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‘Six months ago when we first had the idea to buy a house in Italy we had no idea what we were doing, how we were going to do it, or even if it was possible. But thanks to the amazing team at Vignaverde , Charlotte and I  have just picked up the keys and opened the door to our dream home and new life in Palombaro. From the first time we met the wonderful Rafaella who kindly showed us around 5 properties, all the way through to Notary office with Angela and Pino to sign the deeds we knew we were in safe hands. Along the way Angela and Pino patiently walked us through the process ensuring that everything went smoothly and for that we are very grateful.
 
Angela was amazing, expertly helping us with all the important details when buying a property in Italy such as registering for our Codice Fiscale numbers, opening a bank account and obtaining an Italian phone number. Thankfully she is still there for us even after the purchase, setting up accounts for the utilities, local taxes and helping to ensure we settle in with ease.
 
The appointment at the Notary office was a particular highlight of our journey so far. Meeting the family selling the house was a privilege and made the whole experience even more special.
 
Buying a house in Italy is quite different from in the UK so it was important to know that we working with the right people. We cant recommend Angela, Rafaella and Pino enough and if anyone is considering buying a home in the Abruzzo region then Vignaverde is the place to go.’

We asked Vignaverde to carry out the restoration and to project manager our property in Limiti, as we had been impressed with their efficiency and support when we brought the property initially.  Whilst it did take more time than expected for the restoration to start, when the work did start we were extremely happy with the quality of the work and skill of those concerned with the project.  Their ability to add little touches and make good decisions based on their knowledge of us, was really helpful.
It was not all plain sailing, as any building work will come across unforeseen and unplanned work, however, with each additional job a good solution was always found and the property was resorted to a great standard.
The team working on our project were great.  From Project Management right through to delivery / execution they were friendly, attentive and understood that the little details made the difference for us.    It was nice to work with a team who are devoted to delivering such ideals even when we were so far remote from the action.

Very nice real estate agency – English speaking, helpful, having good database. Ready to help to buy and do all necessary documentation if you’re from abroad. Especially nice to communicate with agent Mrs. Rafaella

The team at Vignaverde are honest and reliable, So friendly and helpful. No problem was too big or too much for them. Pino & his team made sure that the property we were interested in was legal before purchasing it. Angela & Raffaella held our hand at the Notary, helping with the translation & explaining all the legal jargon, could not ask for better. We would recommend them to anyone planning to move to Abruzzo

Pino e Angela sono la squadra di Vignaverde. Sono stati magnifici nei nostri confronti. Essendo noi assenti dall’Italia per mezzo secolo, hanno aiutato a me e mia moglie a navigare attraverso tutti gli ostacoli di cui ci si può incontrare per comprare una casa in Italia. Da una esperienza che poteva essere un incubo, per noi alla fine è stata una esperienza piacevole priva di problemi. Inoltre hanno continuato a aiutarci anche dopo aver comprato l’appartamento. Li raccomanderei altamente a chiunque vorrebbe acquistare una proprietà in Abruzzo.
Grazie di Cuore Vignaverde

I recently had the pleasure of working with the estate agents at Vignaverde to purchase our Italian home. From start to finish, the entire process was seamless and stress-free thanks to the expert guidance and support provided by Angela and Pino.
The Vignaverde team are extremely knowledgeable about the Abruzzo real estate market. They took the time to really listen to my needs and preferences in order to find the perfect property for me. They were always available to answer any questions I had and they kept me updated throughout the entire purchasing process.
Their attention to detail and their commitment to ensuring that every aspect of the purchase was handled professionally and efficiently. They went above and beyond to make sure that everything was taken care of, from negotiating the purchase price, translating the legal documents and coordinating with notaries to ensure a smooth sale.
Overall, I cannot recommend this estate agent highly enough. Their professionalism, expertise and dedication to their clients truly sets them apart from the rest. If you’re looking to purchase property in Abruzzo, I would strongly recommend Vignaverde.’

