Home staging, present it well to sell it better

In an increasingly competitive real estate market, home staging, the presentation of your home to potential buyers, can really make a difference. But what if you don’t have big budgets to invest? Here are some practical decoration and DIY tips. Why home staging is important Being able to imagine the possibility of living in this house: this is the main objective of home staging which, in the eyes of potential buyers, can represent a real plus. This is also a very important thing for those selling the property as these strategies lead to faster deals and higher selling prices. Relying on a professional can undoubtedly be very useful, especially if it is a luxury property, but this involves an expense that is not within the reach of everyone. Just to get an idea, according to estimates from the National Association of Realtors, the association of real estate agents in the United States, the average amount of this service is around $ 400. However, there is no discouragement: the staging of a house with limited budgets is possible, thanks to some useful arrangements. Tips for a successful arrangement If it is a house where you live that is put on the market, the main thing to favor is the decluttering, thus limiting the presence of furniture and objects in the space. Put off family photos and overly personal furniture, neutralization is the password to arouse the interest of buyers. In fact, the more personalized the pieces, the more difficult it is for potential buyers to think about how to adapt them to their tastes and needs. On the contrary, if an empty good is offered for sale, the situation becomes more laborious and it is essential to conduct a first phase of research, for example by taking advantage of seasonal opportunities to sell better. It goes without saying that it is often more difficult to sell an empty property. In the opinion of experts, it is not important to stage all the rooms in the house, you can choose to focus only on a few, the most important. Like the living room, for example, where you can focus on the seats and mirrors, which allows you to make the rooms brighter and larger. The bedroom is also considered attractive: a bed and a bedside table are the basis, to be enriched with new furnishing fabrics, perhaps a book and a small piece of furniture placed directly on the bedside table; if you have a wardrobe, you can put clothes inside. To stage the kitchen, it will be enough to be very careful to keep the environment clean and tidy, including the pantries. If you have too many small appliances on the worktop, remove them. Make sure all rooms are well ventilated and lit. Cleanliness is essential. What else? A bowl of fruit and bright colors to revive the environment by giving a touch of originality.

