The UK Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICs) launched their first specialist course on Plant and Machinery Valuation, in partnership with IBC, on the 3rd September in Phnom Penh, The course, which represents a first for the Kingdom, taught local and international participants the fundamentals of Plant & Machinery (P&M) Valuation Standards, Valuation Methodologies, Code of Ethics, and Risk Management principles. RICS promotes and enforces the highest professional qualifications and standards in the development and management of land, real estate, construction and infrastructure. The organisation accredits 118,000 professionals and any individual or firm registered with RICS is subject to it's quality assurance. Their expertise covers property, asset valuation, real estate management; the development of infrastructure; and the management of natural resources, such as mining, farms and woodland. Read another useful article about valuation standards in Cambodia here. In addition to the RICS course, BritCham, in partnership with IBC and RICs, recently organised a half-day forum on the promotion of building and fire safety standards. To-date Cambodia still does not have a set of Building or Fire Safety standards in the area of construction. Several initiatives within the Government are currently being developed, as well as by the private sector and relevant institutions. This led to the UK Government’s Foreign and Commonwealth Office and UK Trade and Investment to commission the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICs) to produce a report on the topic with a view to providing the Cambodian Government with assistance in developing building standards and ensuring better regulation. The Report's findings and recommendations were presented to and welcomed by the Government last year. The Report further provided the foundation for the country’s first Building ConstructionLaw, drafted by H.E. Dr. SOK Siphana. Following on from this, the purpose of the joint IBC and BritCham seminar was to bring together relevant stakeholders - both from the private and public sector - to examine the findings and recommendations of the RICs report and discuss a common approach to the developing building and fire safety standards for Cambodia. Read another article about fire safety standards in Cambodia here.

Is your air conditioning bill causing you financial stress? Do you want to reduce your home or office's’ carbon footprint but still keep your body cool? Realestate.com.kh spoke with Professor Dr. Karl Wagner, from the School of Business at the University of Kuala Lumpur, a world-renowned specialist on green building science, about some simple ways to cool down your buildings and your bodies, without turning up the air con!Evaporative Cooling: Whenever you feel hot when coming from outside the house back indoors, typically in temperatures of above 26 - 30ºC, take a more extensive cool shower of 2-3 minutes, and dry only what is socially necessary. This encourages evaporation cooling across your body, which will bring down your body temperature for longer.“Chill-In” Office Booths: In the commercial application of this, offices can provide air conditioned “chill-in” rooms at the entrance of the building - potentially with work stations and wifi. These cooling pens allow for staff to cool down when they first enter the office from the heat outside. Once all staff spend a few minutes in these designated “chill-in” rooms, they can then enjoy a warmer temperature inside their office space.Instead of pumping up the air con across the entire office space at low temperatures, or rising and lowering the entire office temperature based on weather conditions, these temporary “chill-in” spaces allow all staff to cool down their bodies before they enter the office, and be better acclimatized to warmer temperatures once inside their work space. This saves on energy costs for the office, and means cool air isn’t wasted. It also encourages body temperatures to adapt to medium temperatures in the longer term. NoHeavy Bed Sheets: In sleeping rooms, do not use thick comforters/duvets on the bed - because these do nothing but trap heat under you. Accepting tropical thermal comfort also means the demise of bed comforters! Duvets make sense to the colder temperatures of northern countries where they were invented - but not Cambodia, or other tropical climates. In an aircon cooled arena such as your bedroom, they create a vicious circle - the thicker the duvet, the lower we set the air con, otherwise we sweat under or even on top of the thick blanket. Take it off and replace it with a thin sheet.Escape During the Heat of the Day: If you have a typically un-insulated house in Cambodia, leave the house during the hot afternoon hours whenever possible. This is because, without heavy air con usage, it is impossible to keep it cool at these times. Offices, shopping malls, libraries and other public places are great getaways during the heat of the day. They are cooled down to digestible thermal comfort zones anyway, and going out for shopping and other daily needs will both increase your stamina and fight obesity (if this is an issue).Green Lifestyle Jives in Tandem with a Healthy Lifestyle: It is an old rule, independent of cultures, not to eat anytime up to 3 hours before you intend to sleep. Our digestion appreciates this and, instead of sweating due to late heavy meal, we can easily stand and appreciate a higher comfort temperature. We don’t have to be nutritionists to switch our eating clock forward. If we feel over saturated after a belated meal, a walk through the park or more intense evening exercises can work miracles to burn the inadvertent surplus of calories and cool your body down naturally.Want to learn more about Cooler Lifestyles in Green and Energy Efficient Buildings? check out or news page now!

Whenever renting a new house or commercial space for business, the things that grab our attention first and foremost are the location, price and the supporting lease clauses. However, we often miss out on and overlook certain small but equally important things. You should remember that your final lease agreement is not going to include a lot of important stuff that will ultimately make or break the rental agreement, and this could well be the same stuff that even your landlord or broker won’t reveal pre-contract. Read another Checklist for Securing your Dream Rental Here.Here is a few extra things to consider above and beyond the rental agreement, thanks to Realestate.com.kh:How's the Landlord?Always do a background check of your landlord to make sure everything is above board. This need not be a difficult one, or necessarily call on any official records. Neighbors and grocery shop owners in the vicinity are often the best sources that can help you ascertain your prospective landlord’s nature and his ownership over the property. Also, you should check how far or close he or she lives from the rented apartment. A  landlord who is too nosey is sometimes equally as bad as an extremely laid back one. A lot of good apartment rental experiences are ruined because of landlords - so work out fast whether or not yours in a keeper. Also, try to speak with past tenants. The landlord may be able to provide contact details of the last tenant. If he or she does, call them - and get the down-low on the property and the landlord before agreeing to sign on.Meet the Neighbors:Similar to the above regarding landlords, a bad neighbor can ruin your rental experience. Try to meet your neighbors before finalizing the house agreement and find out whether they will have an overbearing influence on your life. Consider their set up too - is it a family living beside your house or a bunch of young guys? This will make a difference to your satisfaction once the contract is done - so find out before the point. Visit at night:Visit the area where your new residence resides at night to check its safety. A neighborhood that’s calm during the daytime can turn into a very noisy place at night time. Does a KTV open next door after 7pm? Is the entrance to your prospective home lighted sufficiently? Do you feel safe in the new area? If you don't, you can bet your family won't.Is your pet allowed?Find out your landlord’s stance on pets, if you have any. Many landlords don’t allow pets, so finding one which does can often be a challenge for the renter with fluffy friends.Consider the local commute:Try and get to work, or school, from the new house - before agreeing to live there. Many times,  our commute related research is merely based on the rough distance between your home and destination. Walk through your travel route and see how easy and efficient it really is.You’re now ready! Get on Realestate.com.kh/rent today and start the search for your dream rental! Of course, Realestate.com.kh’s 6000+ rental listings make it effortless to see what is available across the Cambodian rentals market. Read another Checklist for Securing your Dream Rental Here.

