Why Capitalio

“It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble; it’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so”

Mark Twain

Buy Italy the UK way: better price, safer process, less hassle

In England & Wales, the buying process is relatively standardised. Typically, your conveyancing solicitor (or licensed conveyancer) manages the legal side of the purchase by commissioning the usual property searches and raising formal enquiries with the seller’s solicitor: so key issues are identified and clarified before you exchange contracts. In Italy, however, there are many differences:

you must go through a notary, whose duties and responsibilities are very different from those of a UK solicitor
you must deal with agencies and owners in another language
the procedures and responsibilities of the parties and the agency are completely different
even individual regions may have different rules, timelines, and opportunities, for example, if the area is seismic, maritime, or mountainous

In our experience, buyers don’t know where to start or how to verify the documents.

This is precisely why Capitalio was created: we support British clients every step of the way, at no extra cost to them. We help them:

find the area and type of home best suited to their desires
speak with Italian agencies (who have their own business objectives)
obtain all the correct information
negotiate the best possible price. We are particularly well-versed in this area
avoid bureaucratic errors and linguistic misunderstandings

Our value is that we handle the entire Italian side of the purchase process, making it clear, simple, and secure for UK buyers.

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Why buy through a UK team for an Italian Home

Local market mastery with UK buyer standards: We know how Italian agents operate and how to secure price and conditions UK buyers expect.
No double commissions: You do not pay an Italian estate agency. You engage Capitalio on a UK-style fee structure instead.
Aligned incentives: If we negotiate a lower price than advertised or initially offered, we charge success fee only on the savings achieved.
Bilingual, fully documented: English-first documentation and reporting, with compliant Italian contracts and filings handled for you.
Risk removed: We coordinate due diligence, surveys, technical checks, and the notary process so nothing is lost in translation.
End-to-end continuity: Post-completion support and optional property management if you want a turnkey experience.

Services and Fees

You never pay an Italian agency; you pay Capitalio instead (same cost to local agency fees).

A fully managed, all-inclusive package covering due diligence, financing coordination, tax ID setup, insurance, after-sale support and more. Same alignment, no surprises.

Important: Please contact us before reaching out to any Italian agent directly, so we can register you as our client and ensure you do not pay anyone twice.

How We Work: Simple, rigorous, UK-style

Define the brief:
Budget, target areas, lifestyle or rental goals, refurbishment appetite, and financing.
Shortlist first (structured):
We start from a focused shortlist based on your brief and our partner network. We provide a non-binding review of up to 5 listings you share at a time (fit, location, red flags, price sanity check), then agree the next step.
Due Diligence and numbers:
We issue a clear Document Pack Request and coordinate the essential checks, so risks are flagged before you commit.
Negotiate and secure:
We lead negotiations end-to-end to achieve the best possible price with the strongest protections.
Compromesso (Preliminary Contract) protection:
Before you sign, the Compromesso is reviewed by our Italian solicitor, so you proceed with clearer risks, deadlines, and protections.
Close and settle:
Notary coordination, completion, and optional or management.
You get the keys without the bureaucracy.

What You Save (and How We Earn)

You avoid paying an Italian estate agency.
You pay Capitalio instead: the same overall cost UK buyers would typically pay locally.
If we achieve a lower purchase price than the advertised or initial offer, we take success fee only on the saving achieved.
No saving beyond the list or initial price? No success fee.
Our interests remain perfectly aligned with yours.

Typical Use Cases

Primary or holiday home buyers wanting a UK-standard process in Italy.
Buy-to-let or short-let buyers needing figures, permits, and post-completion support.
Value-add investors planning light refurbishments or full-scale renovations.

What Clients Value

Straight-talking advice before anyone gets paid.
Sharp negotiation and clear documentation.
UK-level responsiveness with Italian market know-how.
One accountable team from search to completion.

Ready to Buy in Italy... Properly?

Book a free consultation: we’ll map your brief, outline costs, and show how we’ll secure the best price and terms for you.

Compliance note: Please contact us before approaching any Italian agent directly, so we can register you as our client and make sure you do not pay anyone twice.

FAQ

Are you an estate agency?

No. We are your acquisition partner. We represent you, and we are paid by you on a transparent, UK-style basis.

Will I pay an Italian agency as well?

No. Our model replaces that. Contact us first so we can register you and avoid double commissions.

