5 Things to Do Before Buying a Vacation Home in Italy

I know that Instagram makes having a cheap vacation home in Italy appealing, but as someone who lives here, the idea makes me cringe. Primarily because many Americans buy homes without a) really speaking the language and b) ever spending time in the town they buy in.

It ends up not being what they expected, and then they feel cheated, all because they didn't do these things first.

1. Visit the Town You're Interested In

I know browsing houses for sale online and finding a steal for €30.000 can make you want to get out your checkbook and buy the house sight unseen, but PLEASE don't make this mistake.

Seeing a place online is one thing. Experiencing it is another. You may discover, upon visiting, that the house is next to the railroad tracks. Or that there's only one grocery store with expired food. You might find the locals not friendly toward strangers.

Spending time in the town will not only give you a feel for what it's like, but it will also give you the opportunity to make friends and show locals that you're excited to be a part of the community. Foreigners who swoop in for two months every summer without at least making an effort to fit in aren't looked upon kindly.

You can also save yourself the stress of making a mistake. You might find that the house that looked so lovely in the photos is actually a mess and in need of a ton of labor. You might, as happened to one of my clients, have been a victim of a bait and switch, where you're shown photos of one house, but it's actually not the house for sale.

2. Don't Be Dazzled By the Low Prices

As Americans, our eyes pop at the price tags we see for houses in Italy. I know mine did when I rented a three-story house with four bedrooms for just €800 a month when I first arrived. (I now know that price was jacked up because I was a foreigner).

Prices are low here, yes. That makes it tempting to buy more house than you need, but realize that you'll have to maintain that giant house! I quickly got tired of climbing two flights of stairs and cleaning all the empty bedrooms!

And realize that even if the price for a house seems low to you, there is that possibility that the price was raised because you're foreign. Talk to one of your new local friends and ask if they think the price is fair. If they don't, you can almost guarantee they'll argue down the price on your behalf!

(Don't even get me started on the €1 houses. You can read about why you shouldn't buy one here.)

3. Consider the Logistics

I had a client a few years ago who wanted to buy a house in Badolato, a cute town not far from Davoli. The thing is...she didn't want to buy a car. And Badolato is at the top of a mountain. Yes, there is a bus, but for an American who is used to having stores and commercial areas easily accessible by car, not having one was going to be a pain in her ass, I knew.

If you look for a vacation house in Italy in the mountains, know that you're going to have to come down the mountain (on a curvy road) to access most things.

If your objective is to visit the beach in the summer, know that you may have to fight for parking in some areas.

If you live in a historic area, you may not be able to park your car under your house, which means you'll be toting bags and bottles of water down the cobblestone streets. It may sound romantic, but trust me, after doing it a couple of times in 100-degree weather, you'll change your tone.

You'll also want to look at the logistics of arriving. How near the airport is the town? For example, our nearest airport is Lamezia Terme. But I always have to connect in Rome or take the train down.

These are things most people don't think about, but as an expat living in Italy, I see how they could create a hiccup in your romantic dream.

4. Learn Italian

I tend to harp on this with anyone who wants to move to Italy. Sure, if you move to Rome, you won't really need to speak Italian, but I will say: learning the language is a sign of respect, and makes life easier. If you're going to live in Italy, even for just a few weeks a year, you need to invest in the culture, and you do that by being able to communicate with people.

Plus, if you buy a vacation house in Italy, you may need to deal with electricians, plumbers, and construction companies, and they are unlikely to speak a lot of English.

And besides, you will have SO much more fun if you speak Italian! You'll make friends and get invited to lots of fun events.

5. Consider the Work Needed

Even if the house is the Italian equivalent of "move-in ready," you're likely going to have to do some work. You may need to update the electrical system, since many older homes have wires on the walls rather than in them. You may need to get new windows that are more energy-efficient. You may want to install air conditioning.

Before you buy, ask for a referral for someone to give you a quote on what needs to be done. Take a local with you to a) make sure you understand everything and b) make sure you don't get ripped off.

I'm not trying to discourage your dream of owning a vacation house in Italy, but I do want you to go into the situation fully aware so you can make the right choice.