Finding the perfect rental can be a taxing experience. Of course, Realestate.com.kh’s 6000+ rental listings make it effortless to see what is available across the Cambodian rentals market. Yet, when it comes to inspections, the bulk of your search and consideration usually revolves around technical aspects of the new home, such as proximity to your office or your kid’s school, your budget, the number of bedrooms and the like – it is easy to overlook some of the smaller but equally important details during the heat of the viewing. Here’s a checklist, thanks to Realestate.com.kh, to ensure you’re not forgetting anything! Additional costs: Most rental rates are exclusive of extra monthly charges. Monthly maintenance, waste collection, gas and water rates, electricity bills, bond payments etc. can add to the monthly rental price significantly – so make sure you inquire about all extra expenses while you are viewing. And confirm them in the rental contract before signing. Expect to pay no more than 1000Riel/$0.25 per Kilowatt for electricity, $5 per month for water charges & trash collection and $5 per month for TV cable connection. Read the contract: Seems like a no-brainer – but read your rental agreement with care and attention. Learn the ways in which you can be liable for a breach of your contract, for example having pets or parties – different land lords’ stipulate different reasons for being allowed to throw you out, so make sure you know what the land lord in question expects of you before you agree to stay. Get the right title!Everyone haggles! Always bargain the price with your landlord no matter how it makes you feel. Learn how to haggle here. The same goes for your real estate agent. Remember, that while your real estate agent is acting in your interests to some degree – they are ultimately acting on behalf of the sale, and their commission will be higher if the final agreed price is higher. If you are applying for a long term rental, 1 year or over, use this as a bartering tool. Also, while the landlord may not be flexible on monthly rental price, you may still be able to push them for additional services or home furnishing/appliances for free as contract sweeteners. An upfront advance on your first few months’ rent may also be an enticing bartering point for landlords looks for a fast cash injection in the short term, but ensure everything is receipted correctly. Here's some tips to finding the perfect agent.Safety First: Regardless of what your agent tells you, be personally responsible for you and your family’s safety when considering any new rental property. Walk around the neighborhood of any property you are considering renting, speak with neighbors (and other tenants if it is a shared building) and come back to the area at nighttime and make sure no hidden threats appear when the sun goes down. Also, always consider the potential for flooding. A 24 hour review is necessary to note any noise hazards too – there may be construction in the afternoon that you never noticed at the morning viewing, or a night club could open at night next door. For a little extra attention before agreeing to the rental contract, you can truly understand the pros and cons of the property. Little Things: Check faucets, door hinges, locks, door knobs, power points, appliances, water heaters and gas cookers before agreeing to rent. Most of the time these things look perfect until further investigation - but if you catch minor problems now, you can ask the landlord to fix them before the agreement is settled. Here is a pre-purchase property checklist.Bug Free? Keep your eyes peeled for any signs of a bug infestation. It is not uncommon and it’s easy to miss signs that your new home is shared by a family of cock roaches, termites, mice or other pests. Unless it’s a critter co-lease you’re looking for, find out before it’s too late. Photo Evidence: Before agreeing to the bond payment, take photos of every room in the house while it is empty. In these pictures, make sure you evidence any preexisting damage to the property. This way, when your contract eventually ends, the landlord has no grounds to deduct wear and tear damages from your deposit that in fact you weren’t responsible for. You’re now ready! Get on Realestate.com.kh/rent today and start the search for your dream rental!

The borey life is the dream of countless families across Cambodia. However, not all boreys are equal. Here is a checklist from Realestate.com.kh to make sure you are in fact securing the right property for you and your family - and a sound investment.What is a borey?Essentially, a borey is a gated community of flat houses, twin villa houses and single villa houses, including public areas, gardens and full security services. Those who want to buy a borey home are looking for privacy, a safe place for their family to grow, areas where communities can develop, and a place where all modern amenities are assured. They are they prefered first home of newlywed Cambodian couples looking to start a new family. Not Cambodian? Not sure if you can buy a borey? Learn about foreign ownership laws here. Learn more about Phnom Penh Residential Space here.Is it a registered borey you’re buying?Before purchasing any “borey” home, or any gated community home which calls itself a “borey,” you must first ensure it is infact registered as a borey and has all the correct licenses. Ask your real estate agent, or the property owner, to provide all certification before considering purchasing the property.Here is what you need to see:Correct Hard Title:  The borey development owner must first have hard title for the entire project property, and it must be divided into individual hard titles for each housing unit within the borey. Learn more about Cambodian land titles here.Registered Development Company: The owner/developer must be a registered Cambodian company.Master Plan Approval: Before any construction begins on a borey development, the Ministry of Land Management must first approve the developer's Master Plan.Construction License: Having approved the master plan, the construction company is scrutinized. In order for a gated community development to call itself a “Borey,” it must be built by a single, registered construction company, with a license to construct from the Ministry of Land Management. This ensures the buildings are built to an adequate standard, and necessary amenities and infrastructure are guaranteed.Borey License: If everything is in order, the Ministry of Economics and Finance issues a borey license - which means that the Government is satisfied with the quality of the development’s design and sales plans, and the correct land titles for that housing project are in order. Each property within the development will have an independent hard title, meaning the future home owner has full ownership rights on purchase. This means the development can legally be called a “borey”.Buying a registered borey home means due diligence has been done for you by the Government - at a national level - and you can guarantee that the correct construction and legal processes have been followed.In comparison, Cambodia hosts many large developments of flat houses which look exactly the same as a borey community in their design, and sometimes even called a borey in their marketing. However, those developments have not been scrutinized or licensed. Developers avoid registering as a borey because of the additional expense and scrutiny over their construction and legal standards. To build and sell a flathouse development, not titled as a borey, means less licensing is required, and official permission for construction and selling is only needed at a Khan or Sangkat level. Your title may not be valid, and the quality of the house’s construction and its Sales and Purchase Agreement is not certain. Avoid unregistered flathouse developments, or risk investing in a insecure asset that may not match pre-sale descriptions.Check out Cambodia’s latest and greatest borey homes for sale and rent on realestate.com.kh today!