The condominium administrator: general guide

The condominium administrator represents an essential figure for the management of the building and its common parts, as well as for translating the condominium will into concrete actions and for carrying out all the necessary operations to protect the team. Powers of the administrator The administrator is required, in the first instance, to take care of compliance with the condominium regulation, as well as to regulate the use of common things and the use of services in the common interest, so that the best enjoyment is ensured to each of the condominiums. In case of conflict, just contact an Italian lawyer. The administrator is also responsible for carrying out the resolutions of the condominium meeting, which the law requires him to convene annually for the approval of the annual management report, which he himself is required to draw up. Current account required In addition, the duties of the administrator also include the execution of tax obligations, the collection of contributions and the disbursement of expenses necessary for the ordinary maintenance of the common parts of the building and for the performance of common services. The administrator is, in fact, obliged to pass on the sums received for any reason by the condominiums or third parties, as well as those for any reason disbursed on behalf of the condominium, on a specific current bank or postal account, in the name of the condominium (not himself); each condominium, through the administrator, may request to view and extract a copy, at its own expense, of the periodic reporting. Condominium documentation and records The law also attributes to the administrator the task of taking care of the keeping of a whole series of important registers concerning the condominium, including the condominium registry, which contains the generality of the individual owners and holders of real rights and personal rights of enjoyment, including the tax code and the residence or domicile, the cadastral data of each real estate unit, as well as any data relating to the safety conditions of the common parts of the building. Furthermore, the administrator will have to take care of keeping the register of the minutes of the meetings, the register of appointment and revocation of the administrator and the accounting register (the latter can also be held in a computerized manner). Again with regard to documentation, the administrator is required to keep all the documentation relating to his / her management relating both to the relationship with the condominiums and to the technical-administrative status of the building and the condominium. He must provide the condominium requesting a certificate relating to the status of the payments of the condominium charges and any ongoing disputes. Who can perform the condominium administrator activity? The office of administrator of the Condominium can be held either by one of the condominiums or by a subject unrelated to the team and specifically appointed. Given the particular function, the person called to perform the functions of condominium administrator must possess certain requirements, both personal and professional, set out in detail in art. 71-bis of the provisions for the implementation of the civil code. Personal requirements In particular, the administrator must have the enjoyment of civil rights, must not be interdicted or incapacitated, nor subjected to prevention measures that have become definitive (unless rehabilitation has taken place) or convicted of crimes against the public administration, the administration of justice, public faith, property or for any other culpable crime for which the law imposes the sentence of imprisonment not less than, in the minimum, two years and, in the maximum, five years. Finally, his name should not be noted in the list of promissory notes. Professional requirements With regard to professional requirements, the administrator is required to have obtained at least the secondary school diploma and to have attended an initial training course and to have carried out periodic training activities in the area of condominium administration. Condominium administrator company The functions of administrator of the Condominium can be entrusted not only to natural persons, but also to companies. Duration of the assignment and remuneration Pursuant to the civil code, the office of director lasts one year and is considered renewed for the same duration. The shareholders’ meeting convened for the revocation or resignation will deliberate on the appointment of the new director. Upon termination of the assignment, the administrator is required to deliver all the documentation in his possession relating to the condominium and to the individual condominiums and to carry out urgent activities in order to avoid prejudice to common interests without the right to further compensation. In addition, unless expressly dispensed by the assembly, the administrator must proceed with the forced collection of the sums due from the obliged within six months of the end of the financial year in which the credit is included. Given this postponement and the specific nature of such an assignment, the administrator is deemed to be remunerated for the work carried out. Article. 1709 of the Civil Code, in fact, poses a presumption of onerousness of the assignment, unless otherwise established; in particular, if the extent of the remuneration has not been established by the parties, it will be determined on the basis of professional rates or customs or, failing that, it will be determined by the judge. Upon acceptance of the appointment and its renewal, the administrator must analytically specify, under penalty of nullity of the appointment itself, the amount due as compensation for the activity carried out. Revocation and termination of the assignment The revocation of the administrator can be deliberated at any time by the assembly, with the majority foreseen for his appointment, or in the manner provided by the condominium regulation. Indeed, the judicial authority may be called to rule on the revocation, upon appeal of each condominium, may in the case provided for in the fourth paragraph of Article 1131, if it does not account for management, or in the event of serious irregularities. A non-exhaustive list of behaviors that constitute serious irregularities is

Italy: is it worth buying a house to renovate?

  Italy’s real estate is among the most aged in Europe. More than half of the existing houses are over 50 years old. Despite their age, most of them are solid. In regions like Liguria, there are even some that date from the beginning of the 20th century, which are still very robust. I was recently in Sanremo, where a real estate agent explained to me that all the buildings in the old town had withstood all the earthquakes, unlike the buildings of new construction. Indeed, these are buildings whose walls easily exceed 30 cm in thickness. This has advantages for thermal insulation, especially in summer, when they are significantly cooler than modern houses. So there are a lot of houses to renovate available for purchase. Is buying a house to renovate a good investment? To date, the answer is yes, at least according to an analysis of Corriere della Sera, one of the most prestigious Italian daily newspapers. Let’s see why buying a property to renovate can be an attractive option. Tax bonuses and minimum rates The tax benefits on extraordinary maintenance work on residential buildings have also been extended for 2020: this means that for expenses of up to 96 thousand euros, you are entitled to an Irpef deduction (income tax on natural persons) by 50%, spread over ten years. This percentage can go up to 65% for energy retrofit works. In addition, there is a particularly positive situation on the mortgage front: interest rates at historically low levels provide access to very favorable financing conditions. How much do you save? According to the Nomisma Observatory, the savings would be considerable, even taking into account the amount to be allocated to the works. In Milan, for example, almost 80,000 euros would be saved to buy an 80 m² apartment to renovate compared to a house ready to be lived in. In principle, the Irpef advantage significantly affects the choice of buyers when the price difference between the house to be renovated and that already habitable is at least 30 thousand euros. Facade bonus Without forgetting another factor of interest for potential buyers: the 2020 finance law increased the IRPEF deduction from 50% to 90% for painting and renovating facades. An initiative that stems from the desire to encourage the redevelopment of the residential heritage of many Italian cities.

