Try this - wont cost you a penny - it's what I do with my beams here in the UK - even though they aren't quite 6 metres high and it works. Get a ball of twine - chuck it over the beam - hold onto the "open" end - tie the end of the twine to one corner of a decent duster or cloth and another to the other corner of the cloth and use one to pull/lift the cloth onto the beam. You can then pull the cloth back and forth along the beam to clean it by using both lengths. Hope that makes sense.
Copied from a post Fillide made elsewhere - hope it helps. ICI (now renamed IMU) was introduced in the early nineties - before this date there were no 'rates' (aka council tax) in Italy. When these 'rates' were introduced, everbody had to pay them if they owned property. In (about) 2004 Berlusconi removed the obligation to pay 'rates - aka ICI' on your primary residence (prima casa), although the obligation remained on a secondary residence (seconda casa), If your house had a very low catastal value (rendita catastale) you were exempted, even if it was a secondary home. What has now been changed is that Monti has decided that these 'rates' will be levied on your house, whether it is your principal residence or your second home. The 'rates' will be levied according to the 'rendita catastale', but this 'base' will be upped by about 60%. So, if you are living in your 'principal residence you must 'raise' your rendita catastale by 60% (ie multiply it by 1.6). Same goes for seconda casa - multiply the rendita catastale x 1.6. In the case of a principal residence, you can then deduct something in the region of €200 from the resulting sum. For a second house you cannot benefit from this reduction. So, basically, figure on paying quite a bit more ICI (IMU) if you have a holiday house and are not resident: and be prepared to pay a substantial sum (which you had not had to pay before) on your prima casa. By 'substantial sum' I'm reckoning in the region of €600 for something quite modest - so hardly bank breaking - but a consideration. You are extremely unlikely to see a bill arriving on your doorstep! You are expected to know about this stuff! Here are a couple of links that may also help.http://www.certificazioneenergeticaedifici.org/imu-2012/http://www.ecodeldenaro.it/calcolo-imu-2012-online.htm
If you are keen on learning more about Abruzzo, you may like to visit this forum for a more local view and lots of information from Expats who live there (full and part time). www.abruzzolutely.com
I suggest you get the best insurance cover you can - don't think it will never happen to you. A couple of years ago, Puglia saw a very steep increase in house break-ins - with Ex-pat homes being severely targeted as thieves knew they were unlikey to be disturbed if the place was a holiday home. Shop around and compare cover offered carefully, but do not skimp on insurance - or security.
I'll pass on your messages to Carol. It has been heart warming to see everyone coming together to support Carol, but it's exactly what a community does.
Comments posted
It's a big island - plenty of choice and I only know the east side well - Siracusa and the surrounding area is very nice.
That made me smile Dolce, but how d'ya get the hairdryer up to the 6 metre high beam?
Try this - wont cost you a penny - it's what I do with my beams here in the UK - even though they aren't quite 6 metres high and it works. Get a ball of twine - chuck it over the beam - hold onto the "open" end - tie the end of the twine to one corner of a decent duster or cloth and another to the other corner of the cloth and use one to pull/lift the cloth onto the beam. You can then pull the cloth back and forth along the beam to clean it by using both lengths. Hope that makes sense.
Copied from a post Fillide made elsewhere - hope it helps. ICI (now renamed IMU) was introduced in the early nineties - before this date there were no 'rates' (aka council tax) in Italy. When these 'rates' were introduced, everbody had to pay them if they owned property. In (about) 2004 Berlusconi removed the obligation to pay 'rates - aka ICI' on your primary residence (prima casa), although the obligation remained on a secondary residence (seconda casa), If your house had a very low catastal value (rendita catastale) you were exempted, even if it was a secondary home. What has now been changed is that Monti has decided that these 'rates' will be levied on your house, whether it is your principal residence or your second home. The 'rates' will be levied according to the 'rendita catastale', but this 'base' will be upped by about 60%. So, if you are living in your 'principal residence you must 'raise' your rendita catastale by 60% (ie multiply it by 1.6). Same goes for seconda casa - multiply the rendita catastale x 1.6. In the case of a principal residence, you can then deduct something in the region of €200 from the resulting sum. For a second house you cannot benefit from this reduction. So, basically, figure on paying quite a bit more ICI (IMU) if you have a holiday house and are not resident: and be prepared to pay a substantial sum (which you had not had to pay before) on your prima casa. By 'substantial sum' I'm reckoning in the region of €600 for something quite modest - so hardly bank breaking - but a consideration. You are extremely unlikely to see a bill arriving on your doorstep! You are expected to know about this stuff! Here are a couple of links that may also help. http://www.certificazioneenergeticaedifici.org/imu-2012/ http://www.ecodeldenaro.it/calcolo-imu-2012-online.htm
There's enough scarrafone around here as it is Fillide without encouraging any more to move in! Good luck Janet - let us know how you get on.
A member called "Fillide" may be able to help if/when she reads this thread, but I agree with Flip - call a professional in to have a look.
Terro le dita incrociate!
If you are keen on learning more about Abruzzo, you may like to visit this forum for a more local view and lots of information from Expats who live there (full and part time). www.abruzzolutely.com
I suggest you get the best insurance cover you can - don't think it will never happen to you. A couple of years ago, Puglia saw a very steep increase in house break-ins - with Ex-pat homes being severely targeted as thieves knew they were unlikey to be disturbed if the place was a holiday home. Shop around and compare cover offered carefully, but do not skimp on insurance - or security.
I'll pass on your messages to Carol. It has been heart warming to see everyone coming together to support Carol, but it's exactly what a community does.