Realestate.com.kh offers a range of products for property developers in Cambodia to build their brand, increase inquiries for their apartment, condo or office units, and ultimately sell their new development project faster than ever.We are not agents here at Realestate.com.kh, and we do not take commission – but we do seek to provide the best possible online real estate buying and selling experience for both home buyers and property sellers. including property developers.The Realestate.com.kh developers online marketing packages are designed to help Cambodian property developers expose their properties to the widest possible audience of buyers - inside and outside of Cambodia - and create ongoing hype within the local and international market. Realestate.com.kh can help your new development stand out from the crowd. Traffic to Realestate.com.kh is highly targeted.People come to Realestate.com.kh for one reason – to search for property – and for this reason, they stay on site for a long time, checking the latest properties that suit their search criteria. For developers, there is no need to waste your time and money listing property on other classified websites where user traffic is not related to property.Property developers put their listing on Realestate.com.kh where everyone that visits it is a potential customer. We are ranked number 1 for search results on google.com and google.com.kh for almost all property search keywords related to Cambodia. Our website is also mobile and tablet optimized, which is perfect for Cambodia where this type of traffic has increased over 414% since 2014. Meanwhile, we harness social media marketing to push your new development listing to a wider audience.Realestate.com.kh’s new development listings appear on our dedicated “New Developments” section of the website, one click from the homepage, which means new development property listings don’t get mixed up with the thousands of other residential property listings. All “New Development” listings are “Featured” which means 200% larger listings, larger photos and the developer’s logo included. You can also upload 3D Renders of floor plans, maps, information brochures and various other sales materials to the online listing.How do we push your property listings around the globe?At Realestate.com.kh, through our “Featured Listings” package, we easily and automatically help Cambodian property developers enter the lucrative international property market, make international real estate connections, and, ultimately, sell property to wealthy international buyers – all without leaving thier computer chair. While 65% of traffic to Realestate.com.kh is from Cambodia, the balance of visitors are from countries with a strong interest in Cambodian real estate. We also help international property agents share their listings with Cambodian’s interested in investing in international real estate.Realestate.com.kh has a partnership with the Property Guru Group.  PropertyGuru Group is Asia’s leading online property portal group used by more than 11 million property buyers, viewing over 104 million property pages and generating over 500,000 enquiries for real estate developers and agent advertisers – every month – across Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand.Content marketing is a powerful way to position your development company as a market leader and create hype for your new development. Realestate.com.kh can make a custom content marketing plan to suit your needs with our professional in-house real estate journalists that produce high quality real estate advertorial. This advertorial will be seen by tens of thousands of property seekers on Realestate.com.kh’s dedicated real estate news blog and weekly email.Our writing is respected throughout the industry, by agents and property seekers. Meanwhile, we push your advertorial to new audiences in Cambodia and abroad through our extensive social media network – which includes Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter and Line. Banner advertising on Realestate.com.kh is another great way to drive highly relevant traffic to your new development.If you are a developer wishing to list your property on Realestate.com.kh and take advantage of our comprehensive online marketing solutions, please contact us today at info@realestate.com.kh or 017436756 and we will be happy to meet with you and tell you all the different ways we can showcase your new development to the world.Harness the online revolution that is spreading across Cambodia – and get your latest project sold on Realestate.com.kh today!

Realestate.com.kh offers a range of products that help real estate agents in Cambodia build their brand, increase inquiries and ultimately sell more property.We are not agents here at Realestate.com.kh and we do not take commission – but we do seek to provide the best possible online real estate buying and selling experience for both home buyers and property sellers.Realestate.com.kh has many ways to help Cambodian real estate agents professionalize their business – at very little cost.Realestate.com.kh can design and build your agency a modern and highly functional website, tailored to real estate agent needs, at very competitive prices – and we also offer leading CRM technology to manage your listings and your real estate sales team. For this reason, Cambodia’s best real estate agencies already have accounts on Realestate.com.kh. To make matters even easier, your listings can be automatically exported to Realestate.com.kh’s listing database at the same time they are uploaded to your agencies website.People come to Realestate.com.kh for one reason – to search for property – and for this reason, they stay on site for a long time, checking the latest properties that suit their search criteria. For agents, there is no need to waste your time and money listing property on other classified websites where user traffic is not related to property.Meanwhile, make more money from your listed properties by inviting international investors to view your listing. Realestate.com.kh has a high level of traffic from international investors, around 30-40% of all traffic, and for those agents that choose “Featured Listings” on our site, we can export that listing to international property portals around the world. ListGlobally, a partner of Realestate.com.kh, is the largest international real estate advertising network in the world and publishes property listings on leading property portals around the world – including all featured listings from Realestate.com.kh.Furthermore, when an agent decides to “Feature” a listing on Realestate.com.kh, we do not allow another agent to request to feature the same listing. This allows you to act as the exclusive agent for that property – as it will automatically be the highest on the property list. Banner advertising on Realestate.com.kh is another great way to drive relevant traffic to your agency’s website.If you are an agent wishing to list your property on Realestate.com.kh, contact us today at info@realestate.com.kh or 017436756 and we'll be happy to help you grow and professionalize your real estate businessthrough our website.

Welcome to Realestate.com.kh's Dream Home Report. Every week we will showcase one of our most luxurious, interesting and unique properties from throughout our listings database. We want to show you the gems of the Cambodian property market. This week we look to Sihanoukville and a set of Island Villa's that will make any beach lover excited. The resort features 27 intimate island villas, uncompromising on luxury and design to reflect the simple beauty of the natural environment. See the full listings here and here Villa 2 is one of only three two bedroom overwater island villas at Song Saa, and the only overwater villas with swimming pools in South East Asia. The island villas offer direct access from the deck area into the sea, as well as perfect views out over the local scenery. It is the perfect place to enjoy a sunset drink with friends and loved ones. Complete with private pools, high-end creature comforts and a world-class restaurant and lounge at the heart of the resort spectacularly positioned just off the island’s shoreline and surrounded by sea. A short stroll on the boardwalk will leave you perfectly positioned to take in dramatic sunsets, seascapes and starry nights. * Vista Bar and Restaurant * Driftwood Bar * Pool-side dining * Large infinity edge swimming pool * Spa and wellness sanctuaries positioned in the rain forest and along the shore * Yoga meditation centre on the shoreline, ideal for yoga at sunrise * Water sports such as scuba diving, kayaking, snorkelling and boating * Ecological programme to experience the areas flora and fauna * An exclusive island boutique featuring designer labels from around the world The villa is available on a sale and leaseback scheme where owners are entitled to 30 nights usage a year in exchange for a return. Located within the Koh Rong Archipelago off the coast of Sihanoukville, Cambodia, the luxurious and idyllic Song Saa Resort spans the islands of Koh Ouen and Koh Bong (known locally as Song Saa – Khmer for ‘The Sweethearts’), connected by a footbridge over a marine reserve which is home to an abundance of marine life including turtles, seahorses and exotic species of tropical fish. With an ever increasing number of international flights into Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, and with the recent introduction of domestic flights between Phnom Penh and Sihanoukville, access to Song Saa Private Island has never been easier. From Sihanoukville Port it is then a comfortable 35 minutes to and from Song Saa Private Island on luxurious speed boats. See the full listings here and here This listing is from Knight Frank Cambodia, one of Realestate.com.kh's latest "Featured Agents". Find out how to become a "Featured Agent" today!

