Hello to everyone here! I seem to have arrived with a bit of a bang, haven't I. I'm sorry about that but, having read some of the obvious trolling that had been going on I felt compelled to speak out.
I'm not sure if this is in the right place, but it seems to be the only place I can put it. My question is fairly simple (I hope). I have a 7.5 tonne van and am looking to bring it over with me to Italy when I finally move here full-time (next
My friends here have had a couple of the black ones that are made in China (cost around €140) and in both cases, they have stopped working within 3 months. One was returned for repair to the supplier who, after 4 months, returned it working once again. It broke again within 6 weeks, so, be wary of them. They certainly kill mosquitoes, but they do so by attracting them. The general feeling was that they attract more than they kill - when they are working, that is. So, I suggest you stick with the Autan.
"I'm not going to argue with you since you seem intent on being sarcastic and antagonistic for no apparent reason" I have the feeling that a certain amount of self-interest is taking over this 'conversation'. What I said, if you would care to re-read my first post here, was: "all a geometra can do is draw up plans and sign various bits of paper to certify things are being done according to the local laws. But they charge far less money than an architect does." I did not say that a geometra was "better" than an architect, but that "he" is normally cheaper for a job that needs no design input. If you "know" of a cheap architect, that's fine. If you know of an expensive geometra, avoid him - and warn your friends of the person. However, I did qualify my post with "You must realise that not everyone is looking to spend a vast fortune on remodelling their villa", which perhaps you misunderstood. If you re-read the post by the architect, he said: "I wonder why you (not just you pendy, but pretty much all the people in this blog) keep employing geometras if they are even more expensive than architects!!!." It is this claim that I responded to. I missed the point that his post was actually a bit of sales canvassing. Sorry to tiddle on your T-square, Marco! By the way, would your "man" give me a quote for preparing a DIA for my new UPVC front door, which I shall be fitting 'in economia'? Thank you. Oh, and Fillide - my name isn't Ranuccio...
I'm perfectly clear on the difference, thank you very much AngieL. I said in my previous post that an architect designs and a geometra draws - take a look at my second paragraph again. I also pointed out to you that you should not try to draw any direct parallel between the two. I used Marco's own analogy to demonstrate exactly the difference between the two: architect=doctor; geometra=nurse. Not a bad comparison he makes there on his own website, in fact - his university education is shining through with his excellent use of English. However, the fact that an architect charges a great deal more money than a humble geometra is not a fact that is easy to disute - and with good reason too, I should add. As you echo my earlier comment, an architect is a designer of buildings. He is not a builder and he is not a mere technical officer with some drawing skills, as is a geometra. That is precisely the reason that architects charge more than geometre - several years of study at university and a professional qualification that proves the fact. However, there are times when a fully qualified architect, with creative skills that would impress even Frank Lloyd Wright is not the right person to use when all you are looking for is someone to draw up your garden wall and fill in a DIA. Unless your favoured architect is seriously short of work and unable to cover his costs at the moment, in which case he may well be able to offer a cut price architectural service. But, as I keep saying, in the real world architects charge more than blokes that can draw a plan of a wall with a replacement window in it and fill in a form. To say anything else is devaluing the skill of a proper, qualified and skilled architect, charging architects fees for architects work. Look, I realise that you are trying to suggest that an architect is the correct choice if you are going to build a new house - or even restore a fabulous old palazzo. However, to repeat again my earliest point - if you are just fitting some replacement windows or having a new fence around your property, YOU DO NOT NEED AN ARCHITECT. Capisce?
But AngieL, surely you realise that an architect is just a better qualified geometra? In England, a geometra is just a surveyor/draftsman - the lesser qualified employee of the local architect. A geometra has gone to technical college and an architect has gone to university, that's the difference. I can't see how all this talk about making the two roles equivalent to each other can be at all sensible, unless you are an out-of-work architect, that is. One draws plans, the other designs houses, the rest is just business. To use Marco's own comparison of a geometra=nurse; architect=doctor, would you see a heart surgeon if you had a nosebleed, or a nurse? But, I would agree that if you can find yourself a cheap architect that has got work to prove his skill and is prepared to sign a contract for the job, go for it.
Have you forgotten the tax implications regarding buying and selling a property within 5 years, Marco? Not every Brit is a wealthy property speculator, you know. Some actually want to live here permanently. And, I hate to remind you of this but property prices have fallen only to their real values. The real fall in prices is barely 10% and you woud lose that, and more, by selling within the 5 years.
Marco, I hate to say this but most people realise that an architect is rather more expensive than a mere geometra. Yes, all a geometra can do is draw up plans and sign various bits of paper to certify things are being done according to the local laws. But they charge far less money than an architect does. And the percentage that they get by way of commission from the various trades involved in their project is rather less as well. I'm sure you wouldn't be terribly interested in drawing up a new garden fence or some replacement windows? If you did, you would be certain to use your own geometra to do the drawings - unless you are very short of work, that is. You must realise that not everyone is looking to spend a vast fortune on remodelling their villa, but should they be looking to do just that, I'm pretty sure that an architect would be on their shopping list, together with the marble statues around the new swimming pool in the garden.
Personally, I feel that the history of science reveals a number of significant shifts in the conception of the universe. Recently, 20th century physics with its new discoveries has broken away from the traditional view of the universe to seeing it as interrelated, holistic, and emergent. This version of reality is complementary with the concept of dialectics. That isn't to say that I agree with Sarah Palin, however.
