Hundreds of agencies work in Phuket, from companies with offices and in-house lawyers to private intermediaries with no registration in Thailand. Your choice of agency decides how carefully the property and documents are checked and what happens to your money before you get the keys. Below is a checklist to test any agency before the first payment.
Checklist: how to choose a real estate agency in Phuket
1. Company registration in Thailand
Ask for the exact Thai company name and registration number. Check them in the public company register: status "active", registration date, address and type of business (agency services, real estate). If the agency is only a "brand" with no Thai legal entity, the contract and liability in practice sit with another person or company.
2. An office on the island
Get the office address and visit. A company with an office in Phuket views properties with you in person, deals with developers and management companies locally and stays reachable after the deal.
3. Years on the market
Look at the registration date in the register and the company's history: projects it sold several years ago and how they are doing now.
4. Portfolio and media coverage
Ask for a portfolio with real deals, projects and media coverage. Links should lead to original sources you can open and check.
5. Client reviews
Video reviews with real people are more convincing than anonymous text. Check that reviews exist beyond the agency's own website.
6. Safe deal and escrow
Ask how your money is protected until handover: an escrow account, stage payments tied to construction, refund terms. Money should never go "to the manager's card".
7. Legal check of the property and title
Before the first payment a lawyer checks the land title, building permit, EIA for larger projects, encumbrances and the contract. More: how to check a developer and land plot in Phuket.
8. After-sales support and rental management
Find out what the agency does after the deal: handover, utilities, renting out, owner reports. Put rental management terms in a separate contract.
Why CMP Group
- Two Thai companies: CMP Realty Co., Ltd. (reg. no. 0205559011795, Pattaya) and CMP Realty Phuket Co., Ltd. (reg. no. 0205551001065, Rawai, Phuket). You can check both numbers in the public register.
- Offices in Phuket and Pattaya: 76 Soi Naya, Rawai, Phuket; Naklua, Pattaya. Office contacts.
- History since 2007. About the company.
- 2026 award: The Best Agent in Overseas Property Sales at the Thailand Real Estate Agent Awards 2026. Award news.
- A 295-page portfolio: CMP Group in the media, 2007–2026 and PDF.
- Client reviews: 234 reviews on our Russian-language site and client video testimonials.
- Safe deal and lawyer: safe deal, legal check.
Check a property or agency with a CMP expert
Send us a link to the property or the contract: a CMP expert will check the documents and tell you what to look at before you pay. Phone and Messenger: +66 90 040 0052. You can close in person or remotely.
FAQ
How do I check that a Phuket agency is registered in Thailand?
Ask for the Thai company name and its 13-digit registration number and check them in Thailand's public company register (Department of Business Development) or a site that mirrors it. The register shows the registration date, address, status and type of business.
Does the agency need an office on the island?
An office in Phuket does not guarantee quality, but it shows the company works locally: it can view properties with you, meet you, check documents with the developer and support you after the purchase. Ask for the office address and check it on a map and in the register.
What is a safe deal or escrow when buying in Phuket?
It is a set-up where the buyer's money does not go straight to the seller before the contract conditions are met: an independent party holds it or it is released in stages. Ask the agency which mechanism it offers, who holds the money and when it is released to the seller.
Which land and property documents should be checked?
The type of land title (chanote is the most secure), the building permit, an EIA for larger projects, whether the contract matches the permits, and any encumbrances. It is best to have a lawyer check them before the first payment.
How do I check reviews of an agency?
Look beyond text reviews: video reviews with real clients, media coverage and awards with the organiser and year stated. It is a good sign when the agency itself links to sources you can verify.
What should after-sales support include?
Handover of the property, help with utilities and paperwork, and rental management if needed: finding tenants, collecting payments and reporting to the owner. Agree in advance which services are included and how they are paid.
Read also: Phuket real estate · How to check a developer and land plot · Phuket news
Company data: Thailand's public company register (as of 15 November 2026).