Are you looking for a new home – but are too busy working and trying to make time for your family and friends? Are you sick and tired of driving around the street for hours looking for houses to buy or rent, scanning multiple property websites, and having hundreds of meetings with real estate agents - all with no success?Whether you are looking to buy a villa or a luxury condo, office space, a retail location, or industrial property for a new business venture - you will find the widest selection of real estate in Cambodia on our website, all of which you can search through with our intuitive search engine, specifying the exact criteria you are looking for in a new property, and the area in which you hope to live – right down to the nearest Sangkat.Welcome to the future of real estate shopping, today. Established in 2009, Realestate.com.kh has grown to be the number one real estate website in Cambodia. We are not agents; instead, our mission is to support agents and property buyers by making searching for and finding real estate in Cambodia fast and easy.If you want to spend more time doing what you love, and less time looking for a house...then you should visit Realestate.com.kh.We have more than 10,000 properties for sale and rent, from all the leading real estate agents in Cambodia. We can even set you up with a home loan suited to your needs, an insurance quote for your vehicle or new property, and professional valuation services.Finding your dream home has never been so easy. Easily access Realestate.com.kh from your smart phone, tablet or computer anytime, anywhere - and only search for what you want, in the areas you want to live – anywhere in Cambodia. And if you can’t find exactly what you want when you first search, sign up for Realestate.com.kh’s clever “Property Alerts” tool and get new listings that match your search criteria sent direct to your inbox as soon as they come online.If it is a real estate agent you need, check out our “Cambodian Real Estate Agent Directory” to get in contact with the nation’s best property professionals – just click “Agents” on the Realestate.com.kh menu bar above.Meanwhile, Realestate.com.kh is also your first stop for property market research. Our news blog contains up to date information on Cambodian real estate news, market trends, Khan Information and area reports, and the best advice for Cambodian property buyers and sellers. Learn about land title classifications, investment advice, rental laws, new developments and how to choose the best agent for your needs, and much more.Realestate.com.kh is your one stop shop for all things real estate. If you still require any assistance whatsoever contact us today at info@realestate.com.kh or 017436756.

See the ECC Featured Listing on the New Developments page The Cambodian business sector is emerging like never before, believes CEO of East Land Development Co. Ltd., Mr Sam Yang. However, steps still need to be taken to support innovative startups as they attempt to enter the market.Currently, Phnom Penh hosts a huge population of young up and coming business people. They are fast learners, extremely innovative, connected to world market trends and ideas through an intimate engagement with the internet - and they are driven to start their own businesses. Meanwhile, International companies are increasingly interested in moving an office to Cambodia because investment incentives are some of the best in the region, and Cambodia is located in the heart of ASEAN. However, the current office space market in Phnom Penh is unsuited to the growing demand. These types of start-up businesses are not interested in high grade office space, as rental rates are too high, and instead find themselves adapting villas or flat houses into office space. Yet, these types of office properties include no amenities suitable for modern business and don’t allow the development of micro-business communities and entrepreneurial opportunities that a designated office complex truly nurtures.The East Commercial Centre (ECC), slated for completion along Norodom Boulevard in late 2017, seeks to create a hub for new business in Cambodia. The interior layout of East Commercial Center will reflect the demand of start-ups and international business entrants as office space is available in compact and affordable units, between 33msq and 66msq per unit, with rental pricing as low as $15 - $20 per square meter, and managerial fees less than $2 per square meter. All common areas lighting will be solar powered to further reduce managerial fees and the building’s carbon footprint. The East Commercial Center shall offer affordable and highly practical office space in the heart of Phnom Penh. As a 38 floor office tower, the East Commercial Center will be the highest pure office space development that Cambodia has yet to host, and will include 3 entire floors designated to car parking - a total of 300 parking lots; and an additional floor designated solely for moto parking - all reserved for ECC occupants. Meanwhile, the East Commercial Center will incorporate two entire floors as ‘Business Centers’ - the sixth and 22nd floors - which will be avaliable for all occupants to use. These floors will hold all amenities for businesses, such as a copy center, communications center and various conference rooms - the largest on each floor being a 300 square meter conference room. The East Commercial Center will also call on Donghua Holding Foundation to sponsor entrepreneurs with promising business ideas. This will take the form of an ‘Emerging Markets Fund’ that will offer entrepreneurs and startups discounted office space, ongoing business support and mentorship with the Donghua Holding Foundation, and ongoing assistance in turning their business dreams into reality. The underlying intention of this sponsorship fund is to help young businesses with promise gain traction in the Cambodian market and ASEAN community - even if they may lack the start up capital to support themselves.See the ECC Featured Listing on the New Developments page

