Hello, I am new to British expats forum. I am just in the process of making an offer on a property near Citta di Castello. I have contacted an engineer to take a look at the property, the company is called F.L. Restaurant S.R.L. Has anybody heard of them or used them. They are based in Citta di Castello. Also if anyone has any hints or tips they wouldn't mind sharing, regarding the buying process, I'd be very grateful. Theo.

Its a strange name for a business in Umbria. How did you find them?

This them ? F.L. RESTAURI | Real Estate

If you are buying through the TAI immobiliare then I would use a different company, as they seem to be one and the same and therefore hardly impartial. Use them for an estimate, but dont sign anything and make sure you speak to existing clients.

No, I'm not buying through them. I approached them at a property show because, as well as being real estate agent, they said they were engineers (geometra/architects)as well as legal advisers. I had been offered all of this through my estate agent but I wanted to find somebody impartial. I'd really like to know if anyone has used this company for either legal or surveying work and what they think of them. Failing that, does anybody have a recommendation in this area? Thanks very much for replies so far.

It should read 'F.L. Restauri'. I didn't realise there was a predictive function in action.

It is a little strange that a surveyor is also an architect, a lawyer and real estate agent - God, to my knowledge, there is' only one!

however >http://www.empresite.it/FL-RESTAURI-SRL.html

informazioni commerciali di F.L. RESTAURI S.R.L.
Le vendite registrate nel corso dell'anno 2014 sono stati crescente rispetto all'anno precedente.I risultati della società durante l'anno 2014 sono stati discendente rispetto all'anno precedente.Il capitale sociale registrato nel corso dell'anno 2014 è stata come rispetto all'anno precedente.

the company increased the number of sales in 2014, but decreased profits -
(Is an explicit contradiction that appears a little strange, in a period of market regression)

There is not one person who is architect, surveyor, lawyer etc. It is a company that deals with real estate and restoration and amongst their staff they have a lawyer, engineer (surveyor/architect) not sure which. I hope this answers your question.....i wonder if there is any chance of mine being answered? 😁

I think the problem is that if nobody has any knowledge of them then you won't get an answer - which is, of course, an answer of a sort!

As a general comment, their website does seem to present them as high-end of the market, which to me indicates expensive. If they offer you a fixed-price quote for the 'survey' all well and good.

Also be aware that a multi-purpose company of this sort will inevitably be liable to some potential conflicts of interest - for example by producing a critical report on the property you have in mind they may gain by the potential of you buying something else through their estate agency, or by passing the project for repairs to them. Please note this is a general comment, I have absolutely no knowledge whatsoever of this company - and no activity of a similar type, so no conflicts of interest here . Honest guv!

It is obvious that when you are on a property from the first purchase, through the restoration, to finish with the management, it is building the economic exploitation of this property, and, in some way, its owner, who will be led through choices that create precisely the gain of those who suggest.

There is, however, to think that those who have the financial ability to engage in purchases, very important, sometimes prefer to delegate their choices, and pay accordingly, the enrichment of others, because, above all, does not have the time to do this in first person .

So if you Teodorus, you're not buying a castle or a princely villa, perhaps, this orgaizzazione not for you.

Thanks very much. That's a very full and helpful answer. Consider me chastised!However, I'm still hoping somebody local might be able to recommend a surveyor or architect they have used themselves. They do look high end, it's true! I was only planning to use them for a survey but, of course, you are right that they would see me as a potential client in other areas. I might see if I can find a company who deal purely with the survey. Thanks again!

If its of help I have used a small company in Castiglione del lago for all my geomertry work planning and dealing with the commune. The lady is a very geneuine person and very competent and you will get an estimate down to the last penny. She ony speaks Italian but there are plenty of people to translate if needed.The company is studio 2000 and the lady is Antonella Petrucci . If you require further info then PM me , there is also quite a good English builder near me , he has been here for twenty plus years also quite helpful

No chastisement intended, I assure you. Just trying to help.

For what it's worth, when we moved here (Le Marche) 11 years ago we wanted the equivalent of a UK Survey - the house had already been 100% restored about 10 years earlier - but found ourselves up against a wall of incomprehension. After a fair amount of thrashing about in the dark, the best we could get was letters from the architect and the geometra of the original restoration saying that there would be no 'extraordinary maintenance' needed in the following 5 years. Admittedly things may have changed generally, and you may be in an area more used to sales to foreigners, so just saying ...

Another point (i.e. personal prejudice) is that I prefer to get Italians to do what little work I have had done on the premise that they are (more likely to be) 100% au fait with the techniques of construction here, which can at times be very different from the UK. Again, just saying ...

Re builders most certainly in this area the majority of the builders are Albainian . Many working for Italian builders , some are very good others not so . You need to do a bit of research on who you employ.

Thank you Ugo for your reply. No castles being bought I'm afraid and I'm sure you are right....this is probably not the company for me. I haven't engaged the yet. I'll keep looking, I'm sure I will find a solution.