Are you looking for a property in Abruzzo? so call ? on Vignaverde.. we have just had this experience successfully ✅ a safe experience a peaceful experience a unique experience.. you will be entrusted to quality staff who know their job who live your happiness with you. .they answer your questions they have good advice and help you achieve your final project .. they understand your wishes … do not hesitate, trust and let yourself be guided .. they have the qualities to inform you
Stéphane and Valerie Vernotte

It was a quick and exciting journey with Vignaverde agency: from viewing of the house,  to process of buying and final Deed. All people who worked with us, Raffaella, Angela and Pino, were super attentive to our interests and needs and very efficient in resolving the issues. They went way beyond our expectations. We felt really welcome and now we have a house in a beautiful country to enjoy

When we decided to buy in Abruzzo we contacted a few agencies and initially dealt with them.
However, it was quickly established in our minds that Vigna Verde were the ones who showed most interest in finding out exactly what we were looking for and then putting the effort in to secure it for us.
The team, Raffaella, Pino and Angela ensured we were taken to view great properties and then pulled all the background detail together (land registry, code fiscal, bank account, utilities and municipal taxes to name but a few) to support us in making the purchase as stress free as possible.
They are a team who all pulled in the same direction to make us feel supported and that any questions we had were ones they could answer knowledgeably and with reassurance if necessary.
We can’t thank them enough for helping us to find a home in an idyllic location that our family will enjoy.
The Vigna Verde team will always receive a warm welcome at our place.

Dear Vignaverde My wife and myself would like to thank you and your staff for your assistance in finding our Italian get away. The level of professionalism we consider to be of a very high standard. Coupled with a friendly and approachable team it made for a hassle free purchase. This service has not stopped yet with the continued help and advise from you all as we renovate our new home.As for a rating with mark you five out of five!
Many thanks and best regards Jeff and Caroline Dunkley

We would not have been able to realise our dream of buying a property in Abruzzo without the amazing support of Vignaverde. We knew early on in our search that we wanted to find an agent who could organise the whole process from first viewings through to the handover of keys in the Notary’s office. What is distinctive about Vignaverde is that they are a small team, so you really get to know and trust them as you go through the viewing and purchasing processes. They have all the expertise in-house including Sales, Geometra and Translator as well as an established relationship with a reputable UK based foreign exchange provider. Furthermore, they organise your ‘codice fiscale’ ( tax code) and help you open an Italian bank account. They really do have everything covered. We first met the team at one of the Place in the Sun shows. We visited Abruzzo twice, viewing properties and meeting the Vignaverde team. We also met other people who had bought property through Vignaverde. These visits helped us to understand the buying process and reassured us that we were in safe hands. The day of the purchase was great fun. In the morning, Angela drove us to the bank to get our bank card, cheque book and bankers draft for the purchase; Angela then took us through the English translation of the house sale contracts so that we would know exactly what we were signing later in the day; meanwhile Pino helped to clarify one or two last queries that we had. Then in the afternoon Pino took us over to the Notary’s office in Chieti. We all sat round the table with the seller and the Notary (whose role is to guarantee the legality of the transaction). Contracts were read and signed, money exchanged, and keys handed over. It really was that simple! And now we look forward to moving in to our new house, knowing that Angela is still on the end of WhatsApp to answer our questions, she is helping us to get services connected and set up direct debits and we are going to meet Pino to discuss some of the renovation work that we plan to do. We are cautious people and there were times when Vignaverde’s straight forward, no-nonsense approach appeared to be too good to be true. We can now whole-heartedly confirm that everything worked perfectly and we thoroughly recommend Vignaverde to anyone thinking of buying a house in beautiful Abruzzo. Martin and Mandi Lewis

From our first involvement with Vingnaverde to the purchase of our house they have been very helpful and full of Advice on the process of buying a house and moving to Italy. I am looking forward to our continuing relationship in the future with work to be carried out on the house.I can recommend Vignaverde for purchasing a house and moving to Italy. The whole team at Vignaverde are all very helpful As well.