Knight Frank, one of Realestate.com.kh's latest "featured agents", launches its first inaugural Cambodia Real Estate Highlights 1H2015 - this is the first-ever 10-page Cambodia Real Estate Highlights 1H 2015 Report which provides key information on developments in the retail and office sectors in Phnom Penh, which are pertinent to investors, developers and end-users in their decision-making process to enter the frontier market.   Knight Frank, the independent global property consultancy, launched its first-ever Cambodia Real Estate Highlights 1H 2015 Report on September 3 2015.Strategically located between Bangkok and Saigon, Phnom Penh is at the centre of the East-West corridor between the two major regional trading hubs.  With an open door policy on foreign domestic investment (FDI), Cambodia has witnessed an influx of foreign developers seeking to take advantage of the relatively low land prices and an increasing demand for international standard real estate products. Mr Ross Wheble, Country Manager of Knight Frank Cambodia, highlights, “We are already seeing significant FDI in infrastructure and the industrial sector, and we expect this trend to continue with majority of the FDI coming from China and Japan. [caption id="attachment_78273" align="alignright" width="255"] Mr Ross Wheble, Country Manager Knight Frank Cambodia[/caption] “With a key focus on attracting FDI into Cambodia, the Government has already approached the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) to assist with the creation of a Construction Code to improve building standards, and to advise on the implementation of fire and health & safety standards. This not only benefits the people of Cambodia, but also provides additional investor confidence. “Cambodia is entering a new era of economic development.  With an abundant supply of natural resources and fertile land, we anticipate that the agricultural sector will be the next key growth area. Currently, it is underutilised due to a lack of local expertise.” Commercial real estate in Cambodia Cambodia was severely impacted by the global financial crisis since its economy relied heavily on exported goods.  Land prices in prime locations declined by as much as half between 2008 and 2010, with numerous large-scale development projects being placed on hold. With the implementation of government policies enabling strata titling and foreign ownership, the decline in land prices reversed towards the second half of 2010 supported by increasing demand from foreign purchasers of condominiums and rising rents for both office and retail space due to a limited supply. Today, land prices in Phnom Penh have increased by as much as 80% since 2010 with a forecast of a further 25% increase for 2015. Comparing with the ASEAN markets, Cambodia is an investor friendly market where companies operating in Cambodia can be 100% foreign-owned. This, coupled with the low cost of labour and comparatively low rental rates, makes it an attractive destination for companies to set up operation. Foreign investors in CambodiaChina, Korea and Japan were ranked as the top three highest investors in the construction industry in Cambodia.Approximately half of the occupiers of purpose built offices are international banks, insurance and investment firms, as well as logistics, construction and engineering companies, which usually take up larger office spaces.Other typical occupiers are law and accounting firms, manufacturing companies, real estate firms, energy providers and telecom groups, and firms providing a range of business consultancy services.Most foreign-owned companies are from China, Hong Kong, Japan, Malaysia, Korea and Singapore.Major developments from notable developers and firms: Hong Kong: Exchange Square by Hongkong Land, a 20-storey Grade A office building with retail podium located in Daun Penh, which will add 18,500 sq m of NLA to the current office stock. Construction for the first phase began at the end of 2013 and is expected to be ready for occupation by 2017. The property has been available for pre-leasing since launching in Feb 2015.Malaysia: Maybank Group’s headquarters on Norodom Boulevard is set to be completed this year, adding a total of 4,602 sq m NLA to the existing stock. Maybank building will be partly occupied by the bank. Lion Group’s proposed mixed-use development, located across from the Phnom Penh international airport, has started construction and is slated for completion by 2017. The development will include a 7-storey mall that will add 45,500 sq m of NLA to the retail stock.Japan: Aeon has maintained a high occupancy at 95%, which is a positive sign for the retail market. Domino’s Pizza, Lotteria & Pepper Lunch, are among some of the larger international F&B newcomers that can be found in Aeon Mall, while fashion retailers such as Giordano, Penshoppe and Levis have also opened their first outlets on the mall’s ground level. Some high end retail outlets were initially part of the tenant mix but were forced to vacate recently due to poor sales and high rental prices. Retailers such as L’Occitane, Clarins, TWG, Hugo Boss & Eric Kaiser occupy Vattanac’s retail podium, which is more than 50% occupied.Korea: Phnom Penh Tower, constructed by Hyundai Amco, continues to be one of the more popular office buildings with Japanese companies, including Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation, The Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi, JETRO, Fuji Electric, Tama Global Investments and Creed Group. Hyundai Amco is also the main contractor for the construction of ACLEDA’s headquarters along Monivong Boulevard.China: China continues to invest heavily in infrastructure with the Shanghai Construction Group building the fourth Cambodia-China Friendship Bridge in Takhmao, whilst Sinohydro Corp has established an office in Canadia Tower and is currently exploring the possibility of constructing a hydropower dam in Koh Kong Province.Singapore: The Peak is a new mixed-use development being undertaken by Oxley Worldbridge, a joint venture between Singapore’s Oxley Group and Cambodia’s Worldbridge, that will include a hotel component operated as a five-star Shangri-La hotel, part of the Kuoc Group of companies, whilst another Singaporean developer, TEHO International, will construct a similar mixed-use development with the hotel component being operated as a five star Okura Prestige hotel. Cambodia growth engineGDP continues to grow at an average of 7% year-on-year and is forecasted to do so up to 2018.Four main engines of growth – manufacturing, agriculture, tourism and construction continue to drive the Cambodian economy, with the construction industry’s contribution growing alongside the rapidly developing real estate industry.ASEAN Economic Community(AEC) integration is expected to increase employment and volume of skilled workers, which will positively impact the commercial sector as more companies seek to take advantage of investment opportunities.Although anticipated to increase in 2H15, inflation is expected to remain manageable over the short to medium-term.The stable political environment in Cambodia has led to renewed investor confidence with increasing inflows of FDI.Office Sector The majority of existing office supply is dominated by Grade C stock, with 92% of them situated in central locations within Phnom Penh.The office stock will see an increase of 64% by 2018, with 60% of the incoming supply classified as Grade A and 40% classified as Grade B.Hongkong Land, ACLEDA and the Overseas Cambodia Investment Corporation will add a combined total net lettable area (NLA) of 112,180 sq m, or approximately 72% of the total incoming supply.Prime rental prices remained stable showing only a slight increase of 2% between 2H 2014 and 1H 2015, with the city-wide average rental recorded at USD 14 per sq m per month across all office grades.Occupancies for prime office space remained subdued at 44%, showing a 3% decrease in vacancy between 2H 2014 and 1H 2015.Retail Sector Current per capita retail space of 0.0087 sq m points to an undersupply in Cambodia especially when compared to its regional neighbours, Thailand and the Philippines.Average vacancy across all retail grades is 14%.A 122% increase in current NLA is expected by 2019.Future supply will consist of 88% prime space and 12% secondary space, with 60% located in central areas.With the impending future supply, the current undersupply will be catered for, with concerns of a possible oversupply by 2018.

