Have you ever had realtors not respond?
This is so common in Italy that questions should really be “have you ever NOT had realtors not respond?”
This happened to us A LOT and in hindsight, it was a blessing because if they would have, there’s a very good chance we would have bought somewhere in Calabria instead of Sardinia.
But what if you find a property you absolutely love and they’re just not getting back to you?
What I learned is that there’s ONE simple thing you can do to get them to reply and take you seriously (and this also comes from almost 13 years of selling boats and RVs):
Let them know you have your sh*t together and are ready to buy the right property.
So, when making initial contact, let them know:
1 – You have the funds or mortgage lined up and available now (as in, you don’t need to sell your house first, you’re not waiting for your child to graduate from university or anything like that.)
2 – This property is within your budget. Negotiations are normal but low balling is not.
3 – You’ve done your research and are familiar with the Italian buying process.
4 – You’ve researched this property and are aware of and ok with any quirks – and even mention them – i.e. only one bathroom, needs a new heating system, etc.
5 – You’ve personally visited or researched the area and this is somewhere you are considering buying. Many realtors will actually ask if you’ve been to the location.
6 – You’ve researched several properties and this fits what you’re looking for.
7 – You already have your codice fiscale and are ready to move forward if this is the right property.
Make it clear you’re not just a dreamer or a lookie-loo wanting to “see what’s out there.”
There are thousands of amazing homes for sale in Italy right now with photos and videos online. By the time you contact a realtor, you should be pretty certain that the home you inquire about meets your criteria and is one you could potentially buy.
The exception to this would be asking for more photos if there are few or they are bad but in this case, the realtor most likely doesn’t live or work near the property and have relied on the seller to provide them. If they know there is someone seriously interested they might make an effort to get more/better ones … or they might not.
Realtors all over the world work on commission only.
Their time is valuable and they usually don’t want to spend it answering questions about the buying process, visas, taxes, etc. – when all of this information is already readily available online – or getting your codice fiscale for you.
Realtors used to do this for international buyers in the past but it’s not so common anymore. Asking them about this – or to do it for you – is a pretty big red flag that you’re going to need a lot of handholding and/or that you’re not really serious.
Here’s more information about codici fiscali and how to easily and quickly get one.
Letting them know you already have this means you’re prepared and ready to make an offer.
Also, in my opinion, asking them “how to buy a house in Italy” is like going to a car dealership to buy a car and asking the salesperson to teach you how to drive!
Realtors are already somewhat wary of working with international buyers because so many are just time wasters so having these things lined up and pointing them out from the start is going to get them to immediately take you seriously as a potential buyer.
And … you should also always email, message or text (almost everyone uses – and prefers – Whatsapp) in Italian. Google translate is free and easy. If they have to translate every one of your messages, they’re not going to be very enthusiastic about responding to you.
… much more useful info like this in the guide, which if you’re serious about buying in Italy might be one of the best €15 you ever spend!
Italian Homes Under 150k 