The unchanged charm of a medieval Tuscan village is an element that attracts more and more people, who decide to invest in an estate away from the smog and the stress of the city. But there is more: convince the hearts towards the decision to buy a house in an ancient village is the search for a wider balance. Less cars, of course, as well as more human and less exhausting rhythms. But also, and above all, the desire to rediscover a more welcoming and harmonious daily dimension.
Tuscany is a privileged place from this point of view. Nature, culture, a life still uncontaminated by the frenzy of the metropolis are perfectly combined with pieces of a millenary history that, not only represents the basis of Italian and European culture, but also become the ideal place to live one’s life to the full.
Montepulciano, Pienza, San Gimignano, Volterra, Monteriggioni are famous names all over the world, but this is only the tip of the iceberg, the rest is made up of secular samll villages like like those of the Etruscan coast ( Castagneto Carducci, Casale Marittimo, Bolgheri..), vineyards, olive groves, rolling hills and paths where the feet rest in search of the best road towards a new inner balance. Towards that peace that the city is no longer able to guarantee. I feel like encouraging the choice of buying a house in a medieval village: I know from experience that this is a decisive step in the lives of many people.
Everything is done with full knowledge and the right information on hand. For this reason, I made this little guide designed to help with this splendid but sensitive passage.
What does the property finder do? And what are the benefits for the customer?
The property finder takes care of identifying the houses available on the market on behalf of its customers. He studies the needs of the clients, understands the explicit needs but, above all, the most hidden ones and, finally, develops the profile of the ideal home for the client, a document that is attached to the contract of assignment.
If until now vague resemblances have emerged with the work of the real estate agent, from now on the role of the property finder emerges more clearly and differs. The difference with the real estate consultant or brokerage agency, in fact, consists in the fact that, once the ideal profile of the house has been identified, the property finder will look for it on the real estate market, and not only among the solutions it has in its portfolio. If this means turning to real estate agencies that are treating the property of your dreams, so it shall be. In addition, the property finder is facilitated by involving all those individuals who otherwise do not want to collaborate with real estate agencies.
This modus operandi translates into a series of advantages for the client:
· You turn to a single interlocutor;
· You can therefore face the purchase of a house in a simpler way, without many intermediaries;
· You do not waste time or waste energy;
· The chances of making mistakes are practically reduced to zero;
· The purchase of your dream home is safe and guaranteed.
Furthermore, the property finder follows the client up to the act of sale, and not only up to the commission, also taking care to check that the property in question is perfect from all points of view: legal, architectural and infrastructure.
How to renovate a medieval house
The ancient houses have a story. And everything that has a story, has a soul. This is valid both for country cottages and for an apartment in the historic center.
Of course, the renovation of a house may require significant investments that, in some cases, may increase the value of the property itself. Therefore, also to avoid errors, it is good to start by checking the appearance of the structure, going in search of all those small and big imperfections and wear of the years that could jeopardize the stability of the walls or the floors. These are particularly delicate elements, whose control must be entrusted to an expert. Margins of error are not allowed, especially if the cottage has one or more wooden beams.
The next step is the verification of the systems, if present, and the consequent new installation or their completion to standard. You will need to check the pipes, as well as all the systems. Depending on the age of the building, its nature or the total absence of works carried out by the previous owners, it may be necessary to redo everything: electrical, gas, hydraulic, boiler and radiator systems in order to guarantee the energy efficiency of the new home.
Then it’s the moment for decorations. After the testing of the systems, it is possible to work on the internal restructuring: mortar, cement, gypsum, natural resins, plasters and paintings will be the fundamental ingredients of a path aimed at bringing back the villa, the farmhouse or the apartment located in the medieval village to its ancient splendor.
videoSelling a house located in a medieval village
So far, we have talked to those who want to buy a house. Instead, what about the owners? Let’s start by saying that among the many headaches that may arise during the sale phase, one of the biggest comes from the lack of urban and building compliance of the property. This is a fundamental element, since it determines whether a property can be sold and bought and so it must be properly verified.
When does a property comply? Simple, the land register (at least in this case) has nothing to do with it: there is conformity, in fact, when the state in which a house, villa or apartment is located is identical to the project approved by the Municipality and deposited in the corresponding technical office : after all, the rules to protect urban conformity are also born to counter the numerous cases of illegal building.
Compliance is given by:
· Building licence
· Building concession
· Building permit
· Securities and permits for minor interventions
We also add to these documents any amnesties issued by the Municipality, which help to define the regularity of a property from a building point of view.
During the sale phase, the notary is obliged to indicate urban planning compliance, but the responsibility for this latter declaration lies with the seller. None of the actors involved – notary, real estate agency, intermediaries – has the obligation or the responsibility to check for the presence of building abuses or other irregularities. The only way to protect yourself from any complications or problems is to rely on a specialist, a technician qualified to carry out all the necessary checks and who, precisely because invested with civil and criminal liability resulting from false declarations, will hardly cover any irregularities.
This is one of the services I can offer to my clients, thanks to the precious collaboration of professionals in the sector. My desire is that the buying and selling process is as peaceful and fruitful as possible for all the parties involved. For this reason, I particularly want to offer a complete consultancy, which guarantees the maximum effectiveness and efficiency of all the phases, from the definition of the ideal property to the actual purchase or sale.
To make the sale easy, we often need to work in order to enhance the beauty of the property: for this reason, my team of consultants helps me to offer a home staging package aimed at improving the visual rendering and the saleability of a house or apartment. Before to complete a restructuring, I can propose a video rendering that allows to pre-visualize the finished result, thus assisting potential clients in the selection phase and, therefore, helping them to make a choice as conscious as possible.
What does it means to live in a medieval village?
A medieval village is a fascinating microcosm. Life is slow but not boring. Everything flows slowly. We all know each other, we talk to our neighbors, we make community life and we help each other. Coffee in the small square is a ritual, and not the hit and run that is typical of city life. The baker knows our tastes perfectly and can advise us for the best. We always move on foot. Parking is not always under the house, but it does not matter because the car is outside the walls of the village and only serves for some travel. Every stone, every door has a story to tell, a world to be revealed hidden in the past that knows how to coexist perfectly with the present. The sunsets are more intense: yes, because here time has started to flow again normally, marked by gestures of the past and by a peaceful and composed breath.
Living in a medieval village means taking back one’s life and not resigning oneself to the rush that encompasses everything. It is an important choice, which must be faced with awareness and the irreplaceable help of qualified professionals, able to really listen, help and advise for the best.
