flats, at around $3,500 to $4,500 p/m2. Rental prices for villas typically range from as low as around $6p/m2 to $25/m2. However, longer leases, or creating a contract opting to sign as an anchor tenant, may see these rates reduced.Low-to-middle range apartment developments, targeting the local market, average $350 to $400 a month per unit in the central areas of Phnom Penh City. The high-end and luxury condo market is priced considerably higher than this – but these prices vary greatly across developments depending on scale, location and quality.Popular Phnom Penh Residential Property Areas:Phnom Penh real estate is growing very quickly, and Phnom Penh residential properties are developing quickly. BKK1 is seeing many luxury residential apartment developments. Previously home villas were a popular option for families wishing to live in BKK1 and Chamkarmon gernerally, however, many of these villas have now either been demolished and the land sold, or converted into boutique hotels or restaurants.Other upcoming Phnom Penh residential property areas include Toul Tom Poung/Russian Market and the west and south of the city generally. These locations are very close to central Phnom Penh yet property prices remain considerably cheaper. In addition, growing congestion and a lack of parking in and around the city centre is increasingly causing problems for inner-city Phnom Penh residents.For these reasons, Olympic City, Tonle Bassac, BKK3 and Wat Phnom are also becoming popular with foreigners and wealthy Khmers looking to rent or purchase property.  The Daun Penh and 7 Maraka districts are also seeing a huge amount of development and increased demand at present.Toul Kork remains a popular area for wealthy Khmer families, and is home to a large number of luxury standalone villas, villa boreys and several new high rise condominium blocks.  Especially in outlying areas of the city such as Toul Kork, there has been a rise in gated community developments. These are known as boreys. Boreys offer an alternative to the traditional standalone villas that once dominated Phnom Penh.Chroy Changvar is also seeing fast development with the introduction of the Chinese bridge over the Tonle Sap. This development has increased the number of lanes, eased congestion and boosted the potential clientele of businesses located on the far side of the river. Having now largely dealt with the infrastructural limitations of the Chroy Changvar, the real estate market in Chroy Changvar is set to boom in the coming years if interest continues to grow.Begin your search for the best Phnom Penh real estate in town by communicating with Phnom Penh's most professional agents right here through our online portal. Or you can use our site's search engine to enter in your criteria and you will be presented with a large list of Phnom Penh real estate properties.

Any Siem Reap real estate investor, commercial or otherwise, must remember that most people come to Siem Reap for one reason: to visit Angkor Wat. Siem Reap was ranked as the world’s second best holiday destination in 2015 by TripAdvisor.com. Accordingly, Siem Reap tourism is a booming market. The rise of Siem Reap tourism, and its gradual spread across the city, is intimately connected to property prices and relative terms of rental agreements. The town relies heavily on tourists and competition for the tourist dollar is growing every day. Potential commercial vendors should be aware that the standard of quality in accommodation, food and beverage, and leisure activities in Siem Reap are some of the highest Cambodia has to offer, once again because of this relatively wealthy and steady tourism traffic. Want to read more about Siem Reap Retail Property Space? Check out a similar Realestate.com.kh blog post HERE. Adventure tourism, eco-tourism and golf courses are just a few new types of attractions that are arising around the Siem Reap tourism market. Mass Asian tourism ventures are another new force in the Siem Reap tourism and properties market, as Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian entrepreneurs/investors are choosing to monopolize their parts of the Siem Reap tourism economy. It is not a phenomenon that is isolated to Cambodia, however, as similar ventures dominate many lower-cost tourism destination’s around Asia. Read more about mass-Asian tourism and its influence on the Siem Reap property market HERE.There is all sorts of Siem Reap real estate for sale and rent, Cambodia’s tourism mecca. Its close proximity to the Angkor Wat temple complex has turned the city into one of the world’s premier