La Dolcevita's activity

I am a Waitrose addict - it's one of the few things I am seriously worried about leaving behind - though I will be taking my heavy duty trolley bags with me!!!  So if you can go via Liguria you'd have another drop (we're not going to live there for 18 months so plenty of time to plan the route!!)  I think it's a great idea.  I don't do the online Ocado at the moment as Waitrose is only round the corner - but I'm wondering if it links in to  John Lewis as well - and then if you could do Marks and Spencer too, I'd be ecstatic! 

Please make sure you use a lawyer - there are many people who have not used one and have had a smooth purchase, there are many who haven't and have had major problems - I personally know someone who is in year 2 of what sounds like is likely to be a 10 year costly and lengthy court battle because they listened to their estate agent and didn't take legal advice  - and then there are others who have used one and have been saved from making massive mistakes.  Based on better safe than sorry we purchased 6 months ago and had a very smooth purchase - stress free using an italian lawyer (recommended by an italian friend who has used him) based in Liguria.  He speaks excellent english - we did everything via email.) His name is Silvano Briozzo and his email is silvano@studiobriozzo.it Fees are usually worked out on a % basis in italy and pro rata what you have been quoted is the same as our final bill including all the taxes. The notaio is totally separate and comes with an additional fee - you have to have either an interpreter or get the final papers translated (or ask your solicitor to recommend an english speaking notaio which is what we had) I would recommend you do a thorough web search and contact the law society re Giambrone - one of the partners of this firm was being investigated for allegations of malpractice We were very cautious having heard sooo many nightmare stories and yes we paid a little bit more for what turned out to be very little work - but for us the peace of mind was worth every penny - our philosophy was we'd never part with the sort of money you've mentioned in the UK without a lawyer checking everything out when we buy a house so why would we in another country where we don't understand the buying process/laws/language etc Good luck and keep asking questions - we were very fortunate to have friends where we bought in Liguria both italian and english without whom I don't know how we'd have done it

HI Badger - thank you so much - really useful.  I'm completely non technical so it's probably going to take a few reads to get my head round it - I love the fact that you can use the underfloor "heating" to cool the house in the summer - a bonus I was unaware of - I'm going to print the lot off later - thanks again

I'm also thinking of using geothermal/alternative energy - we're building a new house and are at the early stage of putting the plans together - so if anyone has had any installed I'd love to hear your experiences of how effective it is in terms of heating the home/costs of installation/savings re running costs etc etc and if anyone can recommend a company they have worked with that would be fantastic Many thanks 

And we just did the same overlooking Dolceacqua in Liguria - we're building from scratch so estimate it will be ready in 18 months to 2 years - fantastico.  We're not quite retiring but will be living out in italy permanently and I'll be flying back to the UK every other week whilst my husband is going to learn how to care for our olive trees etc - can't wait! 

I've noticed that it's been almost a year since you posted your request Carl and wondered what your reality was - has it been 20/30/40/40/60k - it's the million dollar question that we keep churning round in our minds and on paper and with nothing but hypothetical figures to base it on it makes it very hard to come up with a meaningful figure.   

Would have loved to have shared a glass of Prosecco when we were out - didn't see your post till today - and now I'm back here in the UK in the wet and cold........plans are almost drawn up - planning permission next and then we can start the build - all becoming very real - soooo excited!

I'm also a Penny too!!!!!  My husband intends to do a lot of the internal stuff - he's a cabinet maker but probably won't be making anything for this house - unlike our current house where he's made everything which is beautiful - it just takes sooo much time - we've been living in and renovating our current house for 8 years - it will be finished next year when we sell.  He will however fit everything - doors/windows/kitchen etc and probably do the tiling for this new house.  Our architect is working hard to give us what we want within the parameters of the local laws - like Apricale they're really strict.  we're not only governed by Dolceacqua but the ministry of the Environment as well - so a double whammy - very restricitive but then stunningly beautiful all around - we're just on the edge of the Alta Via on the Terre Bianche - still can't quite believe it's ours - we've been looking for 5/6 years......We'll be off into Bordighera next weekend - love it there......

HI there - we've just bought in Liguria too - on the hill above Dolceacqua.  We're building from scratch on our land!!!  We've also got an old rustico which we were going to renovate as well and let out - it worked out very expensive for not a lot so we're just focussing on the new build - first draft of plans came through from our architect last night - very exciting.  Previous posters have mentioned the local planning laws - and I agree they are very specific to the location and in our case very very strict!  I would recommend finding a great architect/geometra who can work with you.  Ours is based in Dolceacqua and came highly recommended from a number of people- he speaks good english and is married to an architect who is fluent in english - perfecto - as our italian is very limited at the moment. Our plan is to put in for our permission as soon as the plans are agreed by us - with a view to starting the build early in the new Year - we can only go so far and then will not to stop as we will need to sell the family home in order to finish which will be after June (have a daughter who wil be completing final year of sixth form) we will then sell up here in the UK - finish the house and move in lock stock and barrel around Easter 2012. We're over in a just over a few weeks - and intend to view properties that the builders who we will be inviting to tender have built - sooo many things to think about as you'll be experiencing too!!!  

HI all Just bought our place on the hill overlooking Dolceacqua - we can just see the Doria Castle in front - the alps to our left and the sea to our right - bellisimo!  Currently working with our architect to draw up plans to build - very exciting.  Coming over in just over a week for a 10 day stay, I can taste the perroni already!