How coronavirus could change our homes

  Apparently, the worst of the pandemic is behind us. However, no one can guarantee that there will not be a second wave, now or next fall. What’s more, air quality around the world is poor, which could lead to the spread of other coronavirus-like viruses. Because our lungs are weakened, and have become the ideal terrain for lung viruses. Covid 19 changed our requirements for real estate If at the beginning of the year they had told you that you would be confined to the house for months due to a pandemic, you would hardly have believed it. Yet so it was, the lockdown forced us to change our social habits and slowed down our rhythms of life closed within four walls. This pandemic revealed many things, one of which is that most houses should have been designed differently. According to an idealistic study, up to 8% of families have gone through quarantine without even looking out on the road from home. For this reason, we addressed this issue with architect Pablo García, who tries to understand how houses should be designed from now on. Useful surface: “Houses must be larger or better distributed. The houses can increase in size if the building has large galleries or arcades that serve as a multipurpose space. The best reference is the intervention of Lacaton and Vassal in Bordeaux. A series of conservatories have been created, as well as a new range of balconies alongside the main facades of the buildings, expanding the useful area of ??the units. This intervention must be taken as a reference of how the maximum effect can be obtained with a minimum intervention “, explains García. Terrace or balcony at all costs. “The terraces should be included in the minimum housing program. In general, a minimum home is composed of: double bedroom, living room, kitchen and bathroom. The terraces are not mentioned but we have seen that they represent a fundamental element when facing isolation. The problem must be controlled by the City Council, not allowing the prescription of said infringement if we consider it as a minimum living space “. Disinfection areas at the entrance. “The entrance to the house could be thought of as the transition space between our house and the outside. This means it should be a virus free area. The flooring must be in porcelain or a material that is not very porous and resistant to abrasive products. A wardrobe and a shoe rack should be placed at the entrance, maybe even a sink to wash your hands as soon as you enter. “ Work area. “We will need a home office. So it is necessary to consider the lighting, cable internet connection, bluetooth sockets, spaces suitable for video calls and meeting area, shutters that create neutral backgrounds behind us to protect the privacy of the house, including soundproofing the room. In very small apartments, this should be done in the bedrooms. Beds cannot take up too much space. “ Custom furniture and home automation. “Conventional furniture is excellent, but it is not suitable for small spaces. It is important to create a furnishing project in your home to understand how it can be adapted to make spaces multifunctional. Home automation can help us create a multifunctional house that adapts to different situations “, concludes the architect.

Italy: the real estate market aims for sustainability

The Italian real estate market is increasingly focusing on the sustainability of buildings. Indeed, property sales with high energy standards are increasing, a tangible sign of the interest of our compatriots for houses with an increasingly ecological taste. A very positive 2019 According to what was recently highlighted by an analysis carried out by the ENEA (National Bureau of Alternative Energy) in collaboration with the Institute for Competitiveness and the Italian Federation of Professional Real Estate Agents, the Italian prospects seem very encouraging, with a trend, more marked in 2019 , to consider the energy efficiency of buildings, both during the renovation and during the purchase phase. Indeed, the survey shows a very positive trend both for the new housing segment and for the renovated segment: in the first case, almost 80% of transactions concern goods of high energy class (A or B), while in the second the percentage goes from 22% in 2018 to 36% in 2019. Last year, we also witnessed the consolidation of the dynamic which sees a reduction in the purchase of low energy class properties (G), with a very low percentage especially in the case of villas and detached houses. Despite this, according to experts, the national real estate market still sees a marked presence of these buildings (class D – G). Excellent results for the prestige buildings segment, which sees a percentage jump of 10 points compared to 2018 on the front of the most efficient energy classes (A1-4 and B). The buildings located in the central areas of the main Italian capitals also recorded very good performances with a + 16%. Will Covid-19 have an impact on the sector? What will be the short and medium term consequences of the health emergency we are experiencing, is still difficult to establish with certainty. In the opinion of experts, this long lockdown that we have experienced and the advent of phase 2 will lead us all to reconsider even more the theme of sustainability, with a new way of living the house and its environment. The scenario that awaits us in the near future is an increase in the demand for comfortable housing, with good energy performance, bright and low consumption. But, as Alessandro Federici of the ENEA, responsible for monitoring energy efficiency policies, points out, in the future, it will be necessary “to direct demand more and more towards deep renovation of condominium buildings. Many houses belong to this category in the semi-peripheral, peripheral and extreme periphery areas, which still have particularly poor energy performance. “