We fell in love with Abruzzo and knew it was where we wanted to be. The amazing scenery, outdoor activities, friendly people  and laid back way of life is our idea of paradise. Vignaverde was recommended to us by our friends who had already purchased a property through them. This gave us the reassurance we needed as buying a property abroad is a daunting prospect. The whole process of house hunting and buying our house was very exciting and a very enjoyable experience. The day of the purchase was a day we will never forget and made our dream our reality. We were provided with a really good service from all at vignaverde and the whole process was smooth and made easy by there knowledge and experience
Martin and Ann

We purchased a house from Vignaverde and the customer care they gave us was incredible! They kept us updated every step of the way and answered any questions we had promptly. They helped us with the translating as well as getting all the amenities up and running, even to this day when we get stuck with something we just pop into the office and they help us out specially since we are still learning the language, the after care is brilliant. Thank you Vignaverde!! 

To all the Vignaverde team’
Both myself and Jacqueline would like to thank you for all your help and assistance in our recent purchase. You have helped dispel a lot of the myths surrounding buying property in Italy, before encountering yourselves we were led to believe that such a transaction would be a bureaucratic nightmare, it was anything but and all due to the manner in which you assisted. 
The Abruzzo tours organized by your company are an invaluable insight into the entire process and help alleviate any worries over what is a large step in anyone’s life, I would wholeheartedly recommend anyone thinking of purchasing a house/property to consider this trip as it was not only highly informative but both memorable and enjoyable.
As for the buying process, again I have nothing but the highest praise on how this was done from start to finish. From viewing the property to signing the various documents, and from setting up all the necessary steps to facilitate this, simply faultless.  The entire process was open and transparent from the outset, there was no hard sell or pressure, only genuine assistance from a team that clearly loves this part of Italy and is keen that others are, and can enjoy the charms and beauty of this region. 
Again a heartfelt thanks for all your invaluable help and assistance,    I would happily recommend your services, simply first class.
Thanks/Grazie/Go raibh mile maith agaibh

Restoring the house we had bought was a daunting task for us in not only the amount of work to be done but also not knowing and understanding the Italian legislation and regulations.
We were skeptical at first but as a result of working together we have a beautiful home and business to prove it. Pino di Simone and the entire Vignaverde team did everything from obtaining quotes to overseeing the build and sign off and this included translation as well as the co-ordination of the utility services. As a result this gave us time to focus on the more detailed elements and ideas we wanted to incorporate into the restoration plan.
The other benefits included a team of skilled craftsmen, the builders, electrical and plumbing engineers who are top notch and if we had any queries throughout the work programm there
was always someone on the end of a phone, email or via WhatsApp.

Restoring the house we had bought was a daunting task for us in not only the amount of work to be done but also not knowing and understanding the Italian legislation and regulations.
We were skeptical at first but as a result of working together we have a beautiful home and business to prove it. Pino di Simone and the entire Vignaverde team did everything from obtaining quotes to overseeing the build and sign off and this included translation as well as the co-ordination of the utility services. As a result this gave us time to focus on the more detailed elements and ideas we wanted to incorporate into the restoration plan.
The other benefits included a team of skilled craftsmen, the builders, electrical and plumbing engineers who are top notch and if we had any queries throughout the work programm there
was always someone on the end of a phone, email or via WhatsApp.

