Hello there - bon giorno!

Having just got back from an action-packed morning in San Remo hospital’s Accident and Emergency Unit (Pronto Soccorso), I thought it might be interesting to talk about health care in Italy this month!

I was in such pain that I was convinced I’d broken a rib. We’d had a very convivial dinner with neighbours the evening before, the homemade wine flowed, the lasagna and rabbit stew abounded and after dinner, as I groped my way in the dark to my car, I saw the season’s first firefly. Distracted by the sight, I took a wrong step and plummeted backwards off the side of my neighbour’s driveway, my back hitting a rather large rock below. After a sleepless night, I decided to brave the A&E services, just to check that everything was okay.

A&E is the logical place to go: GPs in Italy hardly do much more than fill repeat prescriptions. In a small town like mine the GP only shows up at 6pm and there was a good chance that he would have simply looked at me and suggested I go down straight to the A&E anyway.

So off we went in the driving rain. And I have to say the experience wasn’t half as painful (psychologically I mean) as I had expected. I was seen by a doctor within 30 minutes, had X-rays done within the hour, was checked for internal injury and within two hours was sent home with the all-clear and my very own CD with my X-rays on it, which is a pretty good service by any health service standards.

Italian and European citizens armed with EHIC (the new E111 form) have to pay a ticket, normally between 15 euros and 30 euros, depending on how many tests have been performed. However, the paperwork I was issued with as I waited in line informed me that you pay nothing if you have to have stitches, if you are pregnant, unemployed, below 6 years of age and over 65. Seems fair enough to me.

My only complaint with the Italian health service – and this has been confirmed every time I have had dealings with it – is the way doctors and nurses speak to their patients. I am not a great fan of health services that call their patients ‘clients’, however I do rather like to be spoken to as if I were a vaguely sentient human being. There seem to be two categories of health worker: the first category treats patients with absolute indifference, explains nothing, issues curt orders and dismisses the hapless dolt with hardly a glance when finished. This category clearly views patients as a mechanic would examine a faulty engine. When the engine is fixed...next!

The second category treats all their patients as naughty three year olds, scolding them and patronising them. Of course if you gave me a choice between a friendly doctor who doesn’t cure me and an antagonistic one that does, I’d certainly choose the latter…but surely there must be something in between…?

This month’s feature tells the story of Californian sisters Astrid and Beatriz who, despite horror stories involving builders and renovations, have survived all to enjoy beautiful properties in Lazio and Liguria and even run a successful business from them. Their entrepreneurial spirit is an inspiration.

Here’s hoping that the weather in Italy improves – rain is all very well when it means that you can go mushroom picking, but there are only so many porcini one can consume: porcini and potatoes, porcini and rice, porcini and pasta, fried porcini, dried porcini, porcini with egg, porcini with porcini, porcini and spam...

Please let me know if I can help in any way with your property buying process in Italy won’t you?

With best wishes

Gianna

Gianna Williams
Italy Buying Guide
The Overseas Guides Company
Gianna@OverseasGuidesCompany.com

An Italian dream come true

Astrid and her sister Beatriz live in San Francisco, but spend a fair proportion of the year in Italy. Astrid’s first contact with Italy came with a dream job: working at Cinecittà, Italy’s most famous film studios, located in Rome. Astrid takes up the story: “About four years ago, many of our friends from Rome were buying in medieval Fondi, midway between Rome and Naples, only 10 minutes from many beautiful beaches along the Mediterranean coast, such as the famous Sperlonga beach. It is also perfectly located for day trips to Rome, Naples, the Amalfi coast and Ischia, as well as being close to many medieval hilltop towns.

“Our friends were buying houses for their summer holidays. They now love it so much that they are spending most of the spring and autumn there too. My friends encouraged me to buy something there two years ago, when prices had already gone up considerably.

‘When my sister and I went to Fondi to have a look, we arrived full of excitement, with money in our pockets, and there was nothing for us to look at! That's how our trip started: nobody was prepared to show us anything. After a few days of sitting around, an electrician who worked for my friend said he would ask a local if he wanted to sell anything. It turned out that we got the last great deal at Fond!. The building had originally been used as a warehouse/distribution centre/office for Bibles printed in several languages. It was built on the walls of the city, with its beautiful large castle in the centre. The building has four levels with two terraces with over 200 square metres of living space.

