House refurbishment in Italy, by Davide Mengoli

Don’t DIY following the instruction will save you money and time.

If your property requires major restoration, your first step should be to find a reputable geometra, a professional (probably unique to Italy) whose job is a combination of those of an architect, engineer and surveyor. Geometre are listed in the yellow pages (www.paginegialle.it) under Certificati Agenzie.
A geometra’s main tasks are dealing with the paperwork involved in planning applications (a local geometra may know the ‘right people’ in the ‘right places’), drawing up the plans and specifications for the restoration and overseeing the restoration work. His help is vital if you’re a foreigner and don’t speak Italian fluently – even if you do, you can save considerable time and stress if you employ one.

The geometra will be your right-hand man in practically the entire restoration process and you should choose someone who’s highly recommended and who you can trust, particularly if you cannot be on site to supervise restoration work yourself.