EASYROME

Many people choose to move away from the UK for many reasons; my family personally chose to move to Italy. We chose Italy because we wanted a challenge and love the Italian lifestyle that you cannot get anywhere else. The lifestyle brings without a much greener and happier family life which removes the consumerism and corporate aspects we found living within the UK. The credit crunch, falling markets and recession are all reasons others have also thought about moving away too. This article has some top tips in moving to Italy and looking at houses in Italy.

First bit of advice is regarding houses in Italy, don't be tempted to buy impulsively, rent a property first and then assess the property market. Giving yourself plenty of time to make what is a huge decision is very important. You can also exploit the cheap rental market whilst you decide, within Le Marche there are many small houses and 3 bed roomed villas that will cost you a mere 300 Euros per month, or about 2 percent of the property's value.

Secondly, learn Italian. This is very important for anyone who is deciding to move to Italy. Whilst we rented our accommodation our children started at a local Italian school and quickly made friends and started picking up the local lingo. We have sadly met other foreigners within the country who have lost money or been exploited due to a lack of understanding of Italian.

If you are looking at houses in Italy then location is very important to get right. There are many lovely properties calling out for restorations in beautiful locations but you need to think about accessibility in winter and if visitors can arrive in a car.

Choosing to restore a property can be a great idea but you need to understand the costs involved. Both labour and material costs have become high in recent years and property prices are being affected by the credit crunch. Due to this you can now buy restored houses in Italy for cheaper than paying for the cost of rebuilding a ruin. Make sure you obtain accurate rebuild costs and all of these costs are reviewed by a third party to ensure that you are getting value for your money.

Finally, when looking for an architect or geometra apply the same logic you would use with a builder or plumber. Obtain quotes from at least three different architects and establish what is included and what is not. If the fee is on a percentage basis identify which aspects it is being applied to, fees can usually be from 5 percent to 12 percent for a rebuild project.

Dominic Donaldson is an expert in Italian culture. Find out more about Houses in Italy/a> and how the services available can help with choosing property abroad.

Article Source: ArticleSpan