Robert and May Watson are not newcomers to the Pattaya real estate market, having gained valuable market experience and high regard from their peers during their 4 years within the sector.
Over the last 3 years both have been active participants in the development of Real Estate Association of Thailand Eastern Seaboard (REBA-ES).
May is currently the President of Real Estate Association of Thailand Eastern Seaboard (REBA-ES).
Five Star Villas & Condos mediate as real estate agents in the sale and purchase of 5 Star condos, 5 Star villas and 5 Star land, 5 Star rentals and 5 Star holiday rentals, in fact all aspects of 5 Star real estate. Furthermore we consult investors about buying 5 Star properties to let, building of 5 Star condominiums, 5 Star villas and the development of 5 Star villa projects.
Here at Five Star Villas & Condos we regard customer satisfaction as paramount!
GIVE US A CALL!
Please telephone for a mutually convenient appointment.
Office: sales@fivestarvillasandcondos.com
Robert: 0866 099 101 robert@fivestarvillasandcondos.com
May: 0866 903 972 may@fivestarvillasandcondos.com
Five Star Villas and Condos Co., Ltd
Suite B30, THE VILLAGE, 383/2 moo 12,
Sukhumvit Road, Nongprue, Banglamung, Chonburi 20150, Thailand
Two politicians named Barack and John may be about to contest the small matter of another presidency next month, but one presidential election - a lot closer to home - has already been held. It was a one candidate race, no contest, undisputed, call it what you will. When May Watson agreed to stand for presidency of REBA-ES, she got the job. Simple as that!
Well, actually, maybe it wasn’t that simple. May took a little time to think about it. She talked with her husband and business partner, Robert, plus other REBA-ES board members (she was already the organisation’s secretary) before deciding to accept the invitation.
May had a tough act to follow - outgoing president Supap Wade had been the first to take the role. Supap and the first board of the association (with May as a member, of course) had done all the hard work of getting it going. “Supap has done a very, very good job,” said May. “We wouldn’t be where we are today without her. All I can do now is try my best for the organisation.”
May said she had a chat with Supap before accepting the presidency. “Supap encouraged me to take the job as she was keen to see new people drive REBA-ES forward,” she said.
May had only been the president for just over a month when we spoke.
How much of her time was it taking up - and had she been prepared for the commitment? I asked. “I have to go to Bangkok at least once a month (to meet with the parent organisation) and I have at least two meetings a month to attend in addition,” May said.
One of the local meetings is of the association’s board; the other for the whole membership.
“I had an idea of what was involved from my time as the association’s secretary. The president’s role takes up time, but maybe being secretary took up more,” she said, allowing herself a small smile.
“Although I’m not constantly attending REBA meetings, I’m often thinking about REBA matters and I always have to be available to speak to members. You know how it is, you can rarely switch off totally.”
Did being president interfere with her work as joint owner of Five Star Villas & Condos in Jomtien?
“Well my husband provides big support. If I didn’t have the peace of mind that Robert is minding the business, I wouldn’t have taken the job,” she said.
“Many meetings fall outside office hours which helps with my work for Five Star. But that does take away family time.”
Immediate family for May is Robert and her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, Emily May, who is looked after by a full-time nanny.
What does she hope to achieve in her two-year term?
“Well, as I said before, a lot of the hard work of establishing REBA-ES has been done. I will regard my tenure as a success if I have helped to market the association well to the buying public,” was May’s reply.
Could she elaborate? “Often I am asked what is different about dealing with a REBA member? We need to get that difference across.”
And what is different?
“First, I’d like to make something very clear. There are many good real estate agents operating in Pattaya who are not, or chose not to be, members of REBA. They have good standards and operate ethically,” said May. “REBA members don’t claim to have a monopoly in these areas.
“However, the buying public can be assured that REBA-ES members do operate to certain standards and ethics.”
Could she quote any examples? “Here’s a very simple one. If a member of REBA were to show a house or condo they actually own to a prospective buyer they would be obliged to let the viewer know of their personal interest.”
