Hello again, Fell off the forums a couple of years ago. then they changed the site and I changed work. Our house in Fara Filiorum Petri has come along loads. Spending most holidays there.
Thanks for your comments. I have found a local trade supplier selling peels for £12 so i will probably buy this and take it with me. I do find that lots of things are pricy over there. I will probably buy the brush over there (hard to find here) I did have a go at making my own from scratch. It was Belissimo! So will definatley be making some when I get over there next time.
I got hit with not paying the bill on time and the leccie was cut off. They had not posted the bill to UK as requested. As I knew this might be the case, I over paid (I was told this was not permitted). It went on as a credit on my bill. I was told they woudl send this back to me but they did not and just took the standing charge out of it. With the cost of a bank account being about £120 a year, it is cheaper for me to ensure that I have paid in advance rather than have a local bank account. I know that the fees are about 16 Euros a quarter, more if we are there. So it is a safer way of handling it and cheaper in the long run.
Hi, We did not do anything to reinforce the roof. As we had intended to take off the tiles and put them back on (with felt and new laths) this is not a requirement. If the roof was being replaced, ie new main timbers then you may be required to install a concrete ring around the structure. I did not replace guttering (just swept the pigeon poo out) So the price you were quoted does not seem so bad. One of the issues is regulation. Any work over 2m requires scaffolding to be used. We painted the house from the balconies, used a big ladder and extension pole with the roller on it. Saved hundreds this way. Same with the roof. As the pitch is quite low, about 20-30 degrees, I was happy to work on it from the inside. So doing the work yourself (if you have the time and inclination) can save loads of money. I did not need a certificate either. My work was classed as a repair rather than a replace. However, please bear in mind I am no expert and just repeating what I was told by my Geometer and agent.
For me, it was the attitude I saw from some of the people and price. Added to this the stories i hear about quotes just being enough to get in the door and then raise the price. The people we had round seemed to think I knew nothing about most of the work. I was not Italian so they could push it. We asked someone to put a water mains pipe in. Agreed price etc in September. I told him I would be over for Christmas. Called him in November and he had done nothing. December nothing. I reminded him that I was coming over with my family. The archictect and plumber did nothing. I gave the job to a UK agent that I used to buy the house. He got it done promptly. Although the plumber managed to cut the whole house off apart from 2 taps. I then had to tell him how to fix it, after that he asked if I wanted him to plumb the rest of the house. As mentioned. i started with a sound structure so it was mainly internal work which is not so bad. I am fortunate that I can do electrics, plumbing and quite a few other jobs too. I had a quote of 8.5K to take the roof off and put it back on. Way over priced I thought I was expecting about 4-5K. I did it myself with a little help from the kids over 3 days. I work in IT so working on the house is a hands on change from a hands off job.
I got a message from her. Strange use of language. Sounded more like an invitation for romance. trying to get me to communicate off forum too. I think I will avoid this one all together.
Life in Fara is good. We still have things to do on the house but can go and just chill out if that is what we want. We were lucky to start with a resasonably intact structure so it was mainly internal renovation that was needed. We found it was easier to buy many things in England and bring them with us. Especially if you do not know where you can get some things at a good price. Good luck with your house. It will I am sure be worth it in the end. Regards Zeb
Hi, where are you around Fara? We have a house just outside Fara and spend the holidays over there. I do lots of DIY as the locals are not too reliable. regards Zeb
Comments posted
Thanks for your comments. I have found a local trade supplier selling peels for £12 so i will probably buy this and take it with me. I do find that lots of things are pricy over there. I will probably buy the brush over there (hard to find here) I did have a go at making my own from scratch. It was Belissimo! So will definatley be making some when I get over there next time.
I got hit with not paying the bill on time and the leccie was cut off. They had not posted the bill to UK as requested. As I knew this might be the case, I over paid (I was told this was not permitted). It went on as a credit on my bill. I was told they woudl send this back to me but they did not and just took the standing charge out of it. With the cost of a bank account being about £120 a year, it is cheaper for me to ensure that I have paid in advance rather than have a local bank account. I know that the fees are about 16 Euros a quarter, more if we are there. So it is a safer way of handling it and cheaper in the long run.
Hi, We did not do anything to reinforce the roof. As we had intended to take off the tiles and put them back on (with felt and new laths) this is not a requirement. If the roof was being replaced, ie new main timbers then you may be required to install a concrete ring around the structure. I did not replace guttering (just swept the pigeon poo out) So the price you were quoted does not seem so bad. One of the issues is regulation. Any work over 2m requires scaffolding to be used. We painted the house from the balconies, used a big ladder and extension pole with the roller on it. Saved hundreds this way. Same with the roof. As the pitch is quite low, about 20-30 degrees, I was happy to work on it from the inside. So doing the work yourself (if you have the time and inclination) can save loads of money. I did not need a certificate either. My work was classed as a repair rather than a replace. However, please bear in mind I am no expert and just repeating what I was told by my Geometer and agent.
For me, it was the attitude I saw from some of the people and price. Added to this the stories i hear about quotes just being enough to get in the door and then raise the price. The people we had round seemed to think I knew nothing about most of the work. I was not Italian so they could push it. We asked someone to put a water mains pipe in. Agreed price etc in September. I told him I would be over for Christmas. Called him in November and he had done nothing. December nothing. I reminded him that I was coming over with my family. The archictect and plumber did nothing. I gave the job to a UK agent that I used to buy the house. He got it done promptly. Although the plumber managed to cut the whole house off apart from 2 taps. I then had to tell him how to fix it, after that he asked if I wanted him to plumb the rest of the house. As mentioned. i started with a sound structure so it was mainly internal work which is not so bad. I am fortunate that I can do electrics, plumbing and quite a few other jobs too. I had a quote of 8.5K to take the roof off and put it back on. Way over priced I thought I was expecting about 4-5K. I did it myself with a little help from the kids over 3 days. I work in IT so working on the house is a hands on change from a hands off job.
I got a message from her. Strange use of language. Sounded more like an invitation for romance. trying to get me to communicate off forum too. I think I will avoid this one all together.
Life in Fara is good. We still have things to do on the house but can go and just chill out if that is what we want. We were lucky to start with a resasonably intact structure so it was mainly internal renovation that was needed. We found it was easier to buy many things in England and bring them with us. Especially if you do not know where you can get some things at a good price. Good luck with your house. It will I am sure be worth it in the end. Regards Zeb
Hi, where are you around Fara? We have a house just outside Fara and spend the holidays over there. I do lots of DIY as the locals are not too reliable. regards Zeb