Renovating a House in Italy: The Complete Guide
Buying a crumbling old house in Italy, restoring the stone walls, uncovering original beams and eventually sitting on your newly renovated terrace with a glass of wine sounds wonderfully romantic, and it can be.
But between buying the house and pouring that first glass of wine there will probably be a geometra, a computo metrico, planning permission, builders, electricians, plumbers, several visits to the comune and considerably more paperwork than appeared on your Pinterest board.
We know because renovating houses in Italy is what we do. Over the years, we’ve helped international clients buy and renovate properties here in Le Marche, from historic townhouses and country homes to kitchens, bathrooms, terraces and complete property renovations. We’ve also renovated our own home in Italy, so we’ve experienced the process from both sides.
And one thing we’ve learned is that a successful house renovation in Italy starts long before the builders arrive. This guide brings together everything we’ve learned about renovating a house in Italy, including renovation costs, planning permission, surveys, geometri, builders and some of our real renovation projects.
So, before you start choosing tiles, here’s what you really need to know.
Before You Renovate a House in Italy, Start Before You Buy
This sounds slightly backwards, but one of the most important stages of an Italian renovation happens before you own the property.
If you’re looking at a house that needs work, don’t simply ask yourself:
Do I love it?
Ask:
Can I actually do what I want to do to it, and how much is that likely to cost?
We’ve met buyers who purchase a property and only afterwards start asking whether they can remove walls, create larger windows, move bathrooms, build terraces or completely rearrange the internal layout.
Sometimes they can. Sometimes they can’t.
And occasionally the answer is: yes, but it’s going to cost considerably more than you thought.
This is why we recommend involving an independent technical professional before committing to a property.
Buying Property in Italy: Do I Really Need a Survey?
Buying Property in Italy: Our Top Tip
Do You Need a Survey or Home Inspection When Buying in Italy?
Italy doesn’t have exactly the same house-buying system as the UK or USA, which can cause confusion for foreign buyers. But that doesn’t mean you should buy an old Italian property without having it properly inspected.
A technical expert can investigate the condition of the property, identify potential structural problems and help establish whether the renovation you’re imagining is actually realistic.
For American readers, think of this as going beyond the usual home inspection or property inspection. If you’re planning significant renovation work, you need someone who understands Italian building regulations and can assess the proposed works as well as the existing building.
The beautiful €90,000 village house isn’t quite such a bargain if you discover after completion that it needs €150,000 of work you weren’t expecting.
What Is a Geometra in Italy?
If you’re planning on renovating property in Italy, this is one Italian word you’re going to become very familiar with. A geometra is a technical professional who can play a central role in Italian property renovation. Depending on the project, they may inspect the property, prepare plans and documentation, deal with the comune, coordinate permissions, measure works and help oversee the renovation. For more complex structural projects, an ingegnere, or engineer, may also need to be involved.
The important point is this:
Don’t wait until after you’ve bought the house to start asking technical questions. If your decision to buy depends upon knocking down three walls, adding a bathroom and turning a window into French doors, establish whether those things are possible before you sign on the dotted line.
What Is a Computo Metrico?
Another phrase worth learning before embarking on an Italian house renovation is computo metrico. Put simply, a computo metrico is a detailed breakdown of the proposed renovation works, quantities and costs, and this is where the dream begins to meet reality.
It’s very easy to walk around an old house saying:
“We’ll redo this bathroom.”
“We’ll open this room up.”
“We’ll probably replace those windows.”
“And maybe put a kitchen over there.”
Individually, everything sounds manageable. Put all those jobs into a properly prepared renovation estimate and suddenly you have a much clearer picture of what you’re actually contemplating. That’s information we’d rather have before buying the house than afterwards.
Planning Permission in Italy: Yes, You Probably Need It
This is one of the biggest misconceptions we encounter among foreign buyers. Owning a property in Italy does not mean you can automatically do whatever you like to it. Depending on the type of renovation, works may require a CILA, SCIA, Permesso di Costruire or other authorisation, and additional restrictions can apply to historic buildings and protected areas. Even internal alterations may require the involvement of a technical professional and the correct paperwork.
So before knocking down walls, moving bathrooms or creating that enormous open-plan kitchen you’ve been saving on Pinterest for three years, speak to your geometra.
Pinterest is very good at showing you what you’d like, it is less accomplished at dealing with the Comune.
Can You Renovate an Old or Historic House in Italy?
Absolutely, and for many people, that’s the attraction. Old Italian houses can contain wonderful original features: stone walls, cotto floors, beams, vaulted ceilings, old doors, fireplaces and details that would cost a fortune to reproduce today. But an older property can also bring additional considerations.
Structural condition, damp, roofing, electrical systems, plumbing, heating and previous unauthorised alterations can all affect the project. And if a building is historic or subject to particular restrictions, changes to façades, windows, roofs or other features may be controlled. Our philosophy has always been to work with an Italian property’s character rather than trying to turn it into something it isn’t.
Modern comfort and old Italian architecture can live very happily together.
How Much Does It Cost to Renovate a House in Italy?
This is possibly the question we’re asked most often.
And unfortunately:
“How much does it cost to renovate a house in Italy?”
has roughly the same answer as:
“How much does a car cost?”
What car?
A small Fiat or a Ferrari?
Renovation costs depend on the size and condition of the property, location, materials, structural work required, finishes, access and dozens of other factors. A cosmetic renovation involving decorating, flooring and a new kitchen is very different from restoring a centuries-old property requiring structural reinforcement, a new roof, new services and extensive building work.
