Buying/restoring a place in Italy?

[crofty1984]

"I have a cunning plan!"
I'm in free accommodation for the next 18 months, and I've seen some nice places (for me) at around 100,000 euro that could use some tidying.

For example this or it's bilocali equivalent:
http://www.immobiliare.it/4951149-rustici-in-vendi...
No outside pictures I know. But I don't live a million miles away, I could swing by.

Anyway, back to the point! Is it a good idea to buy a place that needs "doing up" before the end of my free period (I'm talking in about a year's time, with 6 months still to go) so I have somewhere good to live whils I break the back of it? I was thinking of somewhere structurally sound, so no rebuilding, just a good going through the interior.

I fear I may have just stumbled upon a stupid plan. Any ideas?
Oh, I'd be buying it to live in, not to make any money. I could save maybe between 5000-10000 sterling for a deposit.

[GreenV8S]

I can't comment on prices/value, but I can tell you that the people you deal with will have no compunction about ripping you off and as (presumably) a foreigner they will consider it their duty to do so at every opportunity.

[crofty1984]

GreenV8S said:

I can't comment on prices/value, but I can tell you that the people you deal with will have no compunction about ripping you off and as (presumably) a foreigner they will consider it their duty to do so at every opportunity.

That's what I'm expecting. Hence wanting a scruffy one to do up, as opposed to a full restoration. Then I can do most of the work myself!

[StuB]

We've done quite a bit of work on our place in Tuscany, but there are a lot of rules around developments in some areas and also the local tradespeople really can take the pi$$. Luckily, my brother's in the trade and we've spent a few weeks working together to sort the place (went 8 times in 08!). Local prices aren't cheap either, especially as we were converting from £'s first. Ended up buying gear in the UK and transporting across to save time/£ (up in the hills).

If you can find some good local tradespeople, recommended by Brits, have a look see, but I'd suggest you work hard on costing the whole job, every nut/bolt etc. for each tradesperson you think you might need, before you do anything else! If you a. find the people and b. don't die when you see the price, go for it!