(12) I'm Back in Sicily: Is My Villa Safe? The True Costs of Buying Property Abroad

#realestateinvestment #sicilyvillarenovation #offgridliving

I'm Back in Sicily: Is My Villa Safe? The True Costs of Buying Property Abroad

After a well-deserved break back in the UK, I'm finally back at my off-grid villa in Sicily, ready to dive back into the renovation journey! In this episode, I'm greeted by a lush transformation-the once dry, barren landscape is now vibrant and green. 🌳🌾 It's incredible to see how much the garden has grown in just 4 weeks!

Join me as I get the property back into shape, starting with opening up all the windows, doors, and blinds to let the fresh Sicilian air back in. 🪟🔓 I also remove all the security measures I had in place to keep the villa safe while I was away. Then, it's time to explore the garden, where I'm amazed by how green everything looks-it's practically a field of grass now! 🌿🌼

I get to work with my chainsaw, cutting up branches and dried wood from the tree I previously felled. 🔪🌳 The dried foliage is perfect for starting fires, and in the front garden, I tackle an old tree stump that needs to go. I build a fire on top of it to burn it down, making way for the new fruit tree planter beds. 🔥🌳

Security is key when managing a property abroad, so I install a more secure lock and padlock on the rear metal door. As I work, I provide a detailed voiceover covering all the costs involved in buying and maintaining a property in Italy. 💬💰

In true off-grid style, I create a small fire pit in the back garden to boil water for a much-needed cup of tea. ☕🔥 I also take a break with some warm chicken wings from Conad's 🐔🍗 and thank my viewers for pointing out in previous comments that I had incorrectly attached the stabilizing bar on my triple extension ladders. I've fixed it now-thanks for the tips! 👍🔧

I spend some time sweeping the property, inside and out, clearing pooled water from the front veranda and giving the place a good tidy-up. 🧹 The veranda seems to have a dip where water pools, so that's another job on the to-do list!

Later, I sit down with a glass of Sicilian wine 🍷 at my Airbnb and reflect on the past few weeks. I initially planned to stay in the UK for just one week, but ended up staying for four due to needing some downtime after the intense manual labor in the Sicilian heat. Plus, it was my birthday! 🎉 While in the UK, I helped a friend's mum by renovating her bathroom-replacing her old bathtub with a walk-in shower to make her life easier. 🚿❤️

The best surprise upon my return was discovering that the stray cat I've been feeding had kittens! 🐾🐱 I managed to spot three little kittens on the neighbor's garden wall, and it's great to see the mother looking healthy.

Whether you're interested in Sicily villa renovation, off-grid living in Italy, or investing in Sicilian property, this episode covers it all-from budget renovations to the realities of expat life. If you're curious about the challenges and rewards of restoring an abandoned property in the Italian countryside, hit that subscribe button and join me on this incredible journey. 🌍🔨

JOIN THE ADVENTURE! HIT THAT SUBSCRIBE BUTTON AND TURN ON NOTIFICATIONS TO FOLLOW EVERY STEP OF THIS SICILY RENOVATION JOURNEY! YOUR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO THIS PROJECT.

📌 Video Chapters:

00:00 – 00:27 Arrival Back in Sicily 🌿
00:27 – 02:12 Opening Up the Villa After 4 Weeks 🪟
02:12 – 03:08 Removing Security Measures 🔐
03:08 – 03:22 Back Garden Transformation 🌱
03:22 – 05:04 Clearing Villa Security Setup 🚪
05:04 – 08:26 Chainsaw Work: Cutting Branches & Wood 🔪
08:26 – 12:49 Burning Old Tree Stump 🌳🔥
12:49 – 19:48 Installing New Door Lock & Property Costs 💰
19:48 – 22:48 Making a Fire Pit & Cup of Tea 🍵
22:48 – 23:45 Quick Lunch from Conad's 🍗
23:45 – 24:03 Fixing the Ladder Stabilizer 🔧
24:03 – 26:57 Sweeping the Entire Villa 🧹
26:57 – 27:42 Clearing Water from Veranda 🌊
27:42 – 35:15 Airbnb Update: UK Trip & Personal News 🇬🇧🍷

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👉 Instagram:   / operation.sicily  

SUPPORT MY RENOVATION ADVENTURE:
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#sicilypropertyrestoration #italyhomerenovation #sicilyhousetransformation #italianvillaproject #renovatinginsicily #restoringitalianhomes #sicilyrealestatejourney