Can you help with a property I already found?

We strongly recommend contacting us before you speak to any Italian estate agent.
If you’ve already made direct contact, it can be significantly harder for us to step in and protect you from extra fees or agency complications.

What is the minimum purchase price you support?

At the moment, our service is designed for purchases of £250,000+. This allows us to dedicate the time and resources required for negotiation, due diligence, and full coordination.

What if you do not achieve a saving?

You still avoid Italian agency commissions and get full representation. The success fee applies only to the saving achieved beyond the advertised or initial price.

Do you cover all of Italy?

Yes, we cover every region in Italy. Whether you’re looking for a villa on the lakes, a flat in Rome, or a farmhouse in Tuscany, we can represent you anywhere. You can pick any property you like, and our team will handle it from start to finish.

Do you manage properties after completion?

Yes, optional, through our short-let and asset management partners.

Do I need to have funds ready before I start?

In most cases, we don’t recommend relying on an Italian mortgage.
Italian banks can be highly restrictive with non-resident buyers whose income is earned abroad, and approvals are often slow and uncertain.
A more reliable strategy is usually to secure financing in the UK first (for example against a UK property or other UK assets), so you can proceed with funds already available and reduce execution risk.
If helpful, we can introduce you to our trusted UK finance partner, who specialises in these scenarios.

Without Capitalio vs. With Capitalio

Step	Without Capitalio (Do-It-Yourself or Traditional Agent)	With Capitalio
Property search	You search across dozens of websites, most outdated or unreliable	Just visit the Capitalio.co.uk website, the properties portfolio is selected, in one space, with right price level, all of them availabe
Initial inquiries	You send multiple inquiries, wait for unclear replies, often in Italian	Just “click on the bottom”, you’ll be contacted quickly
Shortlist & visit	You try to assess quality from abroad or make a rushed trip to Italy	We pre-screen and visit properties for you if needed, with full reports
Negotiation	You negotiate on your own, often with pressure from the seller’s agent, and as in the UK, prices can be different just changing road side of the same street. No news regarding the area, neighbours, tourist opportunities	Capitalio assist you throughout the negotiation process, helping you understand market value and advising on strategy to ensure transparency and fair pricing
Agency agreement	You may be asked to sign an exclusivity agreement with unclear terms	Capitalio deal only with agencies bound by contract with us, no surprises. We help you to understand agreements, not only regarding the language
Price renegotiation	Unexpected counteroffers or price increases are common	As you’re paying us (saving the Italian local agency fees), we manage the full negotiation and protect your interests
Preliminary agreement	You sign a “compromesso” often drafted by the agency, without independent checks	Capitalio coordinates with trusted legal experts to protect your position
Notary selection	You must find a notary and verify their credibility. How can do that?	Capitalio appoint notaries we’ve already worked with and trust
Fiscal code (Codice Fiscale)	You must find an accountant (speaking English), and wait for processing. This step may be unexpectedly and inexplicably longer than you think	Capitalio arranged everything in advance, delivering documents to the notary
Due diligence	You must verify ownership, cadastral data, zoning, debts, etc.	Capitalio’s network of technicians and legal advisors handles it all. Just for a peace of mind, we work only with trusted partners and we check personally the documentation
Technical checks (RRE)	You must find and trust a surveyor, often at the last moment. Frequently this check is never did	We assign a trusted technician to produce a full RRE report. Not only: our delegates will provide a measurations (en place, just with laser meters) of the full property
Legal adjustments, ownership contract text	Any irregularities must be resolved by you or the seller	We liaise with all parties to fix documentation or legal gaps. In case of any problem you’ll be promptly informed
Funds transfer	Your bank might block or delay the transfer to Italy	We advise or facilitate secure fund transfers via structured vehicles
Completion day	You attend the notary appointment, often in short time as the previous steps could be harder then espected. Rush couldt help even in this matter	Capitalio coordinates all documents and act for you if needed under PoA
Utilities activation	You must call ENEL (the electricity provider), water, internet (in Italian) and book appointments. Once again, this step may be unexpectedly and inexplicably longer than you think	Capitalio activates all utilities for you and resolve any technical issues, you’ll be informed when the job’s done
Post-sale	You manage everything from abroad, from taxes to tenants	Capitalio offers continued management and support, depending on your needs. Maybe you need the Authorizations to rent our new property?