Help please for restoration

[ExpatAbroad]

I have recently bought a very small property in Abruzzo. Basically it is a garage with a hayloft and stables underneath. It isn't connected and needs a new roof....well it was under 20K!

I've tried 'agencies' but the quotes are astronomical (130K for full restoration). In total its about 120m2 but it is a beautiful location. Can anyone give a total nOOb some advice on what to do. Agencies seem to charge a lot for what they do but what do I know??

Perhaps I was ripped off and I should just give up (especailly as there are liveable houses for 70K in the area). Can anyone cheer me up??

I know next to nothing about building costs and restoration so assume you are talking to a complete idiot

Thanks in advance

[sueflauto]

Personally no idea... I rent :-), but when you come to a new forum it's often a good idea to browse first. So get a nice bottle of chilled white (or a big pot of Assam ... you get the idea ) and settle down for an hour or two to get a feel for the questions you should be asking.

You'll find some really obscure and detailed questions have been answered here, but yours is quite general. The prices you mentioned are about 1000 per sq. m, and that, if I recall correctly, seems quite cheap. Others will be along soon, although it is aperitivo hour... so I must dash. :-)

[NickZ]

Originally Posted by ExpatAbroad

20K!

I've tried 'agencies' but the quotes are astronomical (130K for full restoration). In total its about 120m2 but it is a beautiful location. Can anyone give a total nOOb some advice on what to do. Agencies seem to charge a lot for what they do but what do I know??

Perhaps I was ripped off and I should just give up (especailly as there are liveable houses for 70K in the area). Can anyone cheer me up??

Well if you do it you'll end up with basically a brand new home done to your tastes.

I went the other way. So far I've put in heating. I'm putting in a new kitchen setup. I've got various bits of minor work to do.

My total cost will be higher then the intial purchase. It'll look less eye popping then writing the check for a new build and I can take my time.

[Gala Placidia]

Basically, you are building a new house and as Sueflauto has said, restoration costs at 1,000 euros per sq metre (you are saying that you will end up with 120 metres) is quite cheap, so make sure that the quotes are correct before going ahead. What you have paid for is the land on which the ruin stands.... impossible to ascertain whether you have paid the right price or too much, it depends on location, etc. Renovation is as expensive - and sometimes more expensive - than building a new house. If your location is great... then, it may be worthwhile doing it. Do you have sufficient land to build a new house and leave the existing construction as a garage/storeroom/shed, etc? Oh, you do need to attend to the roof.... so it is going to cost you quite a bit of money....
Sorry, I cannot cheer you up as far as costs are concerned what you have to think at is whether they are going to be worth.
Have a nice glass of wine and think about it....
Best wishes,

[Lakeside]

Am I stupid to think that if you bought place as an uninhabitable wreck then renovation costs might have been part of your thinking ?
As Gala correctly points out.you have the opportunity to turn this into a lovely and wealth enhancing property.Work out what needs to be done ( plumbing,electricity, structure etc ) and then separate this from your ideal ( which appears unaffordable)
So my advice would be to find a good local geometrita and work out what can be done for what you can afford.If you paid less than 20k then there is no way you have been ripped off - Abruzzo is not that cheap !

[myabruzzohome]

avoid agencies and seek out a good architect rather than geometra as geometre are not really qualified to take on a major project like this.Unless you have something very special it may be best to start again with a new build.Have you seen any of the Grand design progs this week?Some good ideas for quick eco construction.
We are in Abruzzo too so please do send a pm for more help if needed.

[ExpatAbroad]

Thanks for everyone's comments so far. I don't actually live in England so can't see TV progs unless they are broadcast in Middle East....

Lakeside : I did think about restoraton costs but I think I had vastly underestimated the problems (admin, agancies) involved...I am pretty naive when it comes to houses as I dont own one myself (unless you count the garage!!). I will take your advice with the geometra.

Gala: thanks for the costings...god I know nothing!!!

I did get a builder quote but I thought E14000 for plastering was a bit high for a 120m2 project and E8000 for floor tiling was a bit much so I kind of discarded the rest of the quote. I am I being stupid? Is this a sensible quote?

[Gala Placidia]

Plastering may be a bit high.... it all depends on the height of the ceilings. Floor tiling sounds OK, depending on the tiles specified. But it is hard to tell unless you have the specifications in front of you and you know what is required as far as scaffolding, etc. It would be worth spending a bit of money on professional help which may save you a lot in the long run... and a fortune on aspirin....
If the location is great, then go ahead, you can't be wrong if you keep costs under control. Be prepared to go through a lot of "why did I get involved in this?" through the renovation process, but it is an exhilarating experience.
Best wishes,

[latoca]

have a look at this: Casa Metti
the property was bought for €20.000 and the restoration costs, including all professional fees, water, gas and electricity connections, best of materials, were of €120.000.
I would say you should think of a cost of about €1600 per sqm for renovation. Of course it depends on the levels of quality you would like to achieve...
Get an Architect, get yourself drawings and specs then interview a few firms and compare prices...

Paola

[chrisnotton]

Originally Posted by ExpatAbroad

I have recently bought a very small property in Abruzzo. Basically it is a garage with a hayloft and stables underneath. It isn't connected and needs a new roof....well it was under 20K!

I've tried 'agencies' but the quotes are astronomical (130K for full restoration). In total its about 120m2 but it is a beautiful location. Can anyone give a total nOOb some advice on what to do. Agencies seem to charge a lot for what they do but what do I know??

Perhaps I was ripped off and I should just give up (especailly as there are liveable houses for 70K in the area). Can anyone cheer me up??

I know next to nothing about building costs and restoration so assume you are talking to a complete idiot

Thanks in advance

If the location is that special you could think about buying a prefabricated Eco-house from one of the specialized suppliers, mostly in Germany & Scandinavia but also in Italy too. You could then either demolish the existing building or refurbish it, or part of it, later.
Restoration costs are often higher than new-build especially with some of the cost advantages of ICF or pre-fabricated building methods. Restoring a building will often dictate the materials & methods you have to use rather than those you might choose with an entirely free hand.

Once/if you have a progetto approved you may be able to get an Italian mortgage to finance your plan. Live nearby for a while & you might find craftspersons who won't normally work for stanieri will work for you when they get to know you. You will also learn the ropes about getting the property re-classified from "rurale" to "urban" if that proves necessary. You might care to register as a "IA" (farmer) if that would be advantageous to your position. You have lots of interesting stuff to learn & new friends to cultivate!
The research you do now will enable you to make the best decision later.
(I hope you are not in a hurry)

Good luck