travel destinations - with over one million visitors every year. Check out our prime retail space listings if you are wanting to join the race for the lucrative tourist dollar in the city center. Or maybe you want to settle down and relax outside central Siem Reap, in which case take a look at the host of affordable apartments, flats, villas and borey houses on offer in and around the city. Siem Reap is also a great place to farm and a variety of agricultural properties are now online. New development is bringing increasing options for serviced and non serviced office space in the city, as well as a growing collection of luxury condominiums and serviced apartments - prime for foreign investors. The city is compact and manageable for a first time buyer, with very encouraging rules for FDI. Want to search for Siem Reap Property? See: Realestate.com.kh real estate for SALE in Siem Reap City. And, Realestate.com.kh real estate for RENT in Siem Reap City. You can find all the Siem Reap retail properties you could wish for and more here on Realestate.com.kh. Begin your search for the best Siem Reap retail real estate in town by communicating with Siem Reap’s most professional agents right here through our online portal. Just use the search engine to enter in your criteria and you will be presented with a large list of Siem Reap real estate properties for sale all over the various suburbs of Siem Reap, or tailor your search to the specific neighborhood of your choice. By using Realestate.com.kh intuitive online features, such as the Property Alert Tool, you can simply select the real estate properties that best suit your requirements – meaning you won’t waste time viewing properties that don’t suit you, your family or your business! Every time there are new listings that meet your criteria you will receive a notification by email, allowing you to be one of the first to see. There is no easier way for finding the right Siem Reap real estate property for your needs!

The following are five real estate negotiation tips to help you think more laterally in your real estate negotiations and achieve better outcomes.  After all, why meet in the middle when both parties can achieve their goals? Missed the first two tips? Read Part 1 Here.3. Trust your judgment and make genuine offers: There is a saying in real estate that ‘time kills deals’ and in a fast paced property market such as Phnom Penh, Siem Reap and Sihanoukville this is definitely the case. As such, we suggest researching the real estate market thoroughly and making an offer that is at, or very close to, your maximum. Of course we also recommend starting your research at Realestate.com.kh to conveniently view all available properties in Cambodia! By making an offer for what you know the property is worth, you have a strong chance of buying the home, land or commercial property, before other buyers swoop in and offer more. Remember this negotiation tip and don’t get caught out offering less than you know the property is worth, if this occurs you are likely to miss out as more aggressive buyers pay more and close the deal. 4. Loose lips sink ships: Never let the other party know how much you have available to spend or what is motivating you to buy during any real estate negotiation; this risks the seller using these great negotiating tactics on you! This is a key negotiation tip in any situation, not just real estate. Similarly, given so many properties in Cambodia are marketed as “Price On Application”, it is very important to always make the seller name a price first before beginning any real estate negotiation. With that information you are well placed to make a counter-offer in the context of the seller’s price. If a buyer makes the first offer, they in danger of over-pricing the property from the start and that can only ever result in a bad deal. 5. Cash is king: Sellers hate any uncertainty in a deal and offers made ‘subject to finance’ can be a deal breaker when a competing offer is for cash – even if the offer is for less. This is why it’s critical to have your finance arranged and be ready to settle on a deal very quickly once the price is agreed. Cash is always king in real estate negotiations, in any country, but especially in Cambodia. Being able to offer cash gives the seller absolute confidence in your offer and this is often worth more to a seller than a higher offer that may never settle. Keep these real estate negotiation tips up your sleeve, and you will secure you dream property in no time; on YOUR terms, not the sellers!Missed the first two tips? Read Part 1 Here.

