EX PAT LIFE IN ABRUZZO. Our very own grand design, renovating our Italian dream home. 

They certainly do. They brought family members around to see what they had done.

Thank you, it’s was certainly an experience. Stay tuned for the five year update coming soon. 👍

Thanks for the feedback, we certainly enjoy living here. Stay tuned for the update soon

Hi Maria, Thank you, we certainly love it. Stay tuned to the channel, I am planing an update in the autumn or perhaps even sooner. Should be interesting, the house after four years.

Hi. You are right, be happy and enjoy life. I am going to do an update soon so stay tuned.

@@variostick9215 ill be looking out

Hi Jonas, thanks for the feedback, stay tuned for the five year update coming soon 👍

Thank you, I will be doing a five year update in the spring

I am so glad you enjoyed it

Thank you, we certainty do 👍

Thank you, I will be doing a 5 year update in the spring so stay tuned.

Great comments, thanks very much. It was hard work but certainly worth it. 👍

Thank you, we certainly are. I will be doing an autumn update on the house, so stay tuned and subscribe so you don't miss it.

Thanks, I will be doing a update on the house in the next couple of months.

Thank you very much for your feedback. Stay tuned for the five year update 👍

Hi Dave, stay tuned for the five year update

Thank you, keep watching for the house update

Thank you

Glad you liked it, stay tuned for the 5 year update soon

Marisol Alamo Goan that you enjoyed the video. Stay tuned, in the autumn I will do doing a follow up video.

Thank you, stay tuned for the five year update coming soon.

We will be doing an update in the new year.

Thank you so much for your kind comments. I am so glad it is not the most famous of regions, let's keep its secret to ourselves.

Thank you.

Hi Tony. So glad you enjoyed it, I guess you hear horror stories wherever you are. I will be doing an update soon so stay tuned.

Thank you, stay tuned for the five year update, coming soon.

Thanks Stephen, I am glad you enjoyed the vlog. We did have major damp issues on the back wall but increased drainage and an extra wall at the rear sorted out the problem.

Hi Moira. Thanks very much we are certainly very pleased with the work. I will be doing a five year update soon so stay tuned.

@@variostick9215 I am intrigued as to how the back wall is coping ... the wall almost abutting the hillside water run . Did the huge hole and clay tiles do the trick? I assumed they also laid a damp proof layer behind the tiles?? Sorry ... just nosey😂. Wishing you both well in your endeavours. xx

It was a heck of a job. That huge hole into which they laid a French drain, which was connected to the main drains for the house, was the main defence. Yes they put a very thick barrier on the back of the house then the double clay tile wall then back filed.

@@variostick9215 What effort! Thanks for the reply. Master Craftsman at work....what a joy. 🥳🥰

Just found your page. Brilliant work they do.

Thanks, glad you enjoyed the video, I will be doing an update soon.

Thank you, glad you enjoyed the video

Thank you,stay tuned for the five year update

I am sure your dream will come true on day.

Hi. So glad you enjoyed it. I will be doing a 5 year update soon. Check out the rest of the channel for more lockdown therapy

I will be doing a 5 year update soon including an inside tour so stay tuned.

@@variostick9215 great...

Thank you, so glad you enjoyed it.

Glad you enjoyed it. Stay tuned for the 5 year update coming soon.

Glad you enjoyed it. Stick around for the five year update coming soon.

Thank you, Cheers. I will be doing an update in the spring so stay tuned.

Adella Smyth. Hi Adella, thanks for your comment, glad you like the place.👍

There are plenty to choose from

@@variostick9215 😊 where may I contact you, we live currently in canada. Can Canadian purchase property in Italy

Hi Marian. Thanks for the feedback on the house, we love it to. I have often been asked about renovation costs and it’s not easy to put a price on, as you end up having several ‘extra’ jobs added, that weren’t in the original budget. I tend to quote around £86,000 but that did include the double glazing with remote control blinds. It also depends on the state of the building in the first instance, our house was a mess with running water down the back walls but I have seen much worse than ours!!!. Also, electricity, water and mains sewerage were already connected, it’s not uncommon to find no services at all. Is it cheaper to start from scratch, possibly, but if you fall in love with something very special, costs don’t seem to matter as much, that’s when you can end up very poor. I will be doing a follow up video, in the autumn covering “what’s it been like so far”, if you haven’t already done so, please subscribe then you won’t miss the second episode.

Vario Stick thanks for sharing your costs, I live in Seattle so the costs seem quite low to me for all you had done. My husband and I are moving over to Europe soon and might be taking on a project. Most likely we will move to Ireland since I’m a us/Irish citizen and he’s a German citizen. Also, the language is a big draw for us to move there though the weather alone might motivate us to at least have winter place possibly Italy. What are your winters like where you live and do,you and your wife speak Italian?

