Renovating a House in Sicily: What to Expect and Where to Start

The costs, obviously, are hugely variable. No two projects are alike and we don’t know how expensive your tastes are! However, a decent rule of thumb is that simple renovations usually cost around €600 euros per square metre.

If you’re building a new property, this would usually cost around €1,200 – €1,600 euros per square metre (without furnishings).

However, due to the complications of some of the bureaucratic agencies, those costs can rise as the timescale expands. In the most complicated situation, rebuilding a destroyed ‘Rustico’ in a protected area, you could end up spending €1,600 – €2,000 per square metre.

We always recommend employing local professionals – they’ll be able to help you estimate the costs involved and keep your investment safe.

The architect will usually take a fee of around 10% of the total project cost.

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Aside from the costs mentioned above, there are some other factors to bear in mind.

Opportunity – Ruined buildings are sometimes found on land where new development is not permitted, like the coastline or areas of outstanding natural beauty. By restoring an old ruin, you could get around the restrictions and end up in your ideal location.

Obligations and Cultural Protection – Even a building in the most dramatic state of disrepair will need to be rebuilt with an aesthetic that fits into the surrounding area. If your dream house would look like it was designed by Frank Gehry or Zaha Hadid, the chances are you’re better off finding an isolated spot and building it from scratch.

Subsidies and Bonuses – Renovating houses in Sicily can bring huge savings in the form of state subsidies. If you build from scratch then you will miss out on these potentially huge savings.

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Valerio had this to say in conclusion; “Sicily is objectively one of the cheapest places in Europe to ‘do up’ an old house and a growing trend in second home and retirement property ownership. Materials are going to cost more or less the same everywhere, but the labour costs here in Sicily offer tremendous value for money on our beautiful Mediterranean island”.

Read the rest of this article with Valerio by clicking this link

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We recommend starting your journey with the very experienced Valerio and his team, providing support and advice to foreign buyers for over 30 years. You can contact Valerio either by email on info@property-in-sicily.estate or give him a call on +39 3396097076. The Property in Sicily team speak English, German, French and Italian, of course.

Buying through a member of the AIPP, like Property in Sicily, comes with various reassurances and protections to buyers not available to non-AIPP members. To watch a short video / read more about the benefits of buying through members of AIPP please click this link.