It may be Berlusconi's birthday today, but for all of you who say to stop complaining about Berlusconi, he's been democratically elected, should read this:
I just realised I got a mention here. Thank you. Anyone having any specific questions, do get in touch via my blog, I don't tend to visit the forum so much these days.
From your tags I see you're in the Lunigiana. We have an ex-pat networking site here: www.ourlunigiana.com. Sign up with them and you can send round robin e-mails to the local ex-pat community.
There's a place in La Spezia. Can't for the life of me think what it's called nor the address. I'd find my way there, but that doesn't help of course. Send us a pm. Actually it's Via San Venerio. But send us a pm anyway and I'll give you my phone number. I'd be able to explain over the phone. Really good place, excellent service and great selection. At this time of year you'll only get some potted ones though.
Ram, I didn't realise the law had changed. When we bought a piece of agricultural land some 5 years ago, we weren't asked whether we wanted to under-declare. We simply sat as virtual spectators in the notary's office, with the vendor and agent, the notary and our lawyer discussing what they should declare it at. I only found out the declared value by looking more closely at the contract afterwards. The declared value was so low, that we paid practically no taxes. As the vendor was also the agent, we didn't pay any agency fees either, leaving us only with notary and lawyers fees. As all the legal people were in the room discussing this, I was going to be the last person complaining.
We live in a listed building. One thing to bear in mind is that after you've signed the final contracts and exchanged the money, the building will technicqally not pass into your posession for another 3 months. During those 3 months the Italian state has a theoretical right to buy your house off you again at the declared price. In other words it would be very risky to under declare the value of your house to save on taxes etc., a practice otherwise common. You may find yourself seriously out of pocket.
Angie & Robert, I said I like the queuing system. People do know their place but prefer to stand in various places dotted around chatting to their mates. Andrew, that did sound like a whinge to me...
Post offices! I can cope with the erratic queuing system. In fact I like it. You get to talk to everyone. But the other day we tried paying in a foreign cheque into our account, which was almost beyond them. The queue behind us was getting longer and longer. But what really topped it was when we asked for a couple of 65 cent stamps. It took them longer to find the stamps then processing the cheque! In a post office for crying out loud!
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I just realised I got a mention here. Thank you. Anyone having any specific questions, do get in touch via my blog, I don't tend to visit the forum so much these days.
The site itself doesn't get used much but the networking group is very much active. Do register with them.
From your tags I see you're in the Lunigiana. We have an ex-pat networking site here: www.ourlunigiana.com. Sign up with them and you can send round robin e-mails to the local ex-pat community.
Orange fingers? Orange is the oposite of green isn't it?
There's a place in La Spezia. Can't for the life of me think what it's called nor the address. I'd find my way there, but that doesn't help of course. Send us a pm. Actually it's Via San Venerio. But send us a pm anyway and I'll give you my phone number. I'd be able to explain over the phone. Really good place, excellent service and great selection. At this time of year you'll only get some potted ones though.
I'd rather have a lukewarm debate...
Ram, I didn't realise the law had changed. When we bought a piece of agricultural land some 5 years ago, we weren't asked whether we wanted to under-declare. We simply sat as virtual spectators in the notary's office, with the vendor and agent, the notary and our lawyer discussing what they should declare it at. I only found out the declared value by looking more closely at the contract afterwards. The declared value was so low, that we paid practically no taxes. As the vendor was also the agent, we didn't pay any agency fees either, leaving us only with notary and lawyers fees. As all the legal people were in the room discussing this, I was going to be the last person complaining.
We live in a listed building. One thing to bear in mind is that after you've signed the final contracts and exchanged the money, the building will technicqally not pass into your posession for another 3 months. During those 3 months the Italian state has a theoretical right to buy your house off you again at the declared price. In other words it would be very risky to under declare the value of your house to save on taxes etc., a practice otherwise common. You may find yourself seriously out of pocket.
Angie & Robert, I said I like the queuing system. People do know their place but prefer to stand in various places dotted around chatting to their mates. Andrew, that did sound like a whinge to me...
Post offices! I can cope with the erratic queuing system. In fact I like it. You get to talk to everyone. But the other day we tried paying in a foreign cheque into our account, which was almost beyond them. The queue behind us was getting longer and longer. But what really topped it was when we asked for a couple of 65 cent stamps. It took them longer to find the stamps then processing the cheque! In a post office for crying out loud!