Buying a house in Italy

[Itsbeenalongoldday]

We have been visiting a village in north Tuscany for years. Decided to look to buy a little 2 bed house that has come up. The front has been re rendered, roof fairly new and new window frames but inside it’s a wreck and needs basement converting to make it a kitchen. old balcony needs demolishing as it’s unsafe and illegally built it appears.Price of house seemed reasonable and we took architect friend to view back in Feb who drew some simple plans to give to builders to quote. It’s taken 4 months but now all quotes are with us and it’s over budget and think there’s things we can cut but possibly things missing too! Apparently it’s unusual to want quotes before agreeing a sale! As tax is 22% it seems out of reach. Does anyone have experience of projects staying to the budget and experience in remote villages where only a couple of builders will work. we have a local friend who will manage project but it somehow feels they are trying it on as we’re brits ? Think we should prob cut our losses ?

6 houses bought and sold in Italy here! I’m resident and working in Italy.

I wouldn’t take on the buying or the building work without having a clear idea of duration of residence, Brexit tax situation, planning permission, building restrictions, tax breaks, and obligations.
At the very least you need an Italian geometra (surveyor) to back up your UK architect. Preferably local and ideally one who knows the town planning geometra. Ask your neighbours and at the comune. Find out if you are in a Tuscan “belle arti” area where building regulations are stricter. And factor in the tax you pay as non residents (seconda casa) both on the sale and rubbish collection, bills etc.

Your geometra will then find you reputable builders, plumbers etc who will work in the area. No use sourcing them yourselves! For renovations that improve the energy rating like double glazing, insulation and solar panels there is tax relief (if you pay Italian tax) or grants available. Guess who organises the compliance documents!

In the last 30 years of renovating and having work done, we’ve always bought top quality building materials, bathroom fittings etc, not DIY superstore, and the installation has normally been 1.5 times the materials cost. Maybe more nowadays. And you will almost certainly go over budget, even with quotes, because if a job’s worth doing…

Do you know about the 90 day rule?

Thanks @Sgtmajormummy really helpful. We don’t plan on living in it full time so 90 day rule is fine for us. We have contacts in the village who has project managed other houses there and is willing to take ours on she has arranged all the quotes from plumber electrician builder and carpenter but don’t feel the confidence that everything is included and from renovating a house in uk we know things run over and unexpected things pop up so think you’ve probably confirmed we need to bow out of this project.
do you mind me asking how you found your properties ?

We’ve bought a house each time we changed city for jobs, plus inherited one and renovated it for holidays, then sold after a few years. We currently rent out the last two houses we bought and live in DS’s student digs, repurposed into a home again! Bricks and mortar are the best investment IMO.
Nowadays most houses (agency or private) for sale are visible on the immobiliare.it website, sometimes the same house at several prices from different agencies. It’s my guilty pleasure to browse and I mentally knock off at least 10% from the asking price.
I’m never happier than when I’ve got a Reno project going on but I leave the structural work to the professionals. Tradies know each other and call in favours all the time- once I needed a tiny bathroom ceiling painted. On finishing the guy who did it just shrugged and said “forget about it, that’s between me and your plumber”.
I feel a bit sad that this place should be our last home and we’ve done the very last improvement (dipping and stripping 120yo doors and architraves = €7000 and weeks of in-situ disruption). Maybe a small seaside flat for our retirement and (?) grandchildren to stay. We’ll see…

Talking about overspending and maybe being the goose that lays the golden eggs for your tradesmen. Keep coming back, showing your face and discussing with them. Once they know you personally they should be honour bound to treat you properly. And use your project manager (always been me!) when things get serious.
Have you seen the YouTube videos of The American Duchess? She bought a small house in North Tuscany (Fivizzano) not far from where we were (Fosdinovo) and had a great time doing it. Not without a few hiccups.

countess