The following are real estate negotiation tips to help you think more laterally in your real estate negotiations and achieve better outcomes.After all, why meet in the middle when both parties can achieve their goals? Have you ever negotiated like this?Car salesman: “The price is $5000.”You: “I’m willing to pay $2500.”Car salesman: “I can give you a small discount, how about $4000.”You: “What about $3000.”Car salesman: “Ok, I spoke to my manager $3500 is our final offer.”You: “Done. I’ll take it.”In the above example you and the car salesman start with a $2500 gap and eventually ‘meet in the middle,’ almost. This is the most common form of negotiation and is known as ‘positional bargaining’. Unfortunately positional bargaining generally results in poor outcomes for both parties because everyone gives up the same amount and, therefore, neither party gets what they really want.Thankfully there are other ways to negotiate! Follow these simple real estate negotiation tips and watch your odds change:1. Consider the objectives of all of the parties:As a property buyer, the most important person in the transaction is the seller and you should focus on their desires first. Do some research with the agent and find out what is really motivating them to sell. Especially focus on non-monetary considerations. You would be surprised how often the sale of a home or other property is caused by something other than money. For example:The seller needs to move from Phnom Penh to another country urgently: Perhaps offer shortened settlement terms during your real estate negotiation, for example 30 days. Or offer to pay a 50 percent deposit immediately - and the balance over a longer period.The seller is building a new home to move into: Offer to rent the seller the property after the purchase on a month-to-month basis until their new home is complete.The wife of the seller is reluctant to sell the family home: In the real estate negotiation, offer to have a professional photographer to come in and take portraits of the family in the home before they move out. This will give the wife some comfort as she then has a permanent memento of the home.2. Don’t forget the real estate agent:Remember, a big part of any real estate negotiation and the ultimate purchase is the real estate agent. The agent represents the interest of the seller, but they are also self-motivated. Therefore, it’s critical to have the agent on your side in any real estate negotiation so that they put your offer in the best possible light to the seller. For example, if two offers are equal on a financial basis, the agent will likely influence the seller to accept the offer from the buyer they prefer. There are a range of things you can do to improve your real estate negotiation tactics with the real estate agent:Promise the re-sale of the property to the agent.Offer to appoint the agent as the rental manager of the property.Offer the agent a written, or even video, testimonial regarding their great service, if the sale is a success.Promise to give the real estate agent a referral to all of your friends should you be the successful buyer.Like the advices you've read in this article so far? Read the second part of it here.

Smart property investors and rental managers know that attracting a reliable expat rental tenant can be an excellent way to ensure you receive the best rental income from your property.As more and more expats come to live and work in Cambodia, the expat rental tenant sector is only expected to grow. Here are a few easy tips that will help you get your piece of the expat pie and find your next expat rental tenant. So, how do you attract the best expat rental tenants for your property? Potential expat rental tenants search for their new rental property online well before moving to Cambodia. So, make sure you advertise your property online up to 3 months before it becomes available for rent. Advertising on Realestate.com.kh is an excellent way to reach expat rental tenants.Because expats often can’t view the property in person, or have trouble navigating new cities, they rely on the photos more than most property seekers. Therefore, it is wise to make sure you and your agent take high quality photos – always use a camera, not your phone! The more photos, the better! Expat rental tenants often move to Cambodia with a young family – so be sure to explain the local schools and conveniences near your property. Schools form a vital part of a foreign community’s backbone for those arriving in a new country with young children. What are the top Universities in Cambodia? Furnished or unfurnished? Be prepared to provide some of the basic furniture requirements to help the tenant get started in Cambodia. However, you may not need to provide everything. The potential expat rental tenant must be able to imagine living in your property. Because of this, you should think of your property as if it were a five star hotel as you prepare to advertise. The only way you can justify your price is if what you’re renting looks perfect: Remove all personal attachments in the house; Give the walls a fresh coat of paint, preferably in white; Highlight the best features of the property in your photos; And always add detail to your listing about the un-seen features of the property that are worth advertising. Security is especially important to expat rental tenants - so be sure to take the time to explain what security features your property has, such a cameras, guards, fencing, good neighbours and secure entries. Check out these great home security tips, tailored to Cambodia...Keep these simple tips in mind and you will be enjoying added income from expat rental tenants in no time. Want to know more about the real estate climate in Cambodia? Stay updated with everything that's happening through our news section now!