@@mariandalyyildiz6968 I do have a video on my channel called 'Winter in Abruzzo'. I suppose it depends on what your winters are like, in comparison to UK winters, they can be very cold over here with several feet of snow BUT, they only last a couple of months. We have been sat out in T shirts at Christmas and by mid March, the days can be warm again. The Italian language is not a big issue, I do speak Italian but in most cities, English is widely spoken and the younger people love to practice their English, whenever they get the chance. Out in the countryside, nobody speaks English, but they do slow down and are very patient and enjoy laughing when we get our Italian words mixed up.

@@variostick9215 The renovation you had done and especially the mold issue, I would have expected the cost to be much higher! I am planning to move to Italy in about five years. Not sure which area, but it will be from Tuscany area to Sicily area location. I have been looking at homes already built. Your home changed my mind and now I am looking at to be renovated homes also. Approximately, how long did it take to renovate your home? Thank you.

Can you recommend the nicest villages there to visit. Want to be no more than 30 minutes away from the beach.

Hi Vicki. So glad you enjoyed the videos. To be honest, they are so lovely, the best thing to do is get out here, hire a car and explore, you will enjoy every minute.

Thank you so much, stick around for the 5 year update coming soon. No one is completely sure but we think the original part was built after 1900 and then added to in the 1960's with the barn being built slightly later.

Thank you, I will be doing an update soon, so stay tuned. I also read your comments regarding the drone. There are so many wonderful places, I will add yours to the list. I have several more already recorded, I will post them shortly.

Glad you liked it, stay tuned for an autumn update and video.

Onna Sun Thank you, it was a fantastic experience, one that we are so happy to have done. I am planning a follow up vlog on the house, as we have now been here for four years, reflecting on the project. That should be released in the autumn so if you subscribe, you will be sure to get it.

Hi Stacie. Thanks for contacting the channel, I am glad you enjoyed the project vlog, I will be doing an update soon so stay tuned. We sourced our contractors through our Estate Agent but they used local trades people which I think is very important. Not only is it using local businesses but its more likely that those local workers will want to protect their reputation. You hear all kinds of horror stories but to be honest, we found all the people polite, hard working and reliable. We did ask our Estate Agents to verify the contractors and visit work that they had completed, this proved useful. The house was almost derelict when we took it over, no one had lived in it for years. There was no heating, hot water or gas, the electrical system had to be completely replaced before the plumber could even start. As well as a comprehensive heating system the plumber also fitted three wood burning fires, a new bathroom and part of the kitchen, so giving an accurate cost for installation of a heating system alone would be impossible. Fortunately our project manager had an agreement with the local gas company so we got our gas tank free, including installation, that really helped. The total finished cost for the whole project was 83,000 Euros but this included significant new drainage and roofing work, something you don't see on the video. I hope this helps, its a great adventure you are about to embark on and if I am honest, a trial at times, but I am sure that you will be thrilled with the project when finished.

I have always found everyone very helpful. The local shops are normally quite small and have a limited choice, however they're are meant large supermarkets.

Thank you, I am glad you enjoyed the vlog. We lived for the whole time in one bedroom, it was our kitchen, tv room and lounge. At one point the only bathroom was an old concrete sink and toilet in the barn next door, that was chilly in November I can tell you. I will be doing a five year update soon.

Might have been a bit bright lol.

Hi. Good point, the thing was we still had work to do so I guess the final price was not really done. I am doing a five your update soon, I will include prices in that. 👍

Thank you, stay tuned for the five year update. We live in southern Abruzzo, not far from San Salvo.

Hi Renee, thanks for the feedback, I am glad you agree with me, it certainly was worth it. It’s out in the middle of nowhere really, not far from Palmoli and San Buono. I am planning an update in the autumn, since we have been here for four years, so stay tuned.

I will definitely stay tuned for future videos! I love the character of your home! I am not very familiar with the Chieti province of Abruzzo. My family lives in the Teramo province of Abruzzo so I know that area better. When I get to the point where I am house hunting then I will definitely take a closer look at Chieti! I think it has a lot to offer.

The origin coat was 70,000 euro and we spent around 80,000 euro on the renovations but there was a lot of work completed that you cant see, for example extra ground works and drainage.

I can't believe you got all that work done for 80,000 euro, that's the most amazing part of this story!!!

Yeah, it was a bargain that's for sure.

Hi, the main contract took three months, and we lived in one bedroom for the whole of that time. 🥶

Hi. Any town near the coast is always going to be more humid in the summer, the further away from the coast and the higher up you go will improve this situation. The best thing to do is have a look on google earth, look at places nearer the mountains than the sea but anywhere in Abruzzo will get hot in the summer, there isn’t much you get do about the I am afraid.