‘The whole purchase procedure was very different to us, and almost comical. We noticed how the notary is looked upon as God, and everyone treats him like God because he can make the process either easy or difficult! He read the deed of sale so fast that it was hard to understand, so we wondered what the point of reading it out loud was!”

Astrid and Beatriz set about renovating their new purchase and it is a testament to the charm of Italy that despite the problems and heartache, the drama of renovating didn’t put them off living there altogether.

“We spent 50,000 euros on renovating the building and the renovation was PAINFUL, PAINFUL, PAINFUL! Nothing turned out the way we wanted it. It was even more painful, because we were not there most of the time. The bathroom was fitted with different tiles to the ones that we bought. The reason... the builder thought it was prettier to have a light blue bathroom instead of the terracotta colour we picked out. The heater in the bathroom was located, would you believe, in the shower...

Before we left we had invited the plumber, electrician, builder, painter, everyone who would be involved and actually drew on the walls where we wanted the heater, shower, sink, toilet, kitchen, refrigerator, etc. Everyone said they understood, we took pictures, etc. We came back three months later with nothing the way we had wanted it. The shower was 10 inches bigger, so that meant the kitchen on the other side was smaller and the stove didn't fit, nor did the refrigerator! And those were the problems on just one floor! I can't tell you how painful the other three floors were. The most expensive thing we decided to do was reveal some beautiful original roman arches that were covered in plaster. We renovated/created three bathrooms, three kitchens, six bedrooms, three living rooms, two terraces – all with heating, wiring and plumbing.’

Thankfully all the expense and heartache was worthwhile, financially too. ‘The good news is that the house/palazzo is now worth over three times what we paid, and we have made three apartments from it. It still needs some work, like adding another bathroom and kitchenette, which would make four apartments of about 50 square metres each. We rent the building out to large groups, because the house can sleep up to 16 people comfortably.”

In fact Astrid and Beatriz have made a thriving business out of their holiday home in Italy. They have since bought a second house in the hills of Liguria and they now run painting, cooking and language workshops from both properties, attracting mostly American clients.

Astrid and Beatriz truly deserve their success – their determination and imagination made their Italian dream come true.

Send me your stories or go to: http://ibg-forum.com and post your story for other readers.

How to ensure your pension doesn't decrease!

by Smart Currency’s Charles Purdy.

Why are ex pats living in such places as Cyprus, Greece, Italy and France feeling worse off?

SIMPLE…the € has devalued by 15% over the last year. Now, when an ex-pat receives their pension from the UK, they are getting 15% less in €’s compared to this time last year. Also, we have to remember that inflation is on the increase, especially energy and food costs, which means that budgets are being stretched even further. Not a happy picture.

Say you are receiving £1,000 per month as a pension payment. If you had put a forward contract in place this time last year you may well have secured an exchange rate of €1.43/£1. This would mean that you would receive €1,430 per month. The average exchange rate over the last 12 months was probably closer to €1.30. This means that if you had exchanged your pension each month, over the course of the year you would have received €1,500 less. The cost of a new lounge suite!

How can future pain be avoided? Again the answer is SIMPLE. By using a company such as Smart Currency Exchange you can secure an exchange rate for those future pension payments by using what is called a “forward contract”. This may sound complicated but it is really very straightforward and it will ensure that you know exactly what you will receive each month making budgeting much easier. Also you will save significant transfer costs when compared to your bank which, over the course of a year, could save you another €500 plus…

Sound good? Then the next step is to have a SIMPLE discussion with Smart Currency Exchange to see if we can help you.

To read the latest on Currency go to: http://www.ItalyBuyingGuide.com/Currency260608.htm

And if you haven't read the following report, make sure you do so soon!

"Why overseas property buyers lose money...
...and how you can avoid it!"

This 10-page educational report outlines:

• Case Study: When Property Buyer, Mr Reed, Purchased an Overseas Property, he Made Three Mistakes that Cost Him £10,256...learn how you can avoid them...
  
  
• How the Banks make HUGE profits from their long-standing unsuspecting customers
  
  
• Ways to safeguard yourself against adverse fluctuations in exchange rates (or in other words, helping you to keep your money in your pocket)
  
  
• The entire process of moving money from the UK to any overseas location, so that you're armed with all the knowledge you need to make intelligent decisions about your money
  
  
• How you can ultimately save £100’s and £1000’s so that you have ample money to buy furniture and white goods…
  
  
• More case studies of people that lost money due to foreign currency strengthening against the pound, so that you learn from other peoples mistakes rather than your own!
  

