We are looking to buy the land opposite our house with another person who would like a small piece of this land, to gain access to his other land which adjoins it. The local farmer knows the owner and is looking to negotiate the sale to us. He h
Welcome to the Monferrato region Grazie. We also have a place here, and after a couple of years of standstill, we are looking to get cracking again. Like yours, it is liveable, but needs a heck of a lot of work to get it to how we would like it! Best of luck in your endeavours. Done a few bits and bobs ourselves, but saving up for the big things so cannot help by recommending too many trades just yet in our little area. Diana - being cheeky, am wondering which external insulation system you may be thinking of. We will have to replace the intonico around the house as it is crumbling in so many places, and it makes sense to do the insulation on the outside at the same time, as you are correct in your comment that the weather can be perishing, and with temperatures last year pushing -30 in the winter for a few days, so anything to keep the heat in is sensible on the wallet as well as the body! We've looked into a couple of options but were wondering what you may have come across to compare it as a viable option? with thanks
When we bought our place, we used the services of thepropertyorganiser.com. They are fluent English speaking Italians helping people source/buy in Italy and Europe. They were marvellous, and their legal rep was spot on with following things up and ensuring no nasty surprises. I would absolutely recommend them. If you have not chosen anyone to help you yet, get in touch with them. I wish you success and hope your dream to own in Italy goes smoothly. JM.
Like a number of people, am feeling like a pin cushion at the moment. Have also tried most of the suggestions above, with limited success, and am searching for the 'holy grail of a deterent' whilst counting the wonderful positives of being in Piemonte and trying not to let getting bitten to bits by these flaming mossies outweigh them! If I find it, I'll be sure to post it!
Thanks to you all for your responses. Having spoken to the other interested party since posting this originally, if the owner will sell, I will likely look to buy the land, therefore avoiding the need for the geometra to divide, and then come to an agreement with him to maybe rent the piece he wants from me, or grant him a right of passage across the land. ( he already has access, just wants a more practical access than the one that exists for him presently). Will let you know what happens if the ability to purchase comes about.
Hi Danno, Like the others, I would say stick with it, you will be amazed how much you really do know. This morning, I was in the supermarket and asked a lady ( another shopper, not someone who worked there) for help re some wine I was looking to buy to take to a friend this evening. She explained she could speak some English, but I then explained in Italian that I needed to practise and would be grateful to try in Italian if we could. She was very accommodating and after a little hesitation, we were on our way and she recommended a couple of bottles which I bought. She even tracked me down as I was paying for my shopping to tell me of another she had found and perhaps I would like to buy it next time! in all, have courage - I have found being able to understand what people have been saying around me a great comfort, even if I cannot string my own sentences together eloquently, they are understanding what I am trying to say and correcting me when necessary. When in the UK, if I went in an Italian deli/coffee shop I always used to try and order in Italian and the staff were very patient and pleased I was making an effort. Good luck...and stick with it.
We purchased a new gas cooker in the UK to bring over to our house in Italy, to run on the bombola's from outside like yourselves, and have been fine. Just check with a plumber what you may need to do, and you should be fine.
Maralyn, Yes our friends do drive it back to the UK for an MOT each year, which they tie in with a visit to seeing their son and family, so a dual purpose visit. On this basis I don't think they have looked into an equivalent in Italy. Perhaps one of the other forum member will pick this up and help answer, or you could contact Collin Stewart (link in my first reply to MJJ) and ask if the Italian equivalent is accepted. M
Hi M, Only recently got residency sorted, however in answer to your question, we have friends a couple of villages away who have a RHD English reqistered 4x4 (it was worth more to them than the amount they could sell it for to buy LHD car, so they kept it) and they have lived there for several years with no bother at all on their English plates. On this basis, and the fact that my boyfriend will be driving back to the UK in it regularly, I will not be looking to re-register for a while.
Hi M, Like you I was undecided - buy here or there. In the end I decided to buy here, which seemed the better option overall, for the reasons others have highlighted on this thread, and I wanted an automatic, which narrowed the field even more. I spoke to a few dealerships, but I bought a LHD Rav 4 in November 09 from The Left Hand Drive Place in Basingstoke. http://www.lhdplace.co.uk/ I was very impressed with the service from them, and would certainly recommend them if you are looking for a good company to do business with. The only insurer that will insure for UK cars full time abroad is Stuart Collins in Swansea http://www.stuartcollins.com/, but given the fact you look to be dividing your time between UK and Italy, you may have more choice. As a guide, I've paid just over £500 for my insurance with them and they offer a European breakdown cover for around £120 per year. They have just introduced this in the summer of 2009 ( other residents who are looking for breakdown cover may be interested to know this). Best of luck with your search Montana
I like rock music, so the one I tend to turn to is Radio Rock and Radio Rock Italia. However if I tune in and am not in the mood for what they are playing I have found that Nuova Spazio Radio has a number of phone in type programmes which make entertaining listening around lunchtime, or Radio Rosa has a good mix of English and Italian music. Again not an overload on the brain. They aren't in my region (Piedmont )but I figure if you can find one that you enjoy to listen to, that's what counts ;o) Hope you find one you like too.
