Something that I loved about our house in Liguria is that it was never for sale. As with many properties in Italy my husband found it totally through word of mouth. On the very last day of his trip to purchase a renovation project and future home he happened by chance to meet with someone who knew someone who was interested in selling.
Having just gone through the process of selling the house in Australia ourselves, it is still a jolt to see only these often faded tiny vendesi signs on houses for sale. Unlike Australia there are no massive signs with glossy images, just the word vendesi and a phone number. With our house there wasn’t even a sign, we would never have found it without help from someone in the village.
We have sold our own home a number of times now, this seems such a great way to sell, although not so wonderful for those looking to buy. It’s been a long time since we have used an agent to sell a house, but we have never sold on word of mouth alone. I wonder how those who don’t speak the language or have an Italian heritage fare using this system. Sam came back with so many images of rustic places just begging to be bought and transformed. Of course we are most interested in those that never get that little sign on the front door.
Have you bought or sold property in Italy? Did you use an agent, word of mouth or the vendesi signs? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
ciao lisa x
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We used an agent to buy our house, the local Tecnocasa. It wasn’t a straight forward sale as the owner didn’t sell us enough land to finish the house and we had to do a second ‘atto’ so we could finish our house.
Cathy recently posted..In Campagna
So did you find it yourself or totally through the agent Cathy? How funny that the owner didn’t sell you enough land, only in Italy! We sold the house in Gambasca ourselves after a horror run with the agent. We couldn’t even find the photo in the agents window as he had taken it from down the hillside capturing only the roof of the house lol. He then told Sam “you try and do better” so we did, and sold in less than a week unfortunately at less than we thought as we were going on the agents advice. Live and learn, a local told us to list it in the paper and sell it ourselves.
love lisa x
Totally through the agent. So true, live and learn Lisa. House buying in Italy can be full of adventures and we both know plenty of people who’ve been through them!
Cathy recently posted..In Campagna
We bought the house in Gambasca through an agent, it was an incredible process both buying and then later selling! So intricate, almost a stage show, we laughed many times at the differences to the way we were used to selling.
Incredible how it was via word of mouth! We sold our house in Australia, and it was through a real estate agent. It was really weird – the lady that purchased our house, her son used to live in it and rent it before we had purchased it!
He was renting it with his girlfriend and we purchased it, did it up and then sold it to his mum
Love the idea of renovating something with so much character. You guys are going to have so much fun.
Lisa Wood recently posted..Things I Know About This Week
what a small world Lisa, such a funny story! I think it’s because my husband loves to do things for himself. He did a real estate course some years ago but didn’t take it up, so used what he learned to sell our own house. I was a bit skeptical the first time but we got what we wanted and now don’t find it intimidating at all. We still use Save on Commission who can then handle the negotiations and paperwork if you want them to do so.
It always suprises me when I think about how much we actually know about our passion. It’s a bit like when I worked at the paint shop and just took for granted that people knew what type of paint etc they needed…I forgot how much I had learned and that it was all new to them.
xx
This is so inspirational – I can’t wait for your return to Italy. May it all go smoothly from now own. Fx
Francesca Muir recently posted..The amazing faces of Bali
Yep smooth sailing for us all the way to Italia…maybe a few storms to make things interesting along the way!!
love lisa x
lisa | renovating italy recently posted..Borgo di Vagli – a walk through time
I much prefer the low key Italian word of mouth system to the brash campaigns in Australia somehow…In Italy, I gather, selling is often the last resort. Families prefer to hold tight and live smaller which I love, personally. I too hope your road is smooth from here on in. At least for a while.
Just like everything in Italy it’s who you know and who you ask that counts and I know you worked that out long ago. It really pays to be a bit cheeky too. Ha, I remember the vendesi signs being one of the first verb conundrums I came across first time round in Italy…Have a beautiful week. Jxx
Janine recently posted..High fidelity
It does seem that way doesn’t it, an unwillingness to let go. My husband is certainly cheeky, he talks with everyone and makes friends very easily. It wouldn’t be us if the road was smooth, ours is like a 4 wheel drive track! LOL
x
Lisa, how exciting your news is!!! Congratulations! I found my house in Sicily (it took 5 years of on and off again looking till I found the right place) with a little green “Vendesi” sign on the door. I had tried using agents, with no luck….
jann recently posted..Debora, Shiny As Swarovski
A house in Sicily, I can’t wait to see it. I think I could frame that little Vendesi sign if we had one. Things are moving!
love lisa x
Lisa Chiodo recently posted..The Italian Dream – Come along to Veravo, Liguria
We’ve only bought with agents. Here in California, although it can be done without an agent the vast majority use agents due to all the laws, paperwork etc. I myself being an agent find it scary NOT to do it through another agent. In Italy how would you know what you are truly getting and who would help both sides make it totally legal with no surprises? I have to say I’ve heard some crazy stories about agents in Italy though.