This is to stop agents favouring their own properties ahead of others that are on their books? “Yes, I should add that it’s not against the law to sell your own property, of course. But we ask members to declare their interest to buyers. Not to do so, we think, would be unethical.”
What if the broker is also a developer?
“REBA is about brokerage. The REBA triangle logo can only be used to promote the brokerage aspect of any business.” So no member can hint that REBA standards apply to their developments by using the triangle logo in that context? “That’s right.”
Any plans to expand the membership? “We are always keen to welcome new brokers to our ranks, but the accent for us is on quality not quantity. We want the membership to expand but we want to protect our standards.”
First step for any brokerage is to persuade a current member to put their name forward for consideration. Trust must be established. “We are not seeking to exclude companies, but we do want to be sure that they share our values,” said May.
If the association expands doesn’t the potential for differences of opinion increase exponentially? “There are always differences of opinion,” said May. “In a business of just two partners they can see matters in different ways.”
The association currently has 21 members. Is it difficult to keep all 21 in agreement?
“We discuss matters as a board. We have a board of eight plus myself. I rely heavily of these people. In addition to the board we have specialist committees who discuss specific topics.
When we present our thoughts to the whole membership we have usually arrived at a consensus.
“But of course, matters can still arise under any other business (AOB) at a meeting. That can lead to some interesting discussions.
“I think the thing I most want to get across is that everyone in REBA-ES realises that, to make things work, we must focus on the interests of the group - not individuals. We always come to an agreement in the end.”
When May gives up the REBA-ES presidency in 2010 how does she hope her time at the helm will be judged?
“I hope people will be able to say I helped play a role in getting REBA’s values better understood by the buying public. Our early years have focussed on getting our standards established and and our educational policies right. Now we need to market REBA to the world outside our association,” said May.
Perhaps by chatting to me, May might feel that she has already set that marketing ‘ball’ rolling...
Real Estate Magazine: October 2010
PLEASE NOTE
Since this article in “Pattaya Trader” May has grown into her role as President of REBA-ES and has been instrumental in developing customer awareness of REBA-ES through “The Property Spot” on 88.5hm (www.885.com), Pattaya’s leading English speaking radio station, and BBC affiliate.
May was also instrumental in encouraging twelve REBA-ES member companies to participate in the NAR/CRS training course and examination in March 2010, real estates highest designation.
May’s husband, Robert, Sales Director of Five Star Villas & Condos, successfully completed the course and passed the required examinations to become a CRS Member!
New Year’s Resolutions of Robert Watson, Sales Director of Five Star Villas & Condos.
I haven’t bothered with New Year Resolutions since being at school: “Next year I will do my homework on time”…and all those easy to break promises.
But I am about to start again with earnest in 2010:
My first Resolution will be to convey Positive Energy to all those around me whether they are family and friends, customers, brief acquaintances or fellow Real Estate Brokers. Stop thinking about obstacles and problems, and start seeing them as opportunities to improve the situation.
My second Resolution is to at least once a week, make that extra effort to contact a regular human being existing somewhere beyond my real estate network. This includes mother, father, brother, friend, mutual acquaintance. This does not include the Subway delivery boy, the Burger King delivery boy or the KFC delivery boy.
“Courtesy of Real Estate Magazine, January 2010”
New Year’s Resolutions of May Watson, President of the Real Estate Broker Association – Eastern Seaboard.
My main New Year’s Resolutions this year will be commercial ones.
As the second President of the Real Estate Broker Association – Eastern Seaboard, I would like to conclude my first term in office by consolidating the hard work of my fellow Members, that being increasing the local awareness of the benefits of REBA-ES, to both the public and real estate brokers, with current the rebranding exercise and build further on the quality membership we have.
My second resolution will be, with the support of the Membership of REBA-ES, I will be putting myself forward for an unprecedented second term in office as President of the Real Estate Broker Association – Eastern Seaboard.
