Allyson contacted me in July 2025, and she didn’t waste any words on the plan. She and her family wanted to move to Italy permanently, and the message was direct: our time frame is immediately.
I was in Sicily at the time, working and taking a few days off, and I remember thinking: if “immediately” means today, this isn’t going to work. If it means “let’s talk on Monday,” we can absolutely make this happen.
The Last House on the List
Fifteen days later, she was back, and I organized a full tour of properties around Lake Iseo based on what they’d described wanting. We went through the list together, one house after another. None of them landed.
The very last viewing, scheduled almost as an afterthought. A property that needed real renovation work — not a turnkey home, but the right bones.
The Due Diligence That Changed the Timeline
We asked the standard questions upfront. The answer, as usual, was “probably fine” — which is exactly the kind of answer that makes an accesso agli atti non-negotiable, in my view and in practice.
We ran it. It surfaced discrepancies that needed formal regularization, at a cost of several thousand euros to the seller, and a timeline that stretched to nearly eight months of back-and-forth between the Comune, the Sovraintendenza, and everyone in between. What started in mid-2025 didn’t reach the deed until July 2026.
A Plan for the In-Between
Waiting eight months isn’t really an option when your stated timeline is “immediately.” So we built a two-step plan alongside the purchase itself: first, a long-term rental in a logistically convenient location, so they could actually be in Italy while the paperwork worked itself out; then, once the deed was finally possible, moving ahead with the purchase — and now, into the renovation with Bonkasa.
It was a long journey, and at points a frustrating one, for all of us.
Everything Else, Twice Over
Because there were effectively two homes to set up — the rental and, eventually, the purchased property — there were utilities to activate twice, insurance to arrange, and a bank account to open. That last one came with its own small absurdity: one bank told Allyson directly that opening an account wasn’t possible. Two days later, I walked in with her, and there was, somehow, no problem at all.
There was also the matter of the dogs. Allyson’s family wasn’t leaving them behind, and we found a way to bring them over on a dedicated pet-relocation flight — something I’d genuinely recommend to anyone making this kind of permanent move with animals in tow.
Thinking about relocating to Italy permanently — even if your timeline is “immediately”?
Whether the right property is ready to go, or it’s going to take eight months of paperwork to get there,
you deserve:
Technical protection
Clear communication
Coordinated local support
Emotional steadiness
Because moving to Italy for good is not just a legal act.
It is a life decision.
✨ If you are considering a permanent move to Italy, let’s talk.
👉 Book your free discovery call → Your House in Italy – Contact Barbara