And just a couple remarks about the report from our readers...

" We have found your free report to be extremely helpful... Wendy Watson"

"I have read and absorbed the information in the stories outlining the mistakes which the uninitiated can make when transferring currency. It is very illuminating and essential that any one,like myself, who is in the process of buying an overseas property should be aware of. I would go so far as to say that every agent selling overseas properties should be compelled to advise their prospective purchasers that it is paramount that they use a currency expert such as yourselves. Regards, Eric Thomas"

To get a copy of the report at no charge go to: http://www.smartcurrencyexchange.com/freereport.htm

To get a Better-than-Bank rate go to: http://www.smartCurrencyExchange.com/smartsquotation.htm
or call Carl on 08081 630 102 freephone.

Great advice from Smart client and OGC reader – Jane M

Jane successfully purchased her house in Italy a few months ago and kindly sent us some great tips for people starting out on the process.

“I have to say that we successfully purchased our house in Italy and that, all in all, we had a good experience.

I will be honest and say that I downloaded the information from Kim's website to compare our experience and see if there were items we had not thought about. It was interesting reading and so sad to see that her in-laws paid the ultimate price on a deal gone wrong - my heart went out to them’

I wish you and Kim every success with the site and related functions and had I just been looking to start the buying process would have been very grateful to have come across it as a check list and valued advice giver.

I guess my advice to someone starting out would be:

1.Do your research into all aspects of the buying process - it is different to the UK. Money spent on books etc is money well spent as part of the process.

2. Read whatever accounts you can from people who have gone before you.

3. Work with professional experts. Yes, there is a commission to be paid, but they should be earning it by looking after and safeguarding you. Do not be afraid to challenge people if something does not seem right. Don't let your guard down because it is not here in the UK - if anything be more vigilant.

4. Be aware of your budget and what may affect it - realistically, how much flexibility have you got? Are you getting the best deal and advice on exchange rates?

5. Really consider what you want, where and why - always come back to this no matter how pretty the property or how good the view - get out your ‘must have's’ list and consider every item. If you are prepared to deviate from this be sure it is for the right reasons.

6. Don't give up hope, no matter how frustrating it may be - there will be something out there for you. Try to enjoy the finding of the right house as part of the process rather than just the end goal. Have fun with the visits, learn a little more about the country as you do so.

7. Learn the language - even just a little. It makes you feel more confident and will integrate you into the local community.’

Property of the Month

Price: from € 180,000 to € 320,000

Location: Larciano, Tuscany

Type: Country house

Size: from 75 sq m to 110 sq m

Bedrooms: 2

Bathroom: 1

Land: 2 hectares

This farmhouse has been completely renovated and is divided into 5 terraced houses.
These have a living space from 75 sq m to 110 sq m over two storeys, and feature two bedrooms, bathroom, kitchen and lounge.

It lies within 2 hectares of land with its private lake, ideal for fishing. The property also includes a communal swimming pool, external Jacuzzi, football ground and a tennis court.

The properties have their own entrance, private gardens and parking area.

They have all been restored but have retained the original features of the house, with wooden beam ceilings, cotto tiles and built-in kitchens.

The farmhouse is in the hills of Montalbano, conveniently located just 8 miles from Montecatini Terme, a well known spa resort with an eighteen-hole golf club. It is an hour from Pisa Airport, 40 minutes’ drive from the coast of Forte dei Marmi and an hour from Florence. It is also close to Vinci, Leonardo’s town - a mere 15 minutes’ drive.

For more information on this and other properties in Italy, please go to:

http://www.ItalyBuyingGuide.com/property.htm

My top 10 tips for netting your very own Italian bargain property!

1. Take good, unbiased advice

This is where we at the Italy Buying Guide come in: we are independent, objective and professional people who give you valuable advice. You may find outsiders or estate agents have their own agenda: remember agents are not necessarily objective so keep your own criteria to the fore always and let us do your homework for you: we can put you in touch with our own trustworthy organisations, be it agents, lawyers, IFAs, mortgage providers.