In July 2016, having bought our second property through Vignaverde, we began the restoration of the old farmhouse in the south west corner of Abruzzo. We had sold our first Italian property (again with Vignaverde), which had been our holiday home, as we were now permanent residents in this wonderful part of the world.
Our new home had not been lived in for seven years and required complete restoration but ‘it’s got potential’, we kept reminding ourselves. There was lots of work to do, particularly on the ground floor, the property had no gas or central heating, the wiring consisted of a few bits of wire twisted together and whilst we did have running water, it was always icy cold. Despite this, we had wonderful views, 30 minutes to the sea, plenty of land and a large barn and the local wine was €2.60 for a litre and a half, who could ask for anything more.
Angela, Pino and the rest of the team soon got the wheels in motion with designs, planning permission and sourcing contractors and obtaining quotes for the work ahead. It wasn’t long before Sandro, the main contractor, was appointed. Angela and Pino had visited his home and other properties that his firm had restored and obtained recommendations to ensure that his work was of the highest standard.
Sandro assured us that the work would be completed in twelve weeks, they actually finished in eleven weeks and one day and finished on budget.
They started at around 7am every day, some weeks working six or even seven days a week. At one point, the whole of the ground floor was completely gutted, there were no windows, doors, floors, electrics, no plaster on the walls or ceilings, I just had to keep reminding myself that things were going to get better.
During this time, Pino ran the project very well, you do need professional contract management, especially in Italy where the rules and regulations are very different. He attended site at least once a week to ensure that everything was going to plan and to discuss any changes that we wanted to make. Also, Angela spent hours helping us plan and choose our flooring, kitchen, bathroom and the new double glazing and ensured that all the required stage payments and other expenses were properly made and accounted for.
Eventually our new home started to come together, through the great efforts of everyone involved, including Sandro and his team, Ennio the plumber, the flooring contractors (who couldn’t sing in tune) and the ground workers who sorted out the spring at the back of the house, which turned out to be an old water pipe that had been cut in half many years ago and the double glazing team who fitted our new windows in record time.
We have ended up with our dream home and one that we are certainly very proud of, thanks to everyone who worked so hard, even in the rain and at times snow.
If however you are considering undertaking a project, please bear in mind a just few simple things and you will have a wonderful time and end up with a great home.
1. Use only certificated Italian Estate Agents like Vignaverde.
2. Engage the professional services of people like Pino (A geometra).
3. Remember that because you are using a professional services, Pino and in particular Angela, are always there, even after the project is completed, to give help and advice.
4. Buy a good alarm clock, because the Italian builders will turn up very early in the morning!!!
Thanks very much to everyone who contributed to our wonderful home and if you are thinking of doing this, be brave, you will have a great time and get exactly what you want, with the help of the team at Vignaverde.

Having first met the Vignaverde team at A Place in the Sun exhibition we went to Abruzzo to look round the area and to view some potential properties from the extensive list on the Vignaverde website. The team took us around some of the villages whilst showing us both properties we had selected, and some others which we may not have considered, so we had a good flavour of what was on offer.    Everyone was very knowledgeable about the houses we viewed, and the local area, which helped enormously.  We had expected this visit to be the first of several, however we were lucky enough to find the house of our dreams on the first visit.  
From this point Pino dealt with the legal side of things kept us informed through the various stages up to completion.  On the day prior to completion Angela went through the entire legal documentation with us in English, and explained to us the procedure with the Notary.  On the day of completion, Pino and Angela all accompanied us to the Notary’s office and assisted us throughout the completion process, right through to the celebration drink immediately afterwards.
Our entire experience of searching, selecting and buying our dream home has been made very easy and stress free due to the hard work, expertise and very friendly service of the English and Italian speaking Vignaverde team.   We couldn’t have contemplated doing it without them, despite the fact that I am an English property lawyer.
We would highly recommend Vignaverde to anyone who is considering buying a property in Abruzzo whether it be for a holiday home or permanent home.

The team at Vignaverde have been invaluable at every step of the viewing and buying process of our house in Abruzzo through to the renovation and project management of the restoration of our property. Using local tradesmen the project was carried out within timescale and budget and managed by the team at Vignaverde with regular inspection trips to monitor progress and make decisions.  Without their support we would have not had the confidence to achieve our dream and consider ourselves very fortunate as we love our house and life in Italy.

