_Top tips for buying a dream home in Italy
In our newly released, new look publication Italian Homes, Villas & Estates, our Italian Network Chairman Bill Thomson shares how to get the most out of the experience of searching for a property in the region. His top tip? Make sure you stop for lunch!
What’s your key piece of advice for potential buyers in the current market?
Enjoy the search. We understand that most of our buyers are making this commitment for pleasure, and it needs to be fun from day 1. Organise some short trips, stay in lovely hotels and get to know different areas. That will help you to feel which is the right bit of Italy for you.
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What are your 3 top tips for finding your perfect property?
1. It can take time to find the right house, so don’t get frustrated.
2. Plan your trips wisely, selecting the houses you want to see and allowing time for each one – and lunch, of course!
3. Don’t compromise. You’ll find it once you really understand what you’re looking for – and that may not be what you thought it was going to be.
How should you start a property search in Italy?
The market’s amazingly transparent, so take your time. Once you get a feel for the pricing of the properties you like, instruct a single search agent to sift through options for you. It’s better to take time to select an agent you feel comfortable with, tell them what you want (or think you want) and rely on them to do the hard work for you. Don’t register your search with all of them immediately, or you’ll be inundated with sales details.
What are some of the common pitfalls when property hunting in Italy, and how can they be avoided?
Probably the most common error is imagining that what you see online will be as nice in real life. We try hard to represent our properties as they are, but not everyone does. Don’t get too hooked on a house until you’ve seen it in person. It may not be what you think at all – and you’ll have wasted a lot of time and emotional energy.
Which trends are you seeing amongst buyers currently?
More buyers want to buy a property that is ready for use and managed for them. We provide restoration and estate management services (and have done so for 30 years) precisely to cater to this requirement.
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If you had €3 million to spend on an Italian property, where would it be and why?
I should say Florence or Chianti, as this area’s been my home for over 30 years, and I love it. For a change, I’ll say Palazzo Ponte Piccolo in Venice. It’s an incredible, unique development, and I think it’ll be an amazing investment over time. Plus, it’s a fabulous place to relax when I can get away from work.
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