One half of Garda Homes is an Italian geometra, which is a sort of cross between an architect and surveyor, who will undertake all price negotiations on your behalf. Not only is he native to the area, language and dialect but is a professional in the property industry with over twenty years experience. Vendors and agents know this, and it makes an excellent basis for the start of negotiations when it comes to making an offer.

This is an area where our services can pay for our fee many times over. Obviously, we can provide no guarantees as occasionally a property is placed on the market at an already reduced price, making further reductions difficult if not impossible. But we can assure you that, with our help, you will no longer be a “vulnerable foreigner”, but will have local expertise and contacts working on your behalf to get the best price possible.

• the written offer (proposta di acquisto)
• preliminary contract of sale (contratto preliminare di vendita, sometimes referred to incorrectly as a “compromesso”)
• technical specifications, if applicable
• condominium regulations
• final deed of sale with sworn translation and interpreting at the notary’s office (rogito notarile)
• mortgage deeds and accompanying documents

Your translations will include detailed, easy-to-understand explanations of the various clauses, and where an article is referred to of the Italian Civil Code (Italian contracts are littered with them!), we will also explain the article in question so you understand fully what you are signing.

For the average purchase, we provide several thousand euros’ worth of professional legal translations and interpreting, provided by a qualified translator experienced in Italian property law.

• getting your codice fiscale
• opening a bank account
• arranging an Italian mortgage if required
• arranging for the most cost-effective way of exchanging currency and transferring funds

Pre-completion formalities included in our service:

• collecting the deeds from the notary following completion
• arranging utilities set-up and direct debits
• registering for Italian residency, if required
• arranging home insurance including earthquake cover, building and contents and public liability