1299 Hello everyone

A very warm welcome to you from us who already love Puglia. We're on the Caravignio to San Vito road.

Just a word of warning, make sure if your trulli needs work, you get a proper quote from a builder on how much the work will cost. We met a guy who was given a general quote before purchase of 25000 euro but once he'd bought the place the proper quote was 50000 euro.

Good luck

Paula

we took the plunge and are happily resident just outside San Vito dei Normanni ......haven't looked back ! :cool:

Many thanks for the welcomes and the words of warning. ;). I have to say, it all seems a bit intimidating at the moment.

The trullo I'm buying is in effect habitable but would need a new kitchen and some form of heating pretty much straightaway. Oh, and a little re-cementing of the exterior of the trullo cones! It's amazing how the costs grow when you sit down and reflect back in dear old Blighty. Mind you, it's raining and cold in Suffolk right now so that's at least some incentive to plough on :) .

The one bit of advise I can offer is that if there is no electricity supply to the property then be prepared for a VERY long wait. The estate agent will tell you "it's just a formality". Believe me it's not! We have been waiting almost 18 months now with 100% gaurentees every month since January - at first we believed them, now it's "che sara sara".
If electricity is already connected - you lucky sod!!
Good luck
John & Ronnie

[QUOTE=j.bowles]
If electricity is already connected - you lucky sod!!
[/QUOTE]

Well that's one less thing to worry about, the electricity was certainly connected when I visited :D. I've no doubt though, judging by what I'm learning on this forum, that changing over the supply to my name will be a chore

The ex pat British community in Puglia seems to be growing at a pace and i am soooooooooo envious of you all. We had a delightful 2 weeks just outside Cisternino in June and the area made a huge and lasting impression, we loved it and will be back next year. Hopefully in the not too distant future we would love to sell up here and join you lucky people we just hope the property prices do not go through the roof in the next few years.

Better make that a Puglia calender then next year. :rolleyes:

Totally agree...Puglia very neglected in Magazine.....calendar as compensation will suffice ;) !!!!!

[QUOTE=Andysoul]Well that's one less thing to worry about, the electricity was certainly connected when I visited :D. I've no doubt though, judging by what I'm learning on this forum, that changing over the supply to my name will be a chore[/QUOTE]

Our estate agent sorted that bit out for us and also arranged our direct debit with the bank to pay for it. Maybe yours will do the same for you.

Dont be too daunted by the prospect of buying your trullo. When we bought our villa in Puglia last year it could not have been easier. We sailed through every part of the purchase with zero hassle , no delays or problems. I know that everyone isnt as lucky but we found it far easier than house buying in the UK, and much quicker too. We actually knew nothing at all about all the possible pit falls and problems that could have occured (we hadn't discovered this forum back then ) but I think that was a good thing, We'd probably have been too terrified to buy if we knew all we know now !!

[QUOTE=Flyingveepixie]When we bought our villa in Puglia last year it could not have been easier. We sailed through every part of the purchase with zero hassle , no delays or problems.[/QUOTE]

It's lovely to hear of a positive experience. I need the encouragement right now :)

Andy, go for it! We bought a country villa in Puglia a few years ago (when we were about your age). We did it up gradually, completed it in Spring last year and now enjoy very peaceful holidays in a beautiful part of Europe. We bought further South (in the Lecce province), where prices are still very reasonable. We occasionally let our country house to friends, so that helps cover the running costs. We have also helped some friends buy out there (I am originally from the area so I can always give the impression that the seller is dealing with a local rather than 'a rich Englishman'! :D ). I think that you just need to accept that things and the legal processes are different from the UK, no better or worse, just different.

All the best. If you need any specific advice, please feel free to email me at [email]santo@apulia2005.com[/email].

Ciao
Santo
:)

i want to respray my ford car like a racing car do i have to inform my insurance ? i read something about that on ere

[url]http://www.click-finance-uk.co.uk/car-insurance.html[/url]

Andy, I have been goggle-eyed at some (OK, all!) of the photos you have posted up..... can you add a bit of a blog about them (against each photo or just in general) about the area etc...?

You get my vote (if I had one, that is!) ;)

A belated welcome to the furum Andy. You'll get lots of advice here, we certainly do.

We're negotiating for a property on the Carovigno/Latiano road.

Yes, the Puglia community is growing steadily :-)

Good luck with your plans.

[QUOTE=Andysoul]A warm hello to everyone, especially those living in Puglia, from where I have just returned. The purpose of my trip was to identify a suitable trullo to purchase as a holiday home and eventual retirement home (somehow retirement home doesn't quite seem the right term :D ). Anyway, I am pleased to say that I found what seems like just the place-an old trullo with bags of land just outside Martina Franca on the Ostuni Road.
Now comes the big decision whether to take the plunge and, along with my partner, invest our life savings :eek: Quite frankly I am a little anxious, to say the least, with so many more questions than answers.

I suppose before I start asking for advice I should remember my manners and introduce myself. I am 39 years old and based in Suffolk. I have holidayed in Italy for a many, many years now and recently decided that Puglia was the place for me.

I don't know if I can offer much to the newsgroup apart from a enormous passion for everything Italian. I adore it's art, culture, history, fashion, lifestyle, food, wine......the list is endless.[/QUOTE]

Hi Andy & welcome to the forum and to Puglia. I hope all goes well with your trullo. My main bit of advice is to make sure you get a very good heating system as it gets very cold here in winter & trulli are notoriously cold & damp in bad weather. `Cool in summer, warm & snug in winter` is a fallacy that we all fall for!! We bought ours as a holiday home about 3 years ago and then moved here lock, stock and barrel just over a year ago - we are very happy here and so are the children. We have invested our life-savings (are we mad or what?) but so far so good!! Welcome once again to the Puglia community and the forum!

Forgot to say, Andy, we are in a trullo just off the Ostuni road 3 or 4 km outside Martina Franca. Maybe we`re going to be neighbours!

Andy please bring your brother David to the beach party next summer in Puglia. Well done, do everything a step at a time. We are looking forward to replumbing our villa so that our water is worm free..cant wait!!! :D

We have been here for 8 months and love it...hope to see you at one of the parties in Puglia :cool: :)
What gives with the brother then ???:D

Thats all I'm saying and the clues in the name....

[QUOTE=elainecraig]Thats all I'm saying and the clues in the name....[/QUOTE]

Hi Elaine

Do you think David might be persuaded to bring along his friend, Michael the dogdy double glazing salesman ;)

We'll be lucky if the nude sunbather famous for grabbing people shows....

now guess that one....:eek:

[QUOTE=elainecraig]We'll be lucky if the nude sunbather famous for grabbing people shows....

now guess that one....:eek:[/QUOTE]

Might it be that pucka young chappy who was out and about in Puglia recently?

How about inviting that bird from Cuffley along. Might add a bit of spice to the proceedings :rolleyes:

Or that blue-blooded jungle bird whos mother invented Mr Whippitt I mean Mr Whippy ice cream...

Hi Andy

Welcome to Puglia, all but a bit late. We won't be neighbours but we're not too far. Road between Ceglie and Cisternino.

Not 39 but not far, unfortunately the other way.

I just wondered how many of us are now Puglians on this forum. I can't quite keep track of the numbers.

What's this about Starsky and Hutch, not good at riddles? Are Paul and David in the neighbourhood? I grew up with these guys, they're my secret heros!!