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Blagoj, I do not wish to disappoint you, but currently there are many university graduates in Italy who are out of work. Some of them have had to migrate to other countries because of this. In any case, I wish you good luck!

Brianm, we have had a totally different experience, which does not mean we "live in a different world" . Perhaps we made the right choices. And I really wonder how you got all the relevant work certifications if the registered tradesmen did not complete their interventions. As for your friends, I am sorry that they had to go through this experience; however, this is a clear fraud and they should report the culprit to the relevant Professional Institute (who would be delighted to know about this) and even the Police. It is certain that Council will not be directly involved; however, they will certainly give your friend a letter or document stating that the barcode on the plans is not theirs and this should greatly assist the prosecution of the case. Your friend needs to see a lawyer. There is no need for them to loose that money.

Steve, yet another one of your usual rantings against knowledgeable and educated people which you seem to resent for some obscure reasons. What you say is misleading as most renovations in Italy will require plans and specifications signed by either a geometra or an architect. o engage professionals will cost you their fees, but in most cases can save you money because of their knowledge. To say that a tradesman will have more knowledge than say an architect with 6 years of formal education and professional experience only shows ignorance. And professionals, at least most, can save you money and give you relevant advice that may reduce the final cost of a project I doubt very much that you would recommend to see your local nurse if you need a heart transplant. My opinions on this subject are not "biased" as you state, as I would not derive any benefit from them. They are based on local knowledge and experience. If you want to imply that because I am married to a retired architect your claim is absurd, simply because we do not make any money out of it, on the contrary, we have used the services of local geometras, architect, builder and tradesmen.

Well, certainly throughout the EU labour costs are more expensive than in other parts of the world, say Thailand , which you seem to know very well, but to generalize and say that they are exhorbitant, particularly in an area, is an exaggeration which does not help anyone. As general advice, if you need to do renovations, both in Italy or anywhere, have proper plans and specifications prepared by professionals and then get three different quotes from builders and this will give you a clear picture of the final cost of the project. 

With an unemployment rate of 12.6, to find a job in Italy is a fairly difficult task. 

Use the "Search" button on the left, insert "prelazione" as keyword, and you will find plenty of information from previous threads.

Hi again, Ulysses. Glad to help. It is very difficult to say how  "negotiable" the price of a property can be. It depends on the particular property, its owner... a multitude of factors. You can know whether a rebate would be envisaged whenever the agent states that a price is  "negotiable" or it is an "urgent sale". The agent may be able to guide you, but always offer a bit less than what the agent says. You can always negotiate upwards at a later stage. Try to find something habitable straight away and avoid properties that need renovations, as these can be pretty expensive. Keep in mind some basic needs, accessibility, general condition of the property and location, location, location. Always remember that an isolated place may look idyllic...until you have to live totally isolated. Use common sense, it always helps. Good luck! 

Siena, if you are looking at Tuscany, Florence may be an expensive choice. Have a look at the answer I have given to "Ulysses" about Northern Tuscany in another thread. We love Florence and we go there at least once a week whenever we are at our place in Bagni di Lucca, but I would not live there. If you want a larger city, Lucca may be a good alternative. Just have a look and if you want to ask more questions... simply ask! Best wishes regarding your plans.

Hi Ulysses! I certainly agree with you, it will be impossible to find anything suitable within that budget in Southern Tuscany. On the other hand, you may be able to find a small "terratetto" or townhouse in the Val di Lima-Serchio-Garfagnana area in Northern Tuscany. We bought a place in Bagni di Lucca some seven years ago and we simply love it! We are only 25 minutes away from Lucca capital, less than an hour away from from Pisa airport and Florence, the Chianti region, the Versilia and even the Cinque Terre, Lake Trasimeno, or Bologna are day trips for us. We generally drive, but there are buses and trains available as well. Property prices are more than reasonable right now. You will be able to find some information here, under "Properties", but I will give you some names of well known Real Estate agents in the area and I am certain that if you search those names, you will be able to find listings. These include: Case e Ville (Casa Tuscany) Bagni di Lucca, Toscana Verde (also at Bagni), Villatua, The ½ûÂþÌìÌà Property Gallery and Geocasanet. For general information on the area I recommend you to have a look at a great blog www.bellabagnidilucca.com as it has also won an Italymag award. The same author, Debra Kolkka, who is a fellow member, has another very interesting blog called Bagni di Lucca and Beyond" and you will find plenty of information there. And if you have more questions... just ask. Good luck and best wishes!

I thought that I had to give some further information about the current situation in Italy for official interpreters and translators and it is not a brilliant one as stated by A European association; however, positive steps are being taken and I am certain that official accreditation will be introduced very soon. In any case, whenever you need to use the services of an interpreter or translator, make sure that you are using the best available person for the job. Both interpreting and translating are recognized professions in many countries and practitioners must hold not only a degree in the relevant language(s), but also post-graduate training in those specific fields. There are also degrees offered by many universities in either translating or interpreting (and by the way, they are different professions, although we can also have oral translation...). In any case, I must insist that interpreting or translating whenever you are a party in any contract is not acceptable and you do not need to read the Translator/Interpreter  Code of Ethics to realize this. It is a matter of elementary common sense.