If you’re planning to sell or rent your property, make sure you avoid the following property sale mistakes to ensure you attract the most buyers and renters and get the best price for your property.Poor exterior paint choice:Don’t try and sell a highlighter green house. Consider re-painting your property using a conservative colour scheme. This will allow it to appeal to a wider audience. Look for a good quality exterior paint, which makes your house look as new as possible and avoid this classic property sale mistake.The overgrown garden:An overgrown yard or garden suggests that your whole property has been badly maintained and will make a bad first impression – an obvious but all-to-common property sale mistake. Try to cut bushes and trees, tidy your lawn, plant some hardy plants and re-mulch for a fresh clean look.Too much mess and clutter:Buyers want to see and buy your house – not your things! So avoid a property sale mistake and don’t leave them lying around! Even houses that are decorated well can have too much clutter when it’s time to sell. The bigger your house seems, the more attractive it will be. Buyers want to feel the house or apartment has space, and will accept their furniture and their sense of style. So be prepared to de-clutter, move furniture or make your decorations more neutral.The shadow seller:Make sure you give your agent and their buyers plenty of space and privacy while viewing your home, and certainly don’t follow them around the house. Buyers want to imagine living in your house and that’s really hard to do while you and your family is waiting outside, or inside.Lack of storage:Buyers look for plenty of storage in any property. So, avoid leaving any overstuffed wardrobes and cupboards in the house because this will show the prospective buyer that there isn’t enough room in the house for all of your things – or their things! A final top-tip, use mirrors in small rooms to help the space appear bigger! Avoiding the above property sale mistakes ensures your home will be easier on the eye, the nose and the nerves of any prospective buyers or renters – and will have them making you an offer in no time!Want to read more articles like this? Get on Realestate.com.kh today, the best source of information for property buyers & sellers in Cambodia.

Undertaking a property inspection for the first time can be an overwhelming task.You need to have your eyes open to all aspects and features of the home – because no one wants to buy their dream home and it turn out to be an expensive nightmare! Do your property inspection right and see the benefits into the future. Where possible, it’s always advisable to contact a qualified building inspector to carry out a rigorous property inspection for you.However, the following are a few simple property inspection checks you can carry out yourself:Can you see any water stains or corrosion on the walls surrounding the shower or bath? Or are there any signs of moisture on the walls surrounding the bath or shower? This may be a sign of water leakage, which can be costly to repair.Are the ceilings sagging? When you’re doing your property inspection, take a torch and shine the light across the ceiling, this will show any defects. Is the ceiling fixed firmly flush into place or does it have a ‘parachute’ appearance? If the roof is sagging, you’ll need to contact a builder to carry out repairs to the ceiling sheeting.Check that all roof downpipes are discharging into storm water soak wells and not just discharging onto the ground. You don’t want a flood in your new home when the monsoon season comes.It is also wise to look for any signs of previous flooding around the base of the roof downpipe. This can be an indication that the soak wells are not suitably sized or require cleaning out, which can be a costly maintenance item. If the property does not have the proper drainage, having a soak well installed can be very expensive.As part of any property inspection, look for any large cracks in the walls. Specifically, the inside and outside walls should be checked for cracks over 2mm in width. If the house has excessive cracking you must call a building inspector to check the soundness of the property’s structure.If you are still unsure about a property after carrying out these property inspection checks, contact a qualified building property inspector to carry out a detailed property inspection report.Want to read more tips for making sure you choose the right property? Read Part 2 Here.