Real estate investing in Italy, what’s changing

STEFANO Boeri has a new friend and he is a blackbird who serenely pecks on his balcony (the architect does not live in his vertical forest, but in a building in the center of Milan). In empty cities, animals lose their shyness, yesterday in Pavia there were two deers strolling in front of shop windows. Now all of this has to do with our current life as a prisoner, as we watch and dream of an exterior that is currently forbidden to us, and we are also worried about what is going to happen. Those who live in the city would like to stay in the countryside, never like now do they want a garden, a vegetable patch, an exterior. “Never before have I seen so many green balconies in Milan, and loggias, terraces, because the balcony is a living space. Everyone has understood that green is important. But in England, there is already a big push towards the abandonment of more densely populated areas. This will also happen in Italy, those who have a second home will settle there – we have now understood the potential of working at a distance – or will spend longer periods there. But this process will have to be governed. A campaign would therefore be necessary to facilitate dispersal, but also a withdrawal from the urban area, to make room for other living species. Then, Italy is full of abandoned villages, whch should be saved. We have a unique opportunity to do so. ” Are we all going to move to the countryside? “I am thinking of a major national project: there are 5,800 centers with less than 5,000 inhabitants, and 2,300 are in a state of neglect. The 14 metropolitan areas have adopted these centers, with tax advantages and tax incentives … And there are already wonderful places where they give you accommodation in a historic center for one euro, in Liguria and along the crest of the Apennines ”. But you are not upset by the outside that awaits us, and what will it look like? “I think we should not be depressed, and that this experience forces us and allows us to rethink many things. Of course, we will have to prevent digital surveillance and barriers from prevailing over our lives, but to get out of this tragedy without understanding the causes, it would be a real waste. ” So let’s talk about the causes. “To begin with, the data on fine particles, which are scary. The pulmonary fragility of those living in areas with high particle density is easily assimilated to the infection. In cities, we need a project that starts from the sharp reduction in cars, and therefore the road section, and a decisive transition to the electric car, with incentives, scrapping. ” All this to create health, but also space. “Of course, because we will have to take everything outside. The stores must have outside, the closed space is dangerous in the event of a pandemic. But even there, the tax should be abolished for those who occupy an outdoor space. Air is necessary , the virus in the air does not survive, so more space for us, less for cars. ” The spaces are all to be rethought. “Yes, but we are facilitated compared to other countries, France, England, Germany, we have a history of outdoor culture.” However, political demonstrations, marches will be impossible … “But in Tel Aviv, there was just a demonstration against Netanyahu, with many participants well spaced. In short, we must return to the study of proxemics, distances, spaces and bodies and the relationship that exists, these days I’m just looking at old books from the 70s. Spaces are a huge resource, you have to be able to create ways, and I’m thinking of lights, colors, tapes, to be able to use the open spaces in which you move, each with its own mask, for the moment. We use the places, we make a campaign “come to the Italian places to do culture”, we have so many festivals, let’s focus all of them in September “. Let’s take a practical example. You are president of the Triennale, how do you organize the post coronavirus? “As soon as possible, and I hope it will be in June, we will do everything in the garden, large and fenced, so that we can easily control its access. We had planned an exhibition on Enzo Mari, we will have to distribute it on all the spaces we have so as not to create congestion. We are going to build a stage, with 250 well-spaced tables, cultural production will have to adapt to a different spatiality. I remember a spectacle of the Festival of the fog, made by the Triennale, it was called “Strasse”, you saw it while making the tour of the city by car “. And the skyscrapers? Will they still be logical? “We have to rethink them. The elevator, which is a fundamental part of the life of a tower, must have continuous ventilation, and the ultraviolet lamps offered by Fuksas are a great idea. The common areas should be wider, and more. So more landings, more halls and elevators. In Korea, they are also studying an application that allows you to always take the elevator yourself. The roof will be the fifth wall, many will pass through it, and I am thinking of the use of drones. ” Many people think that cities are finished because they are congested, ultra-populated and therefore dangerous. “It will be important to synchronize the timetables of public administrations and schools, to avoid the significant flows of commuters. It will be crucial to rethink the exterior, to remove space for cars, focusing on green. So it was in New York, in the middle of the 19th century: the population had quadrupled, there was no more space, and the density was not working. The landscape architect and town planner Olmsted thus created Central Park, a gigantic park born