Thank you Vignaverde for making my Italian dream come true. Special thanks to the team who helped me turn my house into a beautiful home with their assistance and advice. From buying to the finished project. A great and easy process

When I decided I wanted to buy in Italy, I started doing research on the internet & found Vignaverde, who offered a ‘Taste of Abruzzo’ tour, which I immediately booked as it was a region I was interested in.  It was a fantastic way to discover the region of Abruzzo & I wasn’t disappointed.  It is a beautiful region of Italy & not only did we visit different towns in the region, we also got to look at some properties for sale; so I got a feel for different properties & could be more specific in my property search once it started in earnest.
 I finally found the house for me after 3 separate visits & lots of viewings.  The team were patient & worked hard to meet my brief, which did change after viewing so many properties.  They never applied too much pressure to buy as they understood how important it was to me to find the right place.  It was a new property on their books which clinched it for me, as I saw it the day I was leaving, I had to leave everything with Vignaverde 
 The buying process in Italy is very different from the UK, so I was very glad to have Vignaverde’s expertise to help me.  They did all the negotiations on my behalf, keeping me informed throughout.  Once a price was agreed, it all moved fairly quickly & deposits were paid to secure the property.  They also put me in touch with a company to exchange my GBP Stirling into Euros & helped set up a bank account in Italy for all the payments.  Finalising the purchase of the property was straightforward, Vignaverde took me through the process step by step & then we met with the Notary & the sellers to sign all the paperwork.  It all went smoothly & in no small part down to Vignaverde’s expertise & help with the whole process.  I can’t imagine how I would have fared had I not had the assistance, expertise & shared knowledge from Vignaverde. 

About six years ago, we decided we wanted to buy a holiday home in Italy with the longer term plan of buying a larger property at a later date and relocating to live there. So we started our search to find the location and then the property. We had an idea of where we wanted to be, somewhere fairly rural with easy access to walking areas and not too far from an airport. We travelled to many different parts of Italy and when we arrived to check out Abruzzo just over a year ago, we knew it was right and was where we wanted to buy our dream home.
 However, finding a property was always going to be a challenge. On our first visit we looked in lots of estate agents’ windows to get a feel for what was available in our price range.  On our second visit we contacted Vignaverde and they showed us a number of properties and we went home to reflect on what we had seen. On our next visit although I came armed with a list drawn up from the website, we agreed to let them also show us some houses they thought we would like and we ended up buying a house that I had not even given a second look when drawing up my list.
Apart from the obvious advantage of an English speaking agent, we are very happy that we used Vignaverde as we felt we received a very personal service with them taking time to get to know us and displaying an uncanny knack of understanding what we wanted, perhaps even better than we did.  The complexities of the actual purchase were also made really easy and simple to manage from a distance. There were just a few formalities when we went back to sign and it was particularly nice to meet the seller and be treated to a celebratory drink after the signing! All in all what we expected to be quite complex and stressful was made simple and a lot of fun – big thanks to Vignaverde.

After the momentous decision to purchase there was the small matter of restoration! But after detailed discussions with VIgnaverde we quickly developed confidence in the team there. As a result of our discussions Pino drew up plans and quotes for the work were obtained. After three months work began using specialist builders, a plumber and electrician all of whom were flexible as we changed our ideas when meeting them on site and throughout the project.
Being kept up to date with progress by email and photographs meant we could tweak our decisions and see what was happening on a regular basis.
Angela was very patient and spent many hours with us going through the very detailed quotes. She soon had an idea of what we looking for and then took us to choose fixtures and fittings or suggested shops to visit. Her assistance and support was invaluable when only short but frequent visits to Abruzzo were possible.
We were delighted that the some of the old features of the house, e.g. original stone sinks and radiators were utilised and mixed in with the new – as we had requested.
During restoration help was given with organising direct debit for the utilities and getting mains gas connected.
Once we moved in there were minor issues to deal with and the team always dealt with these quickly. In fact, one of the things that has impressed us most was that once the restoration was technically complete Vignaverde didn’t just cease their involvement – far from it. They have been on hand subsequently to help with anything – be it sorting out wifi, organising all legal paperwork for the Commune or even recently helping find a pest control person to sort out an ant problem!
Overall we have been delighted with the result. The standard of workmanship throughout the project has been excellent – the builders were even working during August last year to finish our external stair rail, having found a local blacksmith to install it!
Our experience has been very positive and we would certainly recommend Vignaverde to anyone thinking about a similar venture.