As Cambodia’s property market expands and diversifies faster than ever before, both locals and expats are seeing opportunities in the real estate industry. As a real estate agent your earning potential is near limitless and, meanwhile, the market place is so broad and various, almost anyone can find their sales niche and succeed.In many other countries there are various types of real estate agents with real estate sellers’ licenses suitable to their domain – whether it be rentals, residential sales, commercial, land, high-end, low-end, new developments and so on. In Cambodia, however, real estate agents only need to be licensed by a registered real estate agency. For those that want to become an agent, they must choose what direction to take their career; and for those looking for a property, they must choose what type of agent is best for their property needs. Here’s a guide to the different types of agents available in Cambodia, and why you might or might not want to choose them for your next property search… Full Salaried Agents:Full salaried agents are registered employees at a real estate agency who receive regular pay checks regardless of their sales results. Meanwhile, full salaried agents also generally receive an additional income of between 10 to 15 percent share of the final commission sum when they do sell. The benefits for full salaried agents are that they are guaranteed an income even when the property market slows down and sales are hard – but their commission rates are smaller than some other agents. For agency owners, offering a constant salary to agents may limit their incentive to really chase sales. For property seekers, employing this type of agent may lead to a lower-quality of customer service because they have no exclusivity over your listing if selling, and comparatively low incentives to do what it takes to find you the perfect property if you are buying. The quality of service of this type of agent will depend solely on the reputation of the agency – so choose your real estate agency wisely.Employed Commission-Based Agents:This type of agent is likely the most common way of working in any real estate market. An employed commission-based agent is hired by an established real estate agency and is paid only when they close a sales deal. When they do sell, they will receive around 40 - 60 percent of the total commission share, and the rest of the commission will be given to their agency. After all, they provided the agent with the collateral, leads and listings necessary for the sale. For agents beginning their career, this is an easy way to get started. Why? You will have access to the company’s listings and joint marketing efforts, meaning that no upfront costs or efforts are required from you. You will be rewarded on your success with high commission shares – but if you can’t sell, you won’t make anything. For property buyers and sellers, be aware that while many real estate agencies employ agents on these terms, not all agencies are as good as each other. Therefore, before you hire an agent like this, you must investigate the reputation of the agency that they work for. A good agency will assist you with all aspects of property purchasing and selling - such as inspections, valuations, marketing and legal considerations before and after the sale. Look for a wide set of skills and an intimate understanding of the local real estate market. Don’t settle for less.Freelance Agents:Freelance real estate agents were once extremely common in Cambodia. However, they are now illegal. Any real estate agent in Cambodia must be registered to a licensed agency. As freelance agents were liable for full commission on sales, they were more motivated than other agents to close a deal, and often worked harder to find a mutually beneficial contact between the buying and selling parties. The risk of working with ‘cowboys,’ however was high - freelancers will do almost anything to try and close a deal. The freelancer answers to no one, and no agency. For these reasons, only deal with registered real estate agents in Cambodia.If you are looking for an agent, the first place to look is the Cambodian Real Estate Agent Directory at Realestate.com.kh.

Eastland Development (HK) Ltd has entered the Cambodian property market with grand promises to provide high quality residential and commercial property solutions to Cambodian nationals and international investors. Furthermore, Eastland intends to do so with the highest standards of corporate credibility and professionalism in all their activities. The first of these projects to reach completion will be the East One International Apartments complex, located on the corner of Street 51 and Street 214, Duan Penh, providing luxury high rise living in the heart of Phnom Penh. The next project in the pipeline is the East View Residence and East Commercial Center (ECC), set to become an entrepreneurial hub for young Cambodian and international businesses looking to find their feet in the Cambodian and ASEAN marketplace. Other projects in the pipeline for Eastland include a high-star luxury hotel project and a modern shopping mall development, both set for design in the not so distant future. Eastland’s long term partners in all of these projects within Cambodia include the China State Construction Engineering Corporation, China’s largest and most renowned construction company, and Buildwork Asia, a full-service property management company from Japan with over 50 years of experience in the property management industry.

VIPs from across Phnom Penh and abroad joined on Friday night to welcome the East One Apartments on to the Cambodian real estate market. Held on the 14th August at 5:00pm till late, at the East One Showroom on Sihanouk Boulevard, East Land Development Company Ltd., a Hong Kong based company, in association with Huttons CPL Cambodia, invited buyers and honorary guests to learn more about East Land's profile and direction in the Cambodian market, and to view their latest project release - East One Apartments, located on Street 51. The occasion offered a chance to anyone wishing to learn more about the East One project to eat, drink and listen to the benefits of investment on presale terms, including Special Loan Packages for new Unit buyers at East One Apartments at particularly low interest rates. East One is being offered with 22.5% Guarantee Rental Return (GRR) over 3 years upon projected completion in the first quarter of 2017. This GRR is rebated to all buyers as upfront discounts. The development is selling fast already, with almost 50% of units presold. See the Full Listing Here For more information and to arrange a viewing, please contact us today or visit the East One Showroom - Opposite Cell Card, and next to ANZ Royal on Sihanouk Boulevard. (#182, Preah Sihanouk Blvd , BKK1, Chamkarmon, Phnom Penh).

A lot of people talk about buying investment property. However, this is not always as simple as it seems. To make any property a lucrative investment, you need to buy the right investment property and you need to manage it correctly.Here are the top three ways to make your real estate earn extra income for you and your family.#1 - Buy a Rental Property: If you want to see your new property investment making money immediately, you should buy a property that you can easily rent out to someone else. The benefit of a rental property is that you can sell the property at a higher price than what you purchased it for - due to the appreciation of the land beneath it - while, at the same time, you collect an additional rental income. The rental income will help supplement your mortgage repayments on the property – or could even exceed them. In which case, you will receive extra money each month as landlord. When buying a property that you intend to rent, however, you must try to choose a property that has market value now. If it does not attract rental tenants straight away, you won’t see any money in the short term meaning you struggle to pay the mortgage repayments. So when you are looking to buy an investment property to rent, you must consider:Is it in a popular location for potential tenants? Eg. Close to universities and schools, close to shopping centers, close to major employment centers etc.Is it suitable for expat renters? If so, you can make more from rental opportunities if you market the property correctly to expats.Is the property currently livable? You may need to furnish the property, and make the property more attractive for potential renters. Eg. Consider security precautions; consider supplying services such as wi-fi or cable tv.All of these things require investing more money into the property but may be necessary to guarantee tenancy.Obviously, this also means you must have another property where you can live while you rent out your investment property. Alternatively, if the property is suitable, you may be able to live in part of the house, and rent the rest of it to tenants. Read #2 Here