U need lots of trees and water..

The same can be true here, I guess also the world over. We had the contractors vetted by our project manager who also visited some of their work. I will be doing an update soon so stay tuned.

I am glad you enjoyed it, the house is out in the country and not near any town. Its close to the southern Abruzzo border.

Rex Mundi. I am not sure what people did, I guess their bathrooms were outside of the main house. Providing you ask for help and use qualified Italian surveyors, Estate Agents etc, you won’t have any problems at all. Italy, like most countries, has its own rules and regulations and providing you abide by them, you will be fine. Find the expert help you need, make sure those people are qualified and licensed to practice, ask around in the forums, there is a good one on Facebook, ABRUZZO EXPAT COMMUNITY, contact the local Estate Agents, check out their licence to practice and ask people who have already done what you are looking forward to, there is lots of help out here.

Hi Janet. The final cost was around 83,000 euros but that did include some extra drainage and ground works. As for the best part of Abruzzo, that depends if you like the beach, mountains, small villages, large cities or something in between. Once you have decided that, then just take your pick, its all beautiful.

@@variostick9215 Thank you would you mind supplying the names of who i need to contact for all renovations please. I love the look of your house its beautiful congratulations

We used a registered Italian Estate Agent to set up the renovation works. They have the benefit of known contacts, such as architects, designers, kitchen fitters etc etc. Search out a convenient local Agent, make sure they are registered and insured and have a large portfolio of work you can look at and completed works you could actually go and see. It might take a while but it's will be worth it in the end.

@@variostick9215 Thank you

Hi.. I am so glad you enjoyed the vlog. We are very proud of the transformation, I guess in total the renovations cost around 87.000 euro but we are still doing things as we go along.

@@variostick9215 Appreciated your quick reply, let me know if I can write to you, and pls share your e-mail, thanks

The channel does have an email address which is variostick@gmail.com it does get rather busy but I will reply eventually.

Hi Dora. Sorry about the sound level, I hope it didn’t spoil the video. The contract cost about euro 80k, so not that expensive, and there are plenty of projects out here that would be less costly

We did have a lot of extra work done, the end bill was around 83,000 Euro.

Thanks we are very pleased with it, perhaps should have gone with a ceramic top. It came from, Pugliese in contrada da Selva. 0872985203 or 0872985428. I have though had a few mixed reviews on them but they do some lovely kitchen's.

Not that much, the house had previously had some work completed

We have, over a meter fell in one night

You should make a video, good luck

It was through recommendations

70k to buy and 83k for all the works, which were extensive.

Thanks for the comment. I recorded it nealy 5 years ago, my tech wasn't very good back then. I will be doing an update very soon so stay tuned

Hi Marcio. Thanks for the feedback, not easy to say, these old houses can be a nightmare, stone walls 1.5 meters thick and limestone floors don’t make for an easy job. Also, we had a large barn, adjacent to the house re wired as well, and then I added on some extra external lights. In addition, there was an extra cost for wiring in the remote control blinds for the double glazing, not originally included by the contract manager. The original quote from the electricians was €1,500 but I wouldn’t be surprised if we doubled that with the extras, which were paid directly to the principal contractor. That’s why I always tell people to add and significant contingency in, it never really goes to plan!!!. I will be doing a follow up video, in the autumn covering “what’s it been like so far”, if you haven’t already done so, please subscribe then you won’t miss the second episode. I hope this helps.

@@variostick9215 Thank you so much for your reply. I've already subscribe and I'm enjoying your videos a lot.

So true

@@variostick9215 Wow, in the States that electrician job would be a lot more. We had a (wooden, not stone) house almost completely rewired, about 260 sq meters; you could add a zero to the original figure you were quoted.

I think the advantage we had was, no system to take out and they could fit most of the new gear before the plaster was put on the walls and the floors were laid, so they could work very quickly.

About one hectare

Hi Max. We came for a long weekend break and fell in love with the place, the people and just about everything else.

Difficult to say as we had lots of additional works done on the house which were not part of the original quote

I guess it’s just a phrase that’s been used over time. It doesn’t just relate to British expatriates though, I have seen it used for other nationalities as well.

We are full time residents of Italy. I wouldn’t like to try it now though since the U.K. left the EU..

Its not easy to say, the house was a wreck when we moved in and we added a lot of extra work, upgraded some of the original contract, but the final figure, including log fires, additional external construction came to Euros 83,000.

We didn’t really expect anything to be honest, the house hadn’t been lived in for years, it was very basic. We could have bought something else but we fell in love with the house and location.