Tuscany 2007/08

I would like to take this opportunity to thank Stephania Russo and her company, The Property Organiser Ltd for their invaluable assistance in my recent purchase of a small villa in Tuscany.

When initially searching for suitable properties, I was able to access dozens of websites from Estate Agents, individual owners and property developers etc., showing hundreds of properties, but found it very difficult to make a valid comparison between them from the thumbnail sketches and details – in Italian – they provided.

Whilst I was able to shortlist two or three properties I wanted to visit, by far the most useful contact I made was with Stefania at The Property Organiser whose service has been impeccable ever since.

Specifically, after a detailed questionnaire and long telephone interview, she was able to determine my precise spec, budget etc. and her researchers in Italy (all, like her, bilingual)  were able to winnow through the huge numbers of properties on the market to reproduce a very reasonable Initial Short List of about 25 properties and she provided full details of all of them, including various photographs, dimensions, and other information including distance from Airport, facilities in the area, etc, etc.  She also sent a CD with multiple images of each of the properties, which was very helpful in determining a Final Short List of some 15 properties, all within the appropriate budget and in the desired geographical position, though of very differing styles, ages, etc.

She was then able to plan my itinerary with a logical progression through the various areas during the course of my week long visit (I made my travel arrangements  independently, but she is able and willing to arrange flights, hotels, car hire, etc., etc., if required).

We were able to visit not only all the properties on her short list, but also included the properties that I had independently sourced and we were accompanied throughout by herself or one of her agents, which made conversations with the Estate Agents, Owners etc., much more straight forward than my halting Italian would have permitted!

In the course of this trip, we found three delightful properties and subsequently selected one that we were particularly interested in.  Stefania was able to arrange a re-visit some weeks later and her assistance was invaluable regarding the possibilities of re-designing/refurbishing part of the property and in making a successful bid for it.

Astonishingly, this excellent service does not end at the mere purchase of the property, but extends to making all the necessary legal/architectural/financial arrangements for the purchase, opening bank accounts, utility services, building works and even advising on appropriate furniture, if required.  Stefania was able to sit in a the final “Atto” stage of the purchase as the Official Interpreter, which gave us great confidence in the process and she worked very closely with our Italian lawyer to ensure a seamless transfer of the deeds. 

The whole process, from initial viewings to completion took less than three months, mostly thanks to Stefania’s excellent help and advice.

Even then, they are not finished!   Stefania has been able to help us organise a new kitchen and various building works at the property, as well as make arrangements for setting up direct debit payments to the Utility Services and getting our Italian bank account up and running.  They also offer various packages of continuing service, including mail collection, cleaning,  maintenance, pool maintenance, etc, etc., all provided at a fixed – and very reasonable – annual rate.

Overall,  whilst it would, of course, be possible to have gone through this whole process without Stefania’s help, there is no doubt whatsoever that the level of professionalism, experience and expertise offered by The Property Organiser, is absolutely first class and it has made what was, potentially,  very fraught venture, into an exciting and pleasant experience.

I would wholeheartedly recommend Stefania and her company to any future clients; indeed, I would say that The Property Organiser should be the first port of call for anyone looking for a house in Italy!

Dr Colin  P Crosby MA (Oxon) FFSEM (UK)  FFSEM (I),MB BS (Lond) LRCP MRCS

Hampstead, London

 

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