Bill A

Hi all,
We're seriously thinking of buying a small place in Cianciana and have two favorite options at the moment, either a larger fixer or a smaller one with much less to do. Decisions, decisions. Has anyone experience of local facilities relating to renovation - plumbers' merchants, builders' merchants, truck hire, refuse dump, places to buy furniture, DIY stores etc? We'd be doing most of the work ourselves with the help of grown-up children and friends, but may still need local tradesmen to sign off work - any experiences of such things?

Cheers,
Bill.

modicasa

For all the new certification laws, such as electricity, central heating and water the certification should be done by the installing engineer. if you are doing it yourselves, the certification wont come cheap - 1000 euros each - as the plumber is taking legal responsibility for the works. You will need a SCIA or DIA for any structural intervention and that requires a local professionista - you cant do it yourself. The same goes for a concessione edilizia.
If you are going to do the work yourselves, know the law and its ramications and dont put the locals backs up by doing them out of work.

Bill A

Thanks for that very useful information. In that case, does anyone have experience of how local tradesmen work, how the work tends to progress and so on?
Also how do prices compare with UK work? (Let's say for a full rewire in eight rooms?)

modicasa

cheaper - but you pay per point - so 50 euros per socket/switch etc - same with plumbing, pay per point.... its makes it easier to calculate - materials included - wires tubes screws, but you pay extra for channeling out walls - you need a builder for that, or do it yourself.

Bill A

Thanks.

Hil

Ciao Bill A.
We live in Cianciana, and if you like I can send you a PM on our experiences here. Although my initial advice would be the smaller place with less work. I think Modicasa covered much of the formalities. Although prices down here for work are less expensive on the whole, everything he said is correct. It's a great town, and welcome to whichever place you decide on.
A ci vediamo in Cianciana.
~Hilary & David

Bill A

Ciao e grazie Hilary and David,
We're on a really tight budget and the smaller house wouldn't negotiate into our territory, so it's looking like the fixer (!) with mild trepidation, I'd have to say, though looking forward to the challenge. Many thanks for the welcome.

Angus family