Italy: Investing in real estate? Yes, but prioritizing quality

The Coronavirus forced us on the one hand to rethink the organization of the home in order to meet the needs of the whole family (space for smart working, for physical activity, for lessons and children’s tasks) on the other a reflect on the future: is real estate an asset you should still invest in? According to an article by Il Sole 24 Ore, the answer is yes, as long as you focus on “quality” homes. Here are the scenarios that lie ahead. Big enough houses but in the city According to the data of the latest Nomisma Observatory, the economic crisis generated by the health emergency could lead to a reduction in property sales that goes from 40 thousand to 110 thousand less sales, with a consequent drop in prices between 1 and 3% approximately in the 2020-2021 period. But the value will remain unchanged for homes that meet certain requirements, first of all that of square footage because, as explained by Mario Breglia, president of Scenari Immobiliari, in this lockdown phase it became clear to many that a very small home is not comfortable. This will translate into a change in demand which however will not lead to favoring the province over the city: urban areas will remain more in demand, although we will probably see a revaluation of peripheral areas compared to central ones. Which elements to focus on for a good investment According to experts, in the short term, the segment of excessively small or not well-built houses will suffer, in which, for example, not enough light enters or the systems do not withstand greater consumption. Among the defects that could lower the value of a property there are the non-soundproof walls and the lack of an outdoor space, whether it is a balcony or a garden, including a condominium garden: and in this context, the internal courtyard of the railing houses will be particularly appreciated, in line with the trend that was prevailing even before the Covid-19 emergency.

Italian city centers increasingly coveted by real estate investors

Italians, but also foreigners, tend to buy apartments in cities, preferring them to vacation second homes. Italians, but also foreigners, tend to buy fewer apartments in tourist areas for themselves or as an investment, preferring to buy apartments in cities. With yields that sometimes even reach 7% per year, property investments attract more and more Italians. As a Tecnocasa studio points out, our compatriots prefer to buy a two-room apartment for themselves in town instead of a second home by the sea or in the mountains. Here are the places and neighborhoods to focus on once the necessary reflections have been made, for example related to operating costs and increased supply. North In Milan, almost one in three purchases is intended for investment, so much so that the two-room apartments in the center have reached very high amounts, even exceeding € 250,000; however, these figures are offset by returns of up to 6.8%. The most popular areas for short-term rentals are Navigli, Porta Genova and Porta Romana, while for longer term rentals, you move beyond the line 90 device. In Bologna, demand is increasing in central areas, where prices have increased by 2%, even reaching 5,000 euros per square meter. In particular, those who wish to start a B&B business choose apartments of one or two rooms while entrepreneurs or parents of students prefer the larger sizes to divide or sublet. In addition to the quadrilateral, the Murri-Giardini Margherita and via Andrea Costa areas are sought after. Even in Turin, the tendency is to focus on short rents by buying small apartments, but there are many people who decide to leave the hill areas to move to the center, where they buy historic buildings in renovate. The Crimea-Gran Madre and Cit Turin districts are also very popular. In the heart of Rome In the heart of Rome, properties are bought to be used as holiday homes (one- and two-room apartments) or B & Bs (from three-room apartments), although demand per square meter is also reaching 9 thousand euros. Investors point in particular the area between Porta Cavalleggeri and the Vatican walls, where prices are around 4,500 euros per square meter, Testaccio and Piramide. South In Palermo, the historic center, which has been partially refurbished and pedestrianized, is in great demand, although it is possible to spend up to 4,000 euros per square meter for prestigious houses compared to 1,300 in peripheral areas. However, the yield also reaches 5% per year. In Naples, where small apartments are particularly difficult to find, investments in holiday homes are concentrated around Piazza del Gesù, the cloister of Santa Chiara and in the Via Toledo district. Prices range from € 1,500 / m2 in the suburbs to € 7,000 / m2 in central districts, provided they are well connected: at Caravage-Manzoni, for example, prices are around € 3,000 per square meter precisely because it’s from a less-served area.