I was horrified the first time Sam talked of selling ourselves, I couldn’t imagine how we would work it all out. He took a real estate agents course some years ago so knew the basics but that was it. Although this is the man who after being present at the birth of our daughter by caesarian looked at me and said “I reckon I could do the next one” the system in Italy is complex and I don’t think they even know what they are doing. Sam speaks Italian so that helps and we have a wonderful lawyer friend that we trust totally so some bases are covered. Our friend here is an agent and she just laughs and shakes her head, she knows us well.
ciao lisa x
Lisa – my house found me via a Real estate Agent! I am not so sure it would have found me if I didn’t happen to be on the internet but maybe it would have
!!
The house was better and worse than the pics on the website and once viewed in person despite viewing 13 other properties in states from more ruin than house to inhabitable now my ‘ruin’ stole my heart and my imagination!!
Can’t wait to see your renovation in progress!! Mine has been temporarily interrupted by Ferragusto but hoping things get busy again very soon – still in planning stages but cracking the whip for a roof before winter!!
Ciao Ingrid xox
Ingrid recently posted..Eating Out In Abruzzo
I just can’t wait to see your house Ingrid, and hear about all your renovation plans first hand!
It is wonderful the way a house can just “steal your heart” ours in Gambasca did that and I know this
one in Veravo took Sams and am sure mine will follow when I see it at last!!
We will have so much to talk about and whip cracking to share, a roof would certainly be a bonus LOL xxx
You are right Lisa, the vendesi signs in Italy are special. You have captured some great ones with your photos. In Rome I love to stop and read them on lamp posts and gates just to see if by any chance I might find my dream apartment (that I could never afford). It has to have a roof-top terrazzo with a fabulous view of the city, lots or rooms and plenty of light. The vendesi signs give me a little dreaming time.
Trisha Thomas recently posted..Elizabeth the Brave
It took me some time to realize what the signs were for, a bit like the picture of the horse at the butchers in Saluzzo. Your apartment sounds wonderful, a real retreat in the city and I bet one day when you least expect it you’ll find it! Dreams are always the best place to start. x ciao lisa
We bought two of our properties in Italy through an agent. The little shop under our apartment had no signs, but it had been empty for years and we just approached the owner and we had it a few days later. We still don’t know what to do with it, but we didn’t want an inappropriate business setting up under our living room, or possibly, that it would just fall to bits.
Debra Kolkka recently posted..Best in Show
Oh how funny I am thinking of all the inappropriate businesses you could have on your doorstep and getting the giggles. A very wise move to buy the place and I’d love to know what you end up doing with it!
ciao lisa x
Ciao a tutti,
We bought our place in Puglia, the heel of Italy, with an agent. My research started online, and it was everyday for over a year and a couple of visits before we found our dream house.
Our agent was very patient, wonderful and not pushy at all. We picked up our keys to our property early January ’12 and renovations have begun and it’s a renovation project. Just returned from a visit there and can’t wait to return Christmas time. Had a few hiccups and dramas regarding the whole process, but it’s all worth it
Ciao Katina,
Your agent sounds wonderful and it was well worth the wait to find just the right place. How exciting to have a project underway, you’re most welcome to come and feature at Renovating Italy!! It’s such a process to go through but as you say so worth it. I’d love to hear more about your renovations. Sorry I have been a bit lax getting back to everyone. sending love and happy renovating ciao lisa x
I have personally bought 8 different places over the past 7 years in Sicily and found many homes for friends – never used an agent. Never had the problems,dramas I have read so much about ,all when using an agent.
Seems that it would be the agent’s job to know about all the details BEFORE letting you make an offer,spending money on flights and having letdowns when things do not work out. I am not against finding a house with an agent but I would never lay down a dime without doing my own checks .
It should not take months and months to close on a property unless someone was not prepared to sell it. If an agent is listing it -it should all be in order. This is my pet peeve . It all comes down to doing your own research, and taking no one’s word , poking around. Go to where you would like to buy and rent first.
To sell I have made use of an estate agent who has very good marketing skills and it was very much worth the fee.
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