A lot of people talk about buying investment property. However, this is not always as simple as it seems. To make any property a lucrative investment, you need to buy the right investment property and you need to manage it correctly.Here are the top three ways to make your real estate earn extra income for you and your family. Missed #1? Click here to read them first!#2 - Buy a Property to Live in with High Appreciation Potential: This is what most people immediately think when they think of the term “Investment Property.” Invest in real estate that you will live in yourself, and hope that while you stay there, the price of the land will rise enough to cover the mortgage that you took out to initially buy the property. If the property appreciates sufficiently while you stay, you will make money on top of the mortgage and this is your end profit. This is also an investment suitable for those who don’t want to rent a property. When you rent for a long time, you might feel like you are wasting money by giving it to your landlord. If you buy the property, this money you would have spent on rent is instead going to be spent on the mortgage repayments. When you are ready to move from the house, you have the opportunity to make money on top of any costs of the mortgage. But remember:This is a much harder game if you don’t have upfront cash to buy the property or subsidize the loan – because the mortgage repayments are going to eat into your investment earnings.It also requires a better understanding of the real estate market trends that you are in, as you must find a property that will appreciate reasonably quickly.This investment tactic tends to take longer – in that you may need to wait for many years before the property appreciates enough to be worth selling again.It also requires economic stability during that period, increasing the risk.But, if you choose the right property, in an area appreciating fast, this type of investment strategy can work. And meanwhile you always have a place to live. Here’s what to look for:Property and land tends to appreciate naturally as other things develop around it, so when you look for an investment property to live in, try to choose upcoming areas. Places where maybe the level of infrastructure is currently lower – but clearly rising quickly.Don’t buy in areas which are already fully developed, unless you get a very competitive price when you buy the property. The appreciation in these areas is likely to be slower.Look to see where other people are choosing for investment and speak with real estate agents.Always research the market before buying a live-in investment property.A note regarding Land Investment: If you want to simply invest in land – you must invest at or below market value. If you spend too much on a land investment, your risk that it won’t increase in value is high, and meanwhile, you get no benefit from the property what so ever.Read #3 Here

A lot of people talk about buying investment property. However, this is not always as simple as it seems. To make any property a lucrative investment, you need to buy the right investment property and you need to manage it correctly. Here are the top three ways to make your real estate earn extra income for you and your family. Missed #1 or #2? Click here to read them first!#3 - Buy a property, Increase its Value, and Flip It: Potentially the fastest way to make a return on your investment is to buy an investment property that you will be able to improve through renovations and then sell for more than what you originally bought it for. Yet, no money is easy money – and some investors do not consider the true costs and skills necessary to buy, fix and flip property.One way to do this is to invest in a ‘property with potential’:A property with potential is one which is currently underdeveloped – but has potential to be a very attractive property with a little work and money.Yet, again, location is everything when it comes to re-selling property. So not everyone has money to buy in the right area and then spend money developing the property.Remember - Always get a professional valuation before you purchase any investment property, and this will help you find out how you can realistically increase the properties market value.Once you have developed the property, re-value it and see where its market value has moved to.There is no doubt that this option requires significant upfront capital – cash now. But if you have it, buy more and get a discount:Developers and other property investors with various properties will often give a much better price if you are willing to buy a number of properties.The money you save with this bulk discount can be used to improve the property for resale.You could consider buying a whole floor of a condominium building, for instance, then live in one unit while you rent out the others, or renovate the others for resale yourself.Then, sell all of the units at a higher price when the land beneath the condo appreciates.Missed #1 or #2? Click here to read them first!

Currently, the private sector is the only real force bringing fire prevention and response considerations into new building developments in Cambodia, says Paul Hurford, Managing Director of Azisafe Cambodia. Yet, even these standards can prove problematic in the Cambodian firefighting environment. [caption id="attachment_77921" align="aligncenter" width="540"] Hong Menea, Phnom Penh Post[/caption] The Fire Prevention Law, which is currently in force in Cambodia, is an overarching document that represents a cross between a fire safety law, a fire service law and a catalogue of emergency response standards. “It reflects a law that was intended to have specific regulations created under it,” says Hurford, “yet these regulations have yet to be created.”This means the law currently has no direct compliance mechanisms, and little practical application. [caption id="attachment_77915" align="alignleft" width="200"] Hong Menea, Phnom Penh Post[/caption] Many new buildings currently being erected throughout Cambodia claim to bring international standards of fire safety, fully integrated into the new building’s design. However, Hurford notes, while Singaporean, Malaysian and Hong Kong fire standards are increasingly integrated into new developments, these countries have some of the best fire services in the world in regards to response capabilities and external fire infrastructure. “Although a new development may incorporate international standards in regards to fire prevention within its design – if the local fire service arrives and their equipment has different couplings to those installed inside the building, these international standard systems are immediately useless.” The same issue occurs when the response team is not trained in using these internal firefighting systems. For these reasons, to achieve worthwhile fire design, emphasis must lie on emergency response mechanisms related to each building, and appropriate training for first response teams for that building, says Hurford.  This means compatibility with available local firefighting equipment, but also a strong emphasis on training and response protocols. Some new developments are taking matters into their own hands in this regard, employing and training in-house firefighting teams. Hurford agrees with this measure, as “realistically, each development must be self-sustainable if they want to control fire risk in Cambodia.” This includes internal systems capable of fighting the fire, such as sprinklers, alarms, and appropriate extinguishers, but always combined with emergency protocols, training and education. Hurford notes that for developers, given the potential risk to their investment – “no one is really doing enough.” Meanwhile, response capabilities of the Cambodian fire service are limited by an equipment and skills gap. The Cambodian fire service exists within a culture of donation in regards to equipment, suggests Hurford -as internal funding is seldom afforded, there is an expectation that equipment will be donated. But this raises issues when that donated equipment does not suit the Cambodian firefighting environment. For example, says Hurford, the Japanese have donated many fire engines to the Cambodian fire service. While the equipment donated is of a high standard, it is suited to a Japanese firefighting environment where fire hydrants are always readily available.This means the trucks only have very small water tanks. In Cambodia,there are very limited hydrants available and, therefore, for a firefighting team to be successful, it must carry all necessary water to the scene of fire. “This is just one example,” notes Hurford “but it is symbolic of the Cambodian fire service’s equipment problem.” [caption id="attachment_77925" align="alignleft" width="350"] Hong Menea, Phnom Penh Post[/caption] Hurford suggests that the only way for the Cambodian fire service to move forward is to create standards suitable to Cambodia’s needs, tailored to Cambodia’s means – then train across the board on these standards. A few groups are currently trying to help with this, such as Eurocham’s current work on the new Construction Law, and the IBCs involvement with the Building Standards and Fire Safety Committee – both of which are working alongside the Government to move from a reactive state of affairs, toward reaching standardized fire safety mechanisms that will really save lives and property. Hurford is currently involved with the formation of the Emergency/Fire Response Working Group, set to meet for the first time this August. This working group shall bring together all government departments involved in emergency response mechanisms, along with private sector members with experience in the field of emergency response. The group shall conduct mutual trainingexercises for its members, and try to standardize training and communication procedures throughout the country. While this group is still very much in its infancy, it has already been endorsed by the Police Commissioner and Ministry of Interior. Hurford notes that everyone trying to work together on this is in itself a forward step.real estat