When we bought our house in Abruzzo, we knew that the renovation would be an extended process, doing it in stages as we were able to afford it. However there were some immediate structural issues that needed dealt with and based on our very positive experience with the team in dealing with the purchase we appointed Vignaverde to project manage the renovation work.
As we are not living full time in Abruzzo, we wanted to be sure that work would continue while we were not there. With the initial work quickly and efficiently carried out, four years on, we keep going back to them as we continue the renovations. We have been impressed with their extensive local knowledge and the network of professionals, suppliers and tradesmen that they can call on.
As with all projects, it has not all been plain sailing but Silvana has always been on hand to deal with problems and glitches and negotiate solutions. We still have renovation to do and look forward to continuing our relationship with Vignaverde .

There are many Estate Agents that operate in Abruzzo (and I met many of them in my search for the ideal home in the sun) however Vignaverde, stand apart. The Agency genuinely wants to help people make the right decision, with no hard sell. And Vignaverde help make the whole process smooth – from initial selection to getting an offer accepted to signing the contract in the Notary’s office, which I successfully did in February. The house we bought is ideal for my family and we now try and get out to Abruzzo for the beach or skiing as often as we can. Vignaverde are also helping with our home improvement projects, which really helps take the stress away, if you’re not there to look after things yourself.”

With Pino and Angela’s help, our home in Abruzzo really was an ugly duckling that turned into a swan and the home we have ended up with has far exceeded our initial expectations.
Renovation / building projects are stressful enough in the UK (we have done several) so the prospect of doing this in another country and language was daunting.
We chose to deal with Angela and Pino as they offered a complete service; project management, translation, producing plans and work schedules, getting quotes from local builders and suppliers. We were also a slightly unusual client for them as we chose to do some of the work ourselves, and Angela’s help liaising with the local suppliers was invaluable.
The project wasn’t completely stress free, finding out that whoever had originally extended our house had managed to build an upstairs wall off centre from the lower wall that should be supporting it and that this affected where we wanted to put our new staircase was interesting – but Pino came up with a solution.
We highly recommend their services to anyone looking to renovate or restore in Abruzzo, their knowledge and experience will help to make your dreams come true.

Buying your first house in Italy is a real experience. Don’t expect it to be like buying a house in England. Don’t try & compare their system, process and documents with ours and don’t expect them to work like we would like them to .. this is Italy .. you do it the Italian way.
Do read up about it and do talk to people who have done it .. but ultimately you need to understand what happens at each step, what needs to be done .. and you have to learn to trust the system.
Building this trust is where Vignaverde are invaluable and where the team earns it’s fee!
They know the country, the region, the commune, the people, the properties and the local system.
From the outset it is clear that they want to build a relationship with you that will progress beyond the purchase, into the restoration and then eventually into welcoming you into their community. For this reason they have a vested interest in doing the best job they can for you and making sure that everything is done correctly and properly … ultimately they have to .. you might be their neighbour when all is done & finished!
In the initial visits to view properties they are excellent at determining what you are looking for (even when you are not sure) showing you different options and showing you the potential of the property & the land….. let them show you the property you had discarded when viewing online .. it might be your ‘dream house’ .. it was for us.
Pino, the associated Geometra clearly has a huge passion for the correct and proper restoration of property in Abruzzo properties, there are many examples of their work in the region for you to look at and get ideas and confidence that these guys know what to do .. and do it to a high standard. He will talk you through his thoughts about what could & should be done to a property .. but don’t expect too much commitment as to potential costs at the outset .. that comes later!
When you decide to take the step to buy, they help you understand the system and will advise and help you work out the best route through the maze of Italian rules & regulations. The Vignaverde team has all of the skills and professional capability to support you through your purchase. They did an excellent job for us, sorting out the complexity of current ownership of the land and property and creating the contractual documentation required for the purchase. They sorted out all of the financial aspects, provided the translation services and guided us through the formal legal steps. They also provided contacts for us to talk to, people going through the same process for us to do a ‘sanity check’ with .. and other professionals, not part of Vignaverde, for us to get 2nd opinions from.
This network that the Vignaverde team has built up is invaluable and covers all aspects of the purchase and restoration of a property from travel and local accommodation, architects/engineers, tradesmen, Banking & Finance etc.
At the time our house purchase felt nerve racking, very strange and different, and sometimes downright dubious and crazy …. Looking back it was remarkably painless and we are now the proud owners of a wonderful house .. well .. ‘project’ in the most beautiful region in Italy.

