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Five key steps to buying a property in Italy
1) When you find a property that suits your requirements, we recommend that you arrange a building inspection to make you aware of any imperfections or factors that might require attention (your technical report). This report will help in deciding the total cost of ownership, the urgency or otherwise of repairs and improvements and, perhaps factors that might affect the price you offer. Our consultancy experts can help you estimate the likely costs and, should you go ahead, we can get quotations, appoint and manage the artisans to do the work you require.
• We will offer you detailed sales documentation, including all costs regarding maintenance and taxes as well as eventual service charges on the property.
2) Taking account of observations in the technical report, you can now make an informed decision and an informal offer. If agreed, from this you can continue with a formal, written offer through the agent. The offer is subject to contract and will be, only with the approval of the vendor, followed by a 2-5% deposit of the sales price. (the signed proposal)
• Upon completion of the negotiation process, there will be an exchange of a signed agreement between the vendor and the buyer. .
3) As noted, we will be available with further services such as refurbishment, decoration and the later management for holiday rentals of your new home in Salento . We will transfer all documentation on the sale to your solicitor or conveyer.
Remember that working with an agency and their suggested real estate lawyers guarantees you excellent coordination and a smooth transaction between the vendor and buyer.
Contract completion
4) At this stage, you will be required to sign the preliminary contract (the compromesso) and pay a further deposit, usually between 20 and 30% of the agreed sale price. A fee of 4% plus Vat is applied at this stage, according to Italian property law.
• The completion takes place in the notary’s office. He or she makes sure all parties understand all aspects before the signing of the title (the rogito). This is the final document proving ownership.
5) Between the first payment and the final contract, the notary, instructed and paid by the buyer, with our guidance, will prepare all necessary documentation, as well as carrying out the necessary checks to confirm that the vendor can in fact meet the promises made to the purchaser.
• Even after this stage, we will be available to support the purchaser with all other refurbishment, repair, maintenance letting or management services.

Compromesso
This is the preliminary contract holding all details of the purchaser and the vendor, as well as of the property being sold. It indicates the purchase price, the date of the completion and the balance due and the deposit paid with the contract.
The compromesso is not a legal document (but it can be registered as such) but an agreement reached by vendor and purchaser.
The compromesso is a binding document: if the purchaser fails to complete the deal on the specified date he will forfeit the deposit paid, if the vendor fails to give certain guarantees about the sale ability of the property he shall return double the deposit.

Fees and taxes
The notary’s duties include collecting taxes on behalf of the government; therefore the buyer will pay the registration and transfer taxes, as well as his or her fee.
The Notary fee is 1,50% of the amount paid to the vendor.