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Italy: Italian renovation projects - Alison Harris, Magenta Italy

Renovating your property in Italy? Here a few tips of managing your Italian builders

So you’ve patiently and resiliently endured endless delays, meetings and phone calls with notaries, surveyors and planning offices, and have now finally signed the last of the paperwork. Renovation work on transforming that derelict hillside barn into your dream home can begin at last!

The key to running and completing a successful and efficient building project in Italy rests primarily with how you approach and manage all the relevant parties involved. Here are just a few tips on how to keep on top of your contractors to help you ensure your project runs on time, on budget , and more importantly, without any major hiccups along the way... If in doubt, don’t be afraid to seek advice and guidance.

• Firstly, try to source and vet your contractors independently. Italian builders are notorious for encouraging foreigners to employ their most “trusted and skilful” friends and relatives to work alongside them on the odd job here and there. It may seem like a good idea at the time, and a good way of cost cutting, but it can get you into a sticky situation in the event of any disagreements. This can then lead to friction and unease between you and the other builders and cost you more money in the long run especially if you find out when it’s too late that your builder’s brother in law was in fact a qualified mechanic and not a plumber!

• Draw up and periodically review written agreements or contracts with your builders detailing key milestones, timelines and specific penalties for delays and late completion of the works.

• Research, check and ensure compliance with the legalities of each step of the project to avoid nasty fines or worse. For example, your builder may be forced to deviate from the approved schedule of works because of an unforeseen problem, such as having to move a doorway or entrance to an area not marked on the approved drawings because of electrical cables or unsafe foundations. But this change may be unauthorised and even illegal, so revert back to your Surveyor (“Geometra”) who will be best placed to advise you on how to move forward.

• On completion of the project make sure you request copies of the relevant certificates from your contractors covering the work carried out on any electrical wiring in the house, and plumbing etc so that you have recourse if anything goes wrong, but above all so that you know the work has been carried out by qualified and experiences contractors.

• Have regular site meetings and maintain regular communication with the contractors, including the Geometra, who will hold overall responsibility for the project. It seems an obvious point but regular contact helps to keep the pressure on and the momentum going. Italian builders often tend to run out of steam and motivation when it comes to applying those final fastidious touches and refinements.

• Where possible try to source and choose goods and materials yourself (such as kitchen and bathroom fixtures and fittings), rather than leaving it to the builders because you are not on site and it seems more convenient at the time. Doing it yourself will not only ensure you can check prices and maybe save money but it will also mean that you end up with the right taps or shower appliances! If you do instruct builders to buy and collect goods or materials on your behalf, be certain to ask them to supply you with proper receipts.

• Keep an accurate and up to date schedule of works and try to maintain an accurate paper trail of all documentation relating to the project. If need be request copies of plans, permits or certificates from your Geometra or Comune (local council) to keep in your files.

• Most importantly, never pay your contractors all the agreed money until the work has been completed and you are wholly satisfied with the quality of the workmanship, otherwise you are entirely at their mercy as to when, or if they finish off the job!

• Lastly, remember your vision and enjoy the experience!

Alison Harris

Alison Harris is a Bilingual Project Manager & Consultant specialising in the Italian real estate market offering clients guidance on searching, buying, renovating and/or managing their italian property. Email info@magentaitaly.com Website: http://www.magentaitaly.com/

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