We found the buying process in Italy to be relatively pain free with the help supplied by VignaVerde. We bought a house that only had one owner who was also very generous with information and help. The process went very smoothly from beginning to end, and the fact that English was the driving language really helped a lot. Most of all Dave listened to our specific requirement and although we still had to knock a few houses off the list, he went out of his way to show us houses that fit the bill. We asked a load of questions, some of them at least twice, but they were all patiently answered so we never felt under any pressure. The last part of the process, i.e. the signing, is very different to the UK but it was all professionally handled and again all the questions were fully answered. Many thanks!

My first hand experience with a property purchase in Abruzzo was made straight forward simply by dealing with a professional, knowledgeable and above all passionate set up ‘Vignaverde’.
I can only reflect and state that the drive across the country from Rome was very much worth the visit to this stunning region. The viewing process was made very interesting with the abundance of regional and local knowledge passionately expressed throughout the tour via an English/Italian influence. The choice of buildings on and off the market available for viewing was more than I had really bargained for.
Once an offer was agreed for a property the guidance from start to finish before the completion was concise and relatively hassle free. ‘Vignaverde’ have their own project management for renovations and are firmly in touch with the local trade and craftsmen which can move a project far quicker to another level.
In summary, dealing with this agency breathed a confidence, passion and a satisfaction from my purchase.

Buying through Vignaverde
Sophie and I had decided that we wanted to buy in Italy and particularly in Abruzzo.  We did not know a lot about the area but did a lot or research on the internet as well as searching for suitable properties.  There are so many agents and so much advice!  
 
With all the research in place we booked an independent trip to Abruzzo for 5 days visiting three areas, Pescara, Teramo and Chieti and 4 separate agents in late June.  We based ourselves at Palombaro (Chieti region) at the suggestion of Dave having met him at ‘La Dolce Vita’ exhibition in London and arranged to see him on the first two days.
 
Our brief was as follows.  We were looking for a foothold in the area, a property for ourselves which we would initially use as a holiday home and holiday let.  In time we intend to retire to Italy and invest in further property as holiday lets.  We had an initial budget of £50,000 and allowing for fees decided that E50,000 should be our limit.  We felt that we wanted a property with some land rather than a townhouse.  We did, however, have open minds.
 
Dave suggested that he would take us out in the mornings and show us around taking in some properties.  We were left to our own devices in the afternoons.  Initially we walked around the town of Palombaro with a friendly chat from Dave to enable him to get to know us and our intentions.  He showed us a couple of townhouses and we quickly established that this was not the way forward.  He then took us off to visit some other properties closer to our brief.  It was all done in a very relaxed manner and we also did some sightseeing. By the end of the first morning we had a couple of possibilities, a plot of land and the ‘bunker’, a stone and concrete ruin.  In the afternoon we drove around the area visiting the local ski resort and getting a better feel.  The second morning was the same routine and included revisiting our possibilities.
 
Days three and four were far more hectic with visiting properties in morning and afternoon with other agents.  It many ways we tried to do too much but it confirmed that the area of our initial search was the right area.  One of the agent’s command of English was as good as my Italian and we had difficulty getting our interests across.  Another’s was somewhat better but still the language caused difficulty. It is important to speak Italian here and we are learning.  The fourth agent was good but he was working outside our preferred area.
 
Our experience demonstrated the need to closely define your search area.  Given that area, get to know it well and enlist the services of a local agent that you are comfortable with. We tried to do too much.  In the four days of viewing we took over 700 photographs and visited about 40 properties.
 