Undertaking a property inspection for the first time can be an overwhelming task. You need to have your eyes open to all aspects and features of the home – because no one wants to buy their dream home and it turn out to be an expensive nightmare! Do your property inspection right and see the benefits into the future.Where possible, it’s always advisable to contact a qualified building inspector to carry out a rigorous property inspection for you.However, the following are a few simple property inspection checks you can carry out yourself:Can you see any mould or detect a musty smell in the bathrooms or bedrooms during your property inspection? Mould is an unwelcome arrival in any home and can have detrimental effects on your health if left unchecked. Mould looks like dirty clouds on the walls and ceilings and bring with it a musty smell. Mould should be removed by professional cleaners with the correct chemicals, which can be expensive. You also must look into what is causing the mould. Was it bad maintenance or something a more serious?In addition, during your property inspection, check inside the cupboards in all the wet areas. All cupboards should be opened to detect if there is a smell of damp, mould and mildew. Any damp smells can be an indication of water leaks and this problem will only get worse.Check the roofline is straight once your property inspection moves outside the house. Stand outside and look up the lines of the roof. Are they straight and free from deflections? If not, you had best to talk to a qualified building inspector.Check for rusty roof gutters. If the roof gutters show any sign of rust, they may soon require replacing. This isn’t always cheap.Are there dents on the external perimeter walls, window and door frames of the home? There should be small holes drilled above and below window and door frames approximately 12cm apart. These holes allow water to escape from the cavity walls. Without these holes water can penetrate the internal walls of the home causing ongoing and expensive maintenance. If this hasn’t been done when you do your property inspection, it could mean more problems lay below the surface.If you are still unsure about a property after carrying out these property inspection checks, contact a qualified building property inspector to carry out a detailed property inspection report.Missed the first half of the property inspection Checklist? Read Part 1 Here.

Here are some clarifications of the most common misconceptions surrounding foreign property ownership in Cambodia for non-Cambodians.Foreign nationals are unable to buy land freehold within Cambodia as according the the Land Law 2001 and the Cambodian Constitution unless a landholding company is set up with the majority of shares being held by a Cambodian citizen or citizens.Alternatively, foreign nationals are able to acquire land on long-term leases as an alternative to foreign property ownership in Cambodia. These long-term leases for a foreign owner have a maximum lease term of 50 years as determined by the civil code established in December 2011. These leases can be registered at a national level with the Ministry of Land Management Urban Planning and Construction. Long-term leases are a compromise chosen by many international investors due to the difficulties of foreign property ownership in Cambodia. Learn more about long term lease law.It is extremely important to remember that it is illegal for foreign nationals to own a property under soft title.However, due to a common misinterpretation of the Law on Foreign Ownership by local authorities across Cambodia, some sangkats (local councils) are currently allowing foreigners to purchase property under soft titles in their own names.In addition, this misconception is supported by some agents and brokers who mis-advise their foreign clients as to the true nature of their soft title, claiming that it in fact represents full ownership. However, not all sangkats allow this. Boeung Keng Kang Sangkat, for example, will not allow a foreigner to be represented on a soft title whatsoever.Furthermore, a sangkat officer can interpret a soft title as they wish.  As David Murphy, Director of IPS Cambodia, explains, ”Sangkat Officers are publicly elected officials who stand for election every five years. This means that when a foreigner owns property under a soft title in their own name, there is a significant risk that any change in the elected officials of the relevant sangkat may result in the correct interpretation of the law, jeopardizing or voiding that foreigner’s effective ownership.”To protect from this misunderstanding, ensure that you always conduct a title search with the relevant Ministry of Land Office or Commune Office before purchasing property. Such a search should confirm who holds the title to the property and reveal any registered mortgages or other encumbrances on the title.Keep in mind, as the land buyer; you may not be given the actual title to conduct the search, because this is the seller’s only evidence of ownership. The buyer will instead get given a copy of the title, so it is important that you confirm that it is the most recent copy.Foreign Property Ownership in Cambodia may not be simple, but it is increasingly possible. Always do your due diligence and take your time, and soon you will achieve foreign property ownership in Cambodia, and gain a valuable property asset.Learn More: “Cambodian Land Title Classifications Explained, Once and For All!" & "Can Foreigners Own Land in Cambodia?"