Comments posted
My friends here have had a couple of the black ones that are made in China (cost around €140) and in both cases, they have stopped working within 3 months. One was returned for repair to the supplier who, after 4 months, returned it working once again. It broke again within 6 weeks, so, be wary of them. They certainly kill mosquitoes, but they do so by attracting them. The general feeling was that they attract more than they kill - when they are working, that is. So, I suggest you stick with the Autan.
"I'm not going to argue with you since you seem intent on being sarcastic and antagonistic for no apparent reason" I have the feeling that a certain amount of self-interest is taking over this 'conversation'. What I said, if you would care to re-read my first post here, was: "all a geometra can do is draw up plans and sign various bits of paper to certify things are being done according to the local laws. But they charge far less money than an architect does." I did not say that a geometra was "better" than an architect, but that "he" is normally cheaper for a job that needs no design input. If you "know" of a cheap architect, that's fine. If you know of an expensive geometra, avoid him - and warn your friends of the person. However, I did qualify my post with "You must realise that not everyone is looking to spend a vast fortune on remodelling their villa", which perhaps you misunderstood. If you re-read the post by the architect, he said: "I wonder why you (not just you pendy, but pretty much all the people in this blog) keep employing geometras if they are even more expensive than architects!!!." It is this claim that I responded to. I missed the point that his post was actually a bit of sales canvassing. Sorry to tiddle on your T-square, Marco! By the way, would your "man" give me a quote for preparing a DIA for my new UPVC front door, which I shall be fitting 'in economia'? Thank you. Oh, and Fillide - my name isn't Ranuccio...
I'm perfectly clear on the difference, thank you very much AngieL. I said in my previous post that an architect designs and a geometra draws - take a look at my second paragraph again. I also pointed out to you that you should not try to draw any direct parallel between the two. I used Marco's own analogy to demonstrate exactly the difference between the two: architect=doctor; geometra=nurse. Not a bad comparison he makes there on his own website, in fact - his university education is shining through with his excellent use of English. However, the fact that an architect charges a great deal more money than a humble geometra is not a fact that is easy to disute - and with good reason too, I should add. As you echo my earlier comment, an architect is a designer of buildings. He is not a builder and he is not a mere technical officer with some drawing skills, as is a geometra. That is precisely the reason that architects charge more than geometre - several years of study at university and a professional qualification that proves the fact. However, there are times when a fully qualified architect, with creative skills that would impress even Frank Lloyd Wright is not the right person to use when all you are looking for is someone to draw up your garden wall and fill in a DIA. Unless your favoured architect is seriously short of work and unable to cover his costs at the moment, in which case he may well be able to offer a cut price architectural service. But, as I keep saying, in the real world architects charge more than blokes that can draw a plan of a wall with a replacement window in it and fill in a form. To say anything else is devaluing the skill of a proper, qualified and skilled architect, charging architects fees for architects work. Look, I realise that you are trying to suggest that an architect is the correct choice if you are going to build a new house - or even restore a fabulous old palazzo. However, to repeat again my earliest point - if you are just fitting some replacement windows or having a new fence around your property, YOU DO NOT NEED AN ARCHITECT. Capisce?
But AngieL, surely you realise that an architect is just a better qualified geometra? In England, a geometra is just a surveyor/draftsman - the lesser qualified employee of the local architect. A geometra has gone to technical college and an architect has gone to university, that's the difference. I can't see how all this talk about making the two roles equivalent to each other can be at all sensible, unless you are an out-of-work architect, that is. One draws plans, the other designs houses, the rest is just business. To use Marco's own comparison of a geometra=nurse; architect=doctor, would you see a heart surgeon if you had a nosebleed, or a nurse? But, I would agree that if you can find yourself a cheap architect that has got work to prove his skill and is prepared to sign a contract for the job, go for it.
Pilchard? Why didn't you select the subject: Architect/Geometra/Project Manager for the "heated debate"? It would have legs, I suspect. Lol!
Have you forgotten the tax implications regarding buying and selling a property within 5 years, Marco? Not every Brit is a wealthy property speculator, you know. Some actually want to live here permanently. And, I hate to remind you of this but property prices have fallen only to their real values. The real fall in prices is barely 10% and you woud lose that, and more, by selling within the 5 years.
Done!
Marco, I hate to say this but most people realise that an architect is rather more expensive than a mere geometra. Yes, all a geometra can do is draw up plans and sign various bits of paper to certify things are being done according to the local laws. But they charge far less money than an architect does. And the percentage that they get by way of commission from the various trades involved in their project is rather less as well. I'm sure you wouldn't be terribly interested in drawing up a new garden fence or some replacement windows? If you did, you would be certain to use your own geometra to do the drawings - unless you are very short of work, that is. You must realise that not everyone is looking to spend a vast fortune on remodelling their villa, but should they be looking to do just that, I'm pretty sure that an architect would be on their shopping list, together with the marble statues around the new swimming pool in the garden.
No. It's Sarah Palin that is the theory. ;)
Personally, I feel that the history of science reveals a number of significant shifts in the conception of the universe. Recently, 20th century physics with its new discoveries has broken away from the traditional view of the universe to seeing it as interrelated, holistic, and emergent. This version of reality is complementary with the concept of dialectics. That isn't to say that I agree with Sarah Palin, however.