2080 My House Purchase

Well I am now the proud owner of a house in Italy. I thought I would like share. It is the most fun I have had in 22 years. Arrived in Italy safely 15th November and stayed in Bologne for 2 days with a friend, who drove me to the village of Bardi on the Thursday. Arrived at Noteri at 12pm with my friend after going through rigmarole of getting a Noteri in Leeds and giving him power of Aturney. The Noteri spoke perfect queens English and the little Italian guy I bought the house from spoke queens English (apparently lived in London 10 years) The immobilaire was there and a friend of the vendor. [B]5[/B] of us in all. Every thing went smoothly. EXPLAINED what I was buying and what I was paying. Turns out the stone barn next to the house was sold as part of the house. I am hoping thats a good thing when I start renovating. Got my keys and went to the house problem [B]1st night [/B]no electric had to stay in a Hotel in the village.

[B]Day 2 arrived [/B]ELECTRICIAN CAME and fixed the electric my friend rang the electric company for me and Hooray light at last. 1ST Night the cold water tap in the kitchen wouldnt shut off it was drip drip drip all night, The Church bells rang [B]on the hour every hour all night[/B]. Then they say it comes in [B]3s [/B]I heard what I thought was [B]:confused: [/B], went out side to the patio and there were 2 dozen horses outside my house, one apparently had bells round its neck and the rest following it. I just thought I am home!
Next day a plumber came the immobilaire had sent him he completely changed the tap fitting and in exchange I GAVE HIM AN OLD TABLE that I was throwing out talk about bartering with the natives.
It took me 9 days of toil to empty my 10 roomed house that was left completely full of the vendors possessions I was hysterical when the tractor arrived with a little old lady about 75 driving it. She put his clothes on the back of the tractor and trundled off. The lighting of the boiler for my first bath was a 5 hour experience on the first day but by the second had it cracked to 1 hour for hot water and a much needed hot bath!
I think I may write a book on my first experience in Italy. I am now back in the uk just put a deposit down on my first left hand drive car which I hope to receive before xmas and soon as the weather permits I am trundling off to heaven again.:o :) :
The language barrier wasnt too bad I tried and they tried my neighbours and the people I met were wonderful
[B]PS The bank is a problem but I will save that story for another day[/B]:mad:

Category
General chat about Italy

Sounds like your house buying experience has been a real adventure - however, certainly gives you enough material for that book, should you ever decide to write it!

Congratulations on securing your little piece of Italy - please keep us up to speed on the rest of the adventure.

Brilliant story! Good to know that things can go smoothly and be (almost all) fun. And well done you, for having flown solo (it appears).

I'm going to have to do the same. While I'm looking forward to the day when I and the cats have a new home, I do find the prospect of getting there on my own a little daunting.

As far as the church bells are concerned, I'm sure you'll get used to them... someday! :D

Al

Hi Kym,

Many congratulations!! It definitely IS an amazing adventure and it all had to happen to prevent you getting bored with it!!! But then... if you can survive all that, you know that you can cope with anything!!

Left hand drive is quite easy... except that you might be going for the door handle rather than the gearstick more than once!! But hey!! :D

Hope you'll manage to get back soon & sort out the rest... And don't forget to keep us posted about your adventures!!

Stephanie

Hi Kym

Your story sounds familiar! Glad you can laugh about it! We still chat about the first few days, months even, when we arrived in Puglia after a 23 hour car journey. The experience was quite something, no water, boiler on the blink, paint still wet to the touch, locked ourselves out of the house on the second day, a Sunday, hunters in the vicinity, shot pellets raining down on us, cats and dogs flying everywhere to escape the noise etc etc. Discussed it with the locals over coffee and grappa and made it through to the next day.

Happy you made it!

Kym, congratulations on your purchase. You will find that life is never dull in Italy. Always something to keep one busy, amused etc. Have fun, we certainly do! By the way we have had excellent service from Banca di Roma.