•    Top 10 Tips for Buying a House in Abruzzo
  How to get a mortgage in Italy as a non Italian

• • Advice on Abruzzo Property Agents

  

  How to ensure you have a peachy experience buying a house in Abruzzo

  There is a tendency when people buy properties in Abruzzo that they forget simply what sharks estate agents can be.  When feeling vulnerable they believe all words of support that sound even vaguely encouraging, simply because they are in a strange country and possibly at a disadvantage due to the language barrier.

  Please do get real or in Girl Guide terms ‘ be prepared’ – they want your money and a testimonial (often a bit prematurely!), not your friendship so don’t kid yourselves otherwise no matter how nice they appear!

  It seems that, despite our ever-present faith in British decency, English selling to English are often the worst culprits. With their few words of Italian, they think they can play hardball with the soft, prospective ex-pats that come over and drive mean deals that nobody wins from apart from themselves in their rather strange consultancy roles.

  Buy from Italian Estate Agents you will be treated you as if you are a aristocrat, but don’t forget you are their cash cow, however more charming they are than those ex-pat agents.

  Do be aware that if you have bought a house from your agent or a consortium, your new neighbours will share their grievances in no uncertain terms about how the ‘agent’ undervalued their house when they brought it from them and sold it on you for a hefty profit.

  Although Abruzzo is quite behind in all things web, purely because of it being mountainous and the sparcity of ADSL connections, there are more & more properties that are becoming available that are being sold privately by home-owners direct.  Try the movechannel.com to see what is available before you go down the road of talking to agents.

  Don’t forget

  • Always use a registered agent only, that does translate to mean make sure the person who you are corresponding with is registered themselves and this is their day job – ensure you aren’t dealing with someone employed primarily for their good English rather than expertise on the Italian property market.
  • Never pay to be taken to see a house – you wouldn’t pay to see a house at home why on earth should you in Abruzzo?
  • Always enquire and request to see documents before placing an offer stating when the house was last sold and for how much.
  • Never use your estate agent’s notary, translator,  geomatra etc etc, get your own  – the process may take longer but you remain impartially empowered.
  • Always expect a glitch when you sign the completion.  Suddenly out crawls a new price or you will suddenly hear that you are expected to pay the other parties legal costs – all sorts of things raise their ugly head.  Don’t be brow-beaten into going with any of this because you have come so far and neither want to waste your time, money or effort – in Italy the buyer also pays a commission to the estate agent so as the saying goes make the bastards work for you…

  Further Reading

  The Guardian – 15/11/2003
  Forget the rest – this is where you can live the dream…

  Useful Websites

  The MoveChannel

  Useful Vocab
  Notaio – legal executive who handles the buying and selling of property in Italy, acting on behalf of both parties.
  Compromesso – the initial contract between the buyer & vendor, witnessed by the Notaio. Legally binding.
  Rogito – deeds of sale.
  Geometra – part architect / part surveyor.

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  About the Author
  

  Sammy Dunham is a web marketing consultant, designing websites & writing copy to optimise web presence for her clients at webSEOlive. Past lives saw her studying in Firenze after which she taught History of Art & English and lived in Barcelona & The Bahamas. Keen on travel & photography, food & wine, co-editing Life in Abruzzo is her perfect job.

  Posted in:  Buying a House in Abruzzo

  

  Related Information

  Buying a House in Abruzzo

  Top 10 Tips for Buying a House in Abruzzo How to get a mortgage in Italy as a non Italian A Geometra or Architect for your Abruzzo Home

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