Art the Home Finder in Phnom Penh
Finding the right place for you in Phnom Penh
Price $ 2,500,000
Land size 20 m x 30 m
It is a modern villa on the corner of main street and a lot of opportunity to make business and living.
1. Open mart, restaurant, clinic…
2. Invest hight building for sale.
Rent $ 10,000 /month
Phone(855) 090333126, 012422126
This article first appeared in the Phnom Penh Post, Real Estate 2008 Special Supplement, Friday 04 April 2008. Written by Vong Sokheng. Photo: Tracey Shelton.
The Australian businessman appeared confused. “I’m sorry, who is this?” he asked the voice on the end of his phone.
“I’m Art, I find people homes,” came the cheerful reply.
Finding the perfect apartment in Phnom Penh can become something of a minefield. With real estate agents on every other corner, each pushing their clients’ properties, how do you know who to trust?
“I am a home finder, not a real estate agent,” says Art Hongly, a 32-year-old Cambodian entrepreneur who has found a niche market helping new arrivals and long-term expatriates locate their dream property amidst Phnom Penh’s booming rental market. “I know how to help people.”
Art, a Kompong Cham native, moved to Phnom Penh in 1997 to pursue further education. Financial hardships forced the young student to consider ways of earning some cash on the side to fund his studies.
He began researching property in Phnom Penh – finding out what was available and how much it cost. Gradually, he built up a network of property owners, landlords and tenants. Slowly, by word of mouth, news of his successful brokering work spread.
“He tries so hard to find you exactly what you want,” said one former client. “I recommend him to friends as he knows what foreigners want from a rental property and he helps you to find it.”
Ten years on, Art is a successful “mini broker,” he says with a smile. Although he has no company or office – just him, his mobile phone, and his network of clients – business is booming.
“My work is very simple,” he told the Post. “Clients hear about me by word of mouth. I never advertise. I don’t compete with the big real estate companies.”
But what he does do, is “try to help everyone who needs a home,” he says. “I am now experienced in this line of work and I know how to help people.”
The Australian businessman, who was using Art to try and identify a suitable property for a new business venture in Phnom Penh, was impressed by Art’s diligence.
“He calls me,” says the businessman. “He is so enthusiastic and very helpful, he is a real find.”
Art can help find a property and will help with negotiations between homeowners and tenants. He does not charge his clients for showing them properties – his money comes from the commissions paid by grateful homeowners when he has managed to let their property.
“I call it the ‘clean heart service,’” he says. “I am traditional Khmer, I have no real ambitions in the real estate industry. I try to do a good deed in order to make the people close to me happy.”
Art’s helpful hands have not stretched beyond just finding people homes; he is trying to help make Phnom Penh as easy to live in for foreigners as possible. Art will arrange anything to help your house feel like home – from reliable domestic help to internet services.
His clients, who primarily hail from Europe, North America and Australia, have grown in number dramatically in recent years and include embassy staff and NGO employees.
“Cambodia is changing very fast now, some foreigners visit the country and then decide to live here – being a home finder is an interesting job for me,” Art says. “When people begin a new life in another country and it starts by being peacefully settled into a new home that they are confident will not cause problems for them, they are happy.”
Despite the real estate sector booming, Art says his business has not suffered from extra competition.
“I do what I can do and I do not pressure myself over work,” he says. “The most important thing is that my clients trust me.”
The average deal takes a week or two to negotiate and he negotiates about ten deals a month.
“I am not focused only on money, my daily work is not a real business at the moment,” he says. “I just want to help with brokering deals and build up confidence in my services before I set up a company.”
Art can be found on the web at https://artthehomefinder.wordpress.com
My name is Art Hong Ly. I am a home finder, not a real estate agent. I specialise in finding the right home for people who are looking for somewhere to rent or buy in Phnom Penh. I am experienced in this work and I know how to help people.
Most of my clients come from overseas countries like Australia, Canada, Norway, Singapore, Sweden, UK and USA. I also help local people in Cambodia.
My style is to listen to what the client wants and to find the right place for them at the right price.
I have a network of home owners, landlords and landladies who know and trust me. They notify me directly when their place becomes available for rent. Often they prefer to use me rather than advertise through the large real estate companies.
I also help negotiate lease agreements between home owners and tenants so that the terms are clear and all parties are satisfied.
I prefer to work with home owners, landlords and landladies I can trust, too. I try to make sure the property is cleaned very well and all repairs are done before my clients move in.
If any misunderstandings arise between the home owner and tenant, I am happy to help sort things out.
My commission is paid by the owner, not added to the rent. I take you around to show you properties at no cost to you–it’s what I call a ‘clean-heart service’.
If you are looking for a home in Phnom Penh, call me now:
Art Hong Ly
Ph 012 422 126
Email:arthongly@gmail.com
Art really listened to what we wanted and found the perfect home for our family. Finding a suitable place to live in Phnom Penh was not easy. We feel very lucky to have found Art.
Angela Savage & Andrew Nette, Australia
Greetings, Art the Home Finder here. Finding a house in Phnom Penh can be a stressful experience. So can organising the other services you need to make your house a home.
This is why in addition to actually helping you to find a house I can also provide a range of related services. I can help you to arrange:
If you have any questions or seek further information about the services above, please do not hesitate to contact me SMS or you can call me on (855) 12 422126.
Also, feel free to leave me a comment on this website. I would love to hear from you.
Art
Art the Home Finder in Phnom Penh 