2. Define your criteria well

Think carefully about what you are looking for. Don’t be swayed by something that looks “nice” but has not, for example, got enough bedrooms. Keep to what you really want! One of my readers told me she almost fell for a beautiful apartment. It was in the right location, was in a style she loved and the price was just under her budget. BUT it didn’t have any outside space, not even a terrace. Luckily her head ruled her heart after the temptation had set in and she went on to find an equally lovely place WITH a terrace – and realised she could not have done without at least a little space for her glass of wine in the evenings!

3. Ask questions about each property which tempts you and don’t forget to seek out those reductions!

Decent agents will happily listen to your questions and answer them as best they can (plus we can help you find those agents!). Find out just as much as you can about the property AND the location, the amenities etc. You may be able to make offers of up to 20% less than the price they are asking if the area is one that is a buyer’s market - the agents we recommend will guide you as to which these are: make use of them!

4. Consider your finances

In these difficult days with our weak pound, it really makes sense to consider your options: funding your Italian property in the “right” way for you may well save you considerably. For example, it may make complete sense to take out even a small Euro mortgage instead of using your hard earned cash for part of the property purchase: this way you avoid the unfavourable exchange rate and there is a whole range of options for Euro mortgages with interest rates consistently being lower than for Sterling mortgages. Again, I can help you with this, just let me know and I will put you in touch with an excellent Euro mortgage broker: http://www.italybuyingguide.com/resources.htm

5. Stick to your guns, be firm about your wants and needs always

It is far better to take a little longer to find what you are really looking for than to change the goalposts because something looks tempting: put time and effort into making a list of “must haves”. Family and friends will all offer advice and no doubt their opinions matter to you. But don’t lose sight of the fact that this is YOUR plan and will be YOUR decision. Being firm about your criteria generally is likely to stand you in far better stead later on and ensure you do not find yourself wishing you had perhaps waited for the real thing to come along.

6. Never sign your house sale contract until you are sure you understand it!

This may seem an obvious one but in the excitement of buying your Italian property, you may overlook the importance of getting that first contract correct. If you don’t fully understand everything, get your own bilingual lawyer to act for you. A little money spent now could well mean a greater saving later on.

7. Don’t ever use a bank for your currency exchange

This is vital: banks not only charge commission on foreign currency transfers, but you are also likely to be offered a rate between 2% and 4% higher than a currency exchange company. It is not difficult to see that on large amounts the difference can be staggering: often as much as several thousand pounds. Have a quick read of Charles’ words of wisdom in this newsletter.

8. Make a calm, considered decision

Again, this is vital: many people opt to live in Italy because of the delightful lifestyle: a very good reason. However, don’t underestimate the good things about your home in the UK. For example, you may be wishing to find your rural idyll which is “away from it all” but you really don’t have to live in the middle of nowhere to enjoy a better lifestyle. Consider whether it might just be better to be somewhere which is in walking or biking distance of local shops and amenities: getting in the car each time to buy your bread in the morning may grate after a while!

9. Take more time rather than less: don’t rush

Let’s just say you are about to tell the agent you are interested to buy a property. Before you do this, stand back and ask yourself if you are doing the right thing and if you have been totally objective in coming to this decision. Give yourself, say, half an hour to make sure the property you are about to put an offer on ticks all of your boxes.

10. Last but by no means least: remember that you are in the driving seat at all times: you are the one in control, no one else!

Buyers can find an excellent property for their money now and remember finally that, however you care to look at it, prices in Italy are well below house prices in the UK!

Our Italy Buying Guide contains a wealth of information on buying in Italy as well as an overview of every single region to help you make up your mind if you are undecided on just where is right for you. You can download it digitally or I will be pleased to send you a hard copy first class in the post. It is reasonably priced and actually consists of 3 documents: the main Guide of over 100 pages, a “Questions & Answers” document with lots of useful links and a handy series of “Worksheets” designed to help you plan your Italian purchase. You can get your copy by clicking here:

http://www.italybuyingguide.com/guide.htm

Have a good month!

I hope you have enjoyed this month’s newsletter. Please let me know if I can help you in any way – I would be delighted to do so.

Best wishes and HAVE FUN!!

Gianna

Gianna Williams
Italy Buying Guide
The Overseas Guides Company
Gianna@OverseasGuidesCompany.com