Mr. Sorn Seap, the current acting-president of the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association (CVEA), has witnessed the real estate and valuation industry learn to walk in the last 10 years of his career. [caption id="attachment_77779" align="alignleft" width="328"] Hong Menea, Phnom Penh Post[/caption] “Previously, entry into the valuation industry required no qualifications whatsoever,” Sorn recalled. “An appraiser, who always doubled as a real estate agent, was guided solely by their experience in that particular market and their relative understanding of any property market’s value.” Meanwhile, the same ‘rule of thumb’ was the only standard that valuation seekers could consider when choosing an appraiser. For these reasons, the National Valuers Association of Cambodia (NVAC) was launched in August 2008 by the initiative of H.E. Dr. Keat Chhon, deputy prime minister and minister for Economy and Finance. In 2009, the Association was adopted for the 8th full member of ASEAN Valuers Association (AVA) and duly imported the association’s standard of professional ethics into their mandate. Yet, with insufficient members to neither consolidate the interests of the entire market nor standardize land prices, the Association changed its name to the Cambodian Valuers and Estate Agents Association (CVEA) in April 2011 and included real estate agencies within the association.  Now, the CVEA has a registered membership list of 60 real estate agencies and valuation companies. They provide a code of conduct for ethical practice and professional standards to all of their members, which are endorsed by the MEF. They also host educational events for their members to encourage better practice throughout the industry. The demand for property valuations is clearly rising throughout the Cambodian economy, said Sorn, but this demand is also diversifying in Cambodia. While traditionally Cambodians only sought valuations in order to raise finance for a home or business loans offset by the value of their property, increasingly, valuations are being used by Cambodians as a tool to apply for visa applications, negotiating joint ventures and in order to assist in share issuing. This new demand is coming with a greater understanding within the valuation markets, believes Hin Socheat, director of research at Bonna Realty Group. “Average Cambodian property buyers and sellers are increasingly aware that if their property valuation reflects any bias whatsoever, their interests are at stake – whether it be through a lessening of their financing potential or damaging trust in a joint venture proposal,” he said. In addition, Hin  said banks and lending institutions can put themselves at additional risk when offering sizable low interest loans to clients on falsified valuations. Sorn suggests that “the general population still largely sees appraisals as a market value estimate and very little more.” In fact, international standards of valuation require a considerably technical and scientific approach to the factors involved in reaching that value estimate and a code of ethics that eliminates any possibility of bias. Meanwhile, valuation documents are generally produced in English in Cambodia– leaving a language barrier for many consumers. “All they see is the final valuation number, and this leads to a superficial understanding of the process behind that number,” said Sorn. Yet, without compliance mechanisms or overarching regulation, professional and domestic investors, including average home buyers and sellers in need of valuations, still must consider the credibility, company background and experience of any valuation company or independent appraiser before using their services. Hin mentions, for instance, that Bonna Realty Group received accreditation from the Security Exchange of Cambodia (SEC) at the end of 2014, meaning they have the necessary professional valuation standards to value Initial Public Offerings joining the Cambodian exchange market. Standardization of the valuations market may not be such a distant future for Cambodia, however. According to Sorn, the CVEA is currently working closely with the MEF to define an appraiser’s code of conduct and an overarching real estate law for Cambodia, both of which will enter into force in the coming years. “The hope of the MEF and CVEA is to complete this consultation and drafting process by 2017,” said Sorn. To draft these new laws, the MEF and CVEA are importing international standards from the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (RICS), a world renowned land qualification and valuations authority and a regulatory regime that is proving popular in neighboring countries and in the Codes of Conduct of various Cambodian appraisal firms, including Bonna Realty Group, who is a member of CVEA. Malaysian standards of practice have also been a focal point in these consultations between the MEF and CVEA. Meanwhile, the CVEA and MEF are currently in the process of raising funds to bring the RICS training body to Cambodia to begin training programs on these codes of ethical practice within the real estate and valuation industries as soon as possible. Want to learn more about how a valuation can benefit you? Learn more and get a valuation today - right here on Realestate.com.kh

The strong growth in the economy has largely coincided with the construction boom in Phnom Penh and all over Cambodia. However, a recent trend that is symptomatic of the burgeoning amount of construction across Cambodia is the increase in house and business break-ins proximate to construction sites, said John Muller, Managing Director of Global Security Solutions (GSS) Cambodia. Although statistics are hard to come by, Muller, a security professional with almost 30 years of experience in South East Asia, and who follows this issue closely has noted a rise around construction sites where workers have ample time to survey the movements of occupants, determine their wealth and assess easy access points. He also noted that recently there have been various cases of increasingly bold break-ins where people are entering while occupants sleep and even entering bedrooms to take high value items. In order to mitigate this risk, says Muller, those living or working near construction zones should assess the most vital areas of their home or business, and secure those areas. “Your most vital areas are always the areas where there are people, first and foremost, and, secondly, the areas where you keep your most valued property,” he said. Always try to have only one point of entry to your home or business, recommends Muller, as keys are extremely easy to copy in Cambodia and locks are easy to break. House help and private security guards always represent a certain level of human risk as they assume positions of trust, yet may not attain a high enough salary to resist opportunistic theft or collusion with outside interests. Therefore, for those with the means, non-key personalized entry systems will avoid these risks, such as fingerprint or retina scanning systems and cameras on main entry points. Outside your property, trees on the borders of the property can act like ladders and cover for anyone hiding on the outskirts of the property. Lighting should be considered and sodium yellow lighting casts a shadow better than any other outdoor lighting, making intruders more obvious to you, your dog and any motion detecting alarms. Motion detectors are recommended outside the home or business, says Muller, connected to a siren alarm. However, if you have a large outdoor area, maybe a commercial property, motion detectors and cameras may be too expensive to monitor the whole area – in which case a dog and/or a professional guard may be the best option. Cameras are always recommended for the outside of your house and the main roadways because it offers a basic deterrent, regardless of whether or not they are functioning. If you have a camera outside, potential intruders see your house as a hardened target, comments Muller, and assume you have other security measures inside. Andre de Jong, Managing Director of Robert Bosch (Cambodia) Co., Ltd., suggests this increased risk of break-ins should really be mitigated by the building developer in charge of the construction crew – who has a duty to ensure on site security measures during the construction stage of the development. By installing cameras on the construction site borders, the property developer can deter construction workers from entering neighboring properties at all times. Furthermore, once the developer invests in such security equipment, this is not wasted capital whatsoever – as these systems can be transferred from the perimeter of the site into the new development once construction is complete. Such construction site security standards are standard policy for many international developments currently underway in Cambodia. However, it is not yet enforced in Cambodian building codes and legislation–something that de Jong hopes to see change in upcoming construction law policy reviews.