This is another reason we strongly recommend obtaining professional advice and realistic costings before purchasing a renovation property.
What Are the Costs of Renovating a House in Italy?
You can also see how those costs translate into a real project here:
Renovating a House in Italy: Paul’s Story – Part One
Renovating a House in Italy: Paul’s Story – Part Two
Choosing Builders and Managing a Renovation in Italy
Finding someone who can build something is not necessarily the same as finding the right person to manage your Italian renovation. Quotes need to be understood properly. Works need to correspond with the approved project. Different trades need coordinating. Materials need ordering. Problems need solving.
And if you’re living in another country while the renovation is happening, communication becomes even more important.
This is where having people on the ground who understand both the Italian system and the expectations of international homeowners can make an enormous difference.
A renovation is rarely just:
builder arrives → builder builds → house finished.
If only!
Real House Renovations in Italy
One of the best ways to understand what renovating a house in Italy is really like is to see actual projects rather than perfect computer-generated interiors. We’ve worked on everything from bathrooms and kitchens to terraces, courtyards and complete properties.
Here are some of our real Italian renovation projects.
Italian Kitchen Renovations
Italian kitchens don’t necessarily need to look like a Tuscan restaurant circa 1987. We’ve transformed kitchens while retaining the character of the property and creating practical spaces designed for modern life.
SEE THE PROJECT → An Italian Kitchen Makeover
Italian Bathroom Renovations
Bathrooms are often one of the first things foreign buyers want to change, particularly when confronted with a spectacular collection of brown tiles from 1974. We’ve designed bathrooms that combine contemporary fittings with materials and details appropriate to the Italian property around them.
SEE THE PROJECT → Italian Bathroom Design: Before & After
Restoring Italian Floors
Old flooring can be one of the most beautiful features of an Italian property. Before automatically ripping everything out, it’s worth investigating what can be cleaned, restored or reused. Original cotto, terrazzo and other traditional materials can add enormous character.
READ MORE → Italian Flooring Restoration
SEE THE PROJECT → An Italian Terrazzo Makeover
Renovating a Rooftop Terrace in Italy
A rooftop terrace overlooking an Italian town sounds idyllic. Getting it to that point can involve rather more than buying a table and two pots of geraniums. Waterproofing, flooring, drainage, railings, walls and existing structures can all need attention, and alterations may require permission.
SEE THE PROJECT → Renovating a Rooftop Terrace in Italy
Restoring Italian Courtyards
Outdoor spaces are often overlooked when people calculate their initial renovation budget. But restoring stonework, repointing walls, repairing floors and dealing with drainage can completely transform a property.
Watch Our Renovating in Italy Video Series
Sometimes it’s much easier to understand an Italian renovation by actually seeing one. We’ve documented many of our projects on video, including restoration work, Italian building quirks, flooring, shutters, courtyards, kitchens and plenty of the unexpected things that inevitably appear along the way.
WATCH → Renovating a House in Italy: Watch Our Video Series
You can also watch:
A Modern Italian Bathroom Makeover
and
Creating An Open Plan Kitchen & Living Space in Italy
Common Mistakes When Renovating a House in Italy
If we could give prospective buyers a short list of things not to do, it would include:
– Buying first and investigating renovation costs afterwards
– Assuming every wall can be removed
– Assuming owning the house means you don’t need planning permission
– Relying entirely on the estate agent for technical advice
– Starting works without the appropriate professional involved
– Budgeting only for the things you can see
– Choosing a property entirely around how pretty it looks online
– Assuming renovation procedures work exactly as they do in the UK or USA
– Believing that Pinterest constitutes a technical feasibility study
We say all of this not to put people off, quite the opposite. Renovating a house in Italy can be an extraordinary experience, but it’s considerably more enjoyable when you understand what you’re buying before you buy it.
Still Looking for a House to Renovate in Italy?
If you’ve reached this page because you’re researching buying and renovating a house in Italy, you’re already doing something we wish more buyers would do:
learning about the process before buying the property.
And this is exactly why we created our Move to Italy Retreat.
We receive lots of emails from people who haven’t yet bought a house, and sometimes haven’t even started seriously looking, asking if we can have a “quick call” to discuss renovation costs, property searches, planning permission and how everything works.
The trouble is that there’s rarely a useful five-minute answer.
Buying and renovating property in Italy involves estate agents, lawyers, technical professionals, paperwork, budgets, planning permission and understanding how the Italian property market actually works.
So rather than trying to squeeze all of that into a Zoom call, we created something much more useful.
Come and Learn How It Really Works
During our Move to Italy Retreat in Le Marche, you’ll spend several days learning about the process with us and the professionals you’ll actually need if you decide to buy here.
– You’ll learn about buying property, renovation costs, surveys, planning permission and the role of technical experts, while seeing real properties and experiencing the area for yourself.
– Most importantly, you can ask the questions before you’ve bought the wrong house.
– If you’re serious about buying, moving to or renovating in Italy but you’re still at the research stage, this is precisely where we’d recommend starting.
More About Buying and Renovating Property in Italy
If you’re continuing your research, you might also find these useful:
What’s the Difference Between A Geometra and an Ingegnere?
Superbonus, Ecobonus – Are Italy’s Bonuses Worth Claiming?
And keep checking our Renovation Diaries, where we share real projects, practical advice and what renovating property in Italy actually looks like — not just the finished photographs.