Dave’s relaxed approach made the process easy and we were not put under pressure until of course ………..  On the evening of day four Dave contacted us to say that he had another interested party in the ‘bunker’.  He was bound to say that but was keen to show us that this was actually the case and not a sales pitch.  We had more or less made the decision anyway and on the following morning agreed a price.
 
The purchase was a bit of a leap in the dark but we were guided along the way by Vignaverde.  They helped us set up a local bank account and get a Codice Fiscale, the Italian tax registration number.  The next stage is to get the necessary plans into place and the water and power reconnected to our site.  This service can also be provided by Vignaverde and I feel confident of their help.
 
Purchasing a house is supposed to be one of the most stressful things you can do.  Using Vignaverde, it was a pleasurable experience – I have not had so much fun in ages! Thank you.

After the usual Internet searches and attempted contact with a few agencies (without much luck) in the Abruzzo region,  we took the plunge and booked a week.
We then heard from Dave,  and after we explained our trip and the purpose,  he invited us to meet him at his office and offered to show us around for the day.  To be clear with him, we told him we wouldn’t buy a house on this visit but he was undeterred and said he’d be happy to show us around anyway.
They sent us some useful instructions on how to reach Casoli and the office (avoid following the satnav and use a map!). We sensed good things from that as the satnav was going to take us the long, long way round.
We met Dave and some of the other guys at the office and we went out to look round the area.   This is where the Vigna Verde support and service really comes into its own.  We chatted to Dave about what we might look for in the future, what was important to us and about our family and circumstances.   He shared his own story and that helped immeasurably. After a good chat about life the universe and everything,  we headed out into the beautiful Abruzzo countryside.
We were told about the history of each village we visited, we were introduced to a few of the locals, each place had a story and Dave explained the context of everything we saw and everywhere we visited;  when it’s likely to get busy, when the Festa season is, what the weather is like and when the shops / restaurants might be quiet.  He showed us what we might be able to purchase with our (modest) budget and gave us headline costs for doing standard works (kitchens , bathrooms and such).  
There was never any feeling of, pressure or being sold anything and always a really nice sense that we were being looked after (bearing in mind that we’d already said we didn’t want to buy anything and he was essentially taking a day out of his work to show us around).  There’s a lot to see and to fit in and since we were staying a good 2 hour drive to the North,  he organised a B&B for us so we could maximise the time we spent in the area.  A good job too …
Dave got to know us and our wants pretty quickly and suggested visiting a few places just to see … Bingo, he showed us our dream house within 24 hours of meeting Us!   All bets off and we now did want to buy Something!
That’s when the local knowledge and understanding of the ‘system’ become important, and again, Vigna Verde came into their own.  They talked us through step by step how it would all happen, they told us about the ways that some things are done and removed any element of surprise or question that might have arisen.  Our expectations were managed excellently from day one.  They helped us to understand the timescales,  the process,  who would talk to whom and what we would need to do, provide and pay for as well as when.  It’s said that buying a house is one of the most stressful things that one does; not when Vigna Verde is on your side.  There was no stress at all.  They communicated with us frequently,  updated on the status,  helped us to organise our return visit and managed everything directly with the local stakeholders.
When it came to completing the purchase, the team stepped up a Gear!  We had a consultation with the translator prior to meeting the notary.  She not only explained the content of the document but the context of what it meant and why it was included.  Bravo!  Another potential stress removed.
They took us around everywhere again (from the bank to the notary), guiding us and helping us through each stage.  Our Italian isn’t good (yet) but they understood that and helped us without casting judgement or making us feel like we were burdening them.
And finally, when the purchase was complete, the team rallied tradespeople, the Geometra helped us to understand what could be done and the whole team continued to offer their ongoing guidance, support, advice and even their creative input based on their knowledge of previous projects.
When we look at the whole experience, Vignaverde made it stress and hassle free for us from the very beginning and beyond the purchase.  It was like having an expert friend with us every step of the way and their service exceeds all our expectations or hopes.  They are a truly wonderful team and we look forward to knowing them for a long time as we settle into our new home and become their neighbours and friends.