Italy: houses to renovate, quite a smart investment

In Italy, approximately one property in five is to be renovated. There is therefore a very wide range of houses and apartments to renovate, at very attractive prices. Italy: is buying a house to renovate a good investment? To date, the answer is yes, at least according to an analysis by Corriere della Sera, from Milan, one of the most prestigious Italian daily newspapers. Let’s see together why buying a property to renovate can be an attractive option. Tax bonuses and minimum rates The tax benefits on extraordinary maintenance work on residential buildings have also been extended for 2020: this means that for expenses of up to 96 thousand euros, you are entitled to a deduction of 50% from Irpef , income tax, spread over ten years. This percentage can go up to 65% for energy requalification works. Added to this is the particularly positive situation on the mortgage front: interest rates at historically low levels provide access to very favorable financing conditions. How much do you save? According to the Nomisma Observatory, the savings would be considerable even taking into account the amount to be allocated to the works. In Milan, for example, almost 80,000 euros would be spent to buy an 80 square meter apartment to renovate compared to a house ready to be lived in. In principle, the Irpef advantage significantly affects the choice of buyers when the price difference between the house to be renovated and that already habitable is at least 30 thousand euros. Facade bonus Without forgetting another factor of interest for potential buyers: the 2020 finance law increased the IRPEF deduction from 50% to 90% for painting and renovating facades. An initiative that stems from the desire to encourage the redevelopment of the residential heritage of many Italian cities.

The coronavirus crisis could boost real estate in southern Italy

Southern Italy, a dream vacation place The sea is magnificent, the food, among the cheapest in Europe, is delicious, people are welcoming and hospitable, and have a certain joie de vivre. The number of people who got sick with coronavirus in southern Italy is an average hundred times inferior to the number of cases registered in the northern part of the peninsula. Clean-air air is probably playing a role Just look at the picture beneath. On the left you get the number of cases of coronavirus, on the right you got air pollution by particulates in Italy, The correlation is appalling. Real estate prices are incredibly cheap in southern Italy. I give it just 2 examples here. Both apartments that I chose are located at Ciro’ Marina, a charming little tone in southern Italy. There beaches have a pleasant fine sand, the sea is clean and marvelous, you can enjoy a tasty bit set for $5, a seafood meal would cost you around $12, a kilo of tomatoes or eggplants not even a dollar. The 1st apartment consists of 80 m² for $43,000, or €39,000 is located 50 meters from the sea and close to all the main services (supermarket, pharmacy, bar, pizzeria, bank / post office, etc.). The property consists of a spacious living room with kitchenette and balcony, two double bedrooms, one with a balcony, a bathroom with shower and a laundry room. Mosquito nets in all rooms, air conditioning with heat pumps, heating with independent boiler. The property includes a large attic that can be used as a storage room. The apartment is sold fully furnished. The 2nd apartment consists of 60 m² for $44,000, or €40,000. Excellent two-room apartment with sea view, with terrace, ideal as a holiday home, possibility of sale already furnished as in the photos, and consisting of bedroom with double bed plus a bunk bed, entrance with open kitchen, table and double sofa bed, bathroom with shower and washing machine. There are many great investments for a 2nd home, to spend great vacations in southern Italy. Just contact us.