Comments posted
Welcome to the Monferrato region Grazie. We also have a place here, and after a couple of years of standstill, we are looking to get cracking again. Like yours, it is liveable, but needs a heck of a lot of work to get it to how we would like it! Best of luck in your endeavours. Done a few bits and bobs ourselves, but saving up for the big things so cannot help by recommending too many trades just yet in our little area. Diana - being cheeky, am wondering which external insulation system you may be thinking of. We will have to replace the intonico around the house as it is crumbling in so many places, and it makes sense to do the insulation on the outside at the same time, as you are correct in your comment that the weather can be perishing, and with temperatures last year pushing -30 in the winter for a few days, so anything to keep the heat in is sensible on the wallet as well as the body! We've looked into a couple of options but were wondering what you may have come across to compare it as a viable option? with thanks
When we bought our place, we used the services of thepropertyorganiser.com. They are fluent English speaking Italians helping people source/buy in Italy and Europe. They were marvellous, and their legal rep was spot on with following things up and ensuring no nasty surprises. I would absolutely recommend them. If you have not chosen anyone to help you yet, get in touch with them. I wish you success and hope your dream to own in Italy goes smoothly. JM.
Like a number of people, am feeling like a pin cushion at the moment. Have also tried most of the suggestions above, with limited success, and am searching for the 'holy grail of a deterent' whilst counting the wonderful positives of being in Piemonte and trying not to let getting bitten to bits by these flaming mossies outweigh them! If I find it, I'll be sure to post it!
Thanks to you all for your responses. Having spoken to the other interested party since posting this originally, if the owner will sell, I will likely look to buy the land, therefore avoiding the need for the geometra to divide, and then come to an agreement with him to maybe rent the piece he wants from me, or grant him a right of passage across the land. ( he already has access, just wants a more practical access than the one that exists for him presently). Will let you know what happens if the ability to purchase comes about.
Hi Danno, Like the others, I would say stick with it, you will be amazed how much you really do know. This morning, I was in the supermarket and asked a lady ( another shopper, not someone who worked there) for help re some wine I was looking to buy to take to a friend this evening. She explained she could speak some English, but I then explained in Italian that I needed to practise and would be grateful to try in Italian if we could. She was very accommodating and after a little hesitation, we were on our way and she recommended a couple of bottles which I bought. She even tracked me down as I was paying for my shopping to tell me of another she had found and perhaps I would like to buy it next time! in all, have courage - I have found being able to understand what people have been saying around me a great comfort, even if I cannot string my own sentences together eloquently, they are understanding what I am trying to say and correcting me when necessary. When in the UK, if I went in an Italian deli/coffee shop I always used to try and order in Italian and the staff were very patient and pleased I was making an effort. Good luck...and stick with it.
We purchased a new gas cooker in the UK to bring over to our house in Italy, to run on the bombola's from outside like yourselves, and have been fine. Just check with a plumber what you may need to do, and you should be fine.
Maralyn, Yes our friends do drive it back to the UK for an MOT each year, which they tie in with a visit to seeing their son and family, so a dual purpose visit. On this basis I don't think they have looked into an equivalent in Italy. Perhaps one of the other forum member will pick this up and help answer, or you could contact Collin Stewart (link in my first reply to MJJ) and ask if the Italian equivalent is accepted. M
Hi M, Only recently got residency sorted, however in answer to your question, we have friends a couple of villages away who have a RHD English reqistered 4x4 (it was worth more to them than the amount they could sell it for to buy LHD car, so they kept it) and they have lived there for several years with no bother at all on their English plates. On this basis, and the fact that my boyfriend will be driving back to the UK in it regularly, I will not be looking to re-register for a while.
Hi M, Like you I was undecided - buy here or there. In the end I decided to buy here, which seemed the better option overall, for the reasons others have highlighted on this thread, and I wanted an automatic, which narrowed the field even more. I spoke to a few dealerships, but I bought a LHD Rav 4 in November 09 from The Left Hand Drive Place in Basingstoke. http://www.lhdplace.co.uk/ I was very impressed with the service from them, and would certainly recommend them if you are looking for a good company to do business with. The only insurer that will insure for UK cars full time abroad is Stuart Collins in Swansea http://www.stuartcollins.com/, but given the fact you look to be dividing your time between UK and Italy, you may have more choice. As a guide, I've paid just over £500 for my insurance with them and they offer a European breakdown cover for around £120 per year. They have just introduced this in the summer of 2009 ( other residents who are looking for breakdown cover may be interested to know this). Best of luck with your search Montana
I like rock music, so the one I tend to turn to is Radio Rock and Radio Rock Italia. However if I tune in and am not in the mood for what they are playing I have found that Nuova Spazio Radio has a number of phone in type programmes which make entertaining listening around lunchtime, or Radio Rosa has a good mix of English and Italian music. Again not an overload on the brain. They aren't in my region (Piedmont )but I figure if you can find one that you enjoy to listen to, that's what counts ;o) Hope you find one you like too.