Italy remains one of Europe’s most attractive destinations for overseas property buyers, but also one of its most administratively complex. That is exactly where my work begins.
Based in Verona, I specialise in international real estate transactions, supporting foreign buyers, especially Americans, through the Italian purchasing process. I am the co-founder of “Grandi Agenti Immobiliari” Brokerage and president of OID – Osservatorio Immobiliare Digitale, an Italian organisation, NAR’s bilateral partner, focused on international real estate certification and professional standards.
I also hold the CIPS designation – Certified International Property Specialist – awarded by the National Association of Realtors, the world’s largest real estate network, active in 85 countries.
CIPS gives agents access to a global network, mentoring programmes and marketing tools specifically designed for cross-border transactions. More importantly, it creates opportunities for professional exchange and helps agents operate within internationally recognised standards.
Trust is the real currency in Italy’s property market
In my experience, every international transaction begins with one essential factor: trust.
Foreign buyers are often dealing with a legal and administrative system that feels unfamiliar and, at times, overwhelming. Credibility comes from preparation and from never assuming that a client automatically understands how the Italian bureaucracy works.
That means explaining every stage clearly: obtaining an Italian tax code (codice fiscal), understanding the role of the notary, and navigating the technical and legal due diligence required before completion.
My role extends beyond the transaction itself. A large part of the work involves building a reliable network of professionals, lawyers, surveyors and translators, who can support clients with the same level of transparency and attention to detail.
Becoming ambassadors for place
One of the most common mistakes I see among Italian agents is waiting for international buyers to discover the market on their own.
I believe agents must become ambassadors for their territory.
While destinations such as Rome, Florence and the Amalfi Coast remain internationally recognised, many overseas buyers are still unfamiliar with areas such as Verona and Lake Garda. In fact, part of my role is helping clients understand these places not simply as property markets, but as locations where they can genuinely build a lifestyle. It is about making a place understandable and desirable to someone experiencing it for the first time.
Related reading. How to buy a home in Italy: the final guide
Real estate is never a standardised process
Over the years, I have learned that no two clients approach a transaction in the same way.
American buyers are generally familiar with more flexible negotiation structures and highly formalised inspection procedures.
German clients, by contrast, usually expect extensive technical verification and complete documentation before moving forward. Therefore, you cannot approach every client in the same way: understanding someone’s cultural background fundamentally changes both the negotiation process and the outcome of the deal.
Communicating better means filtering better
Online communication is another area where international expectations often differ from local practice. One of the most common mistakes is simply translating property listings originally written for the Italian market. International buyers look for different information, interpret details differently and often expect a completely different level of transparency.
Consistency between presentation and reality is also crucial. When a client travels internationally to view a property, any mismatch between the listing and the actual experience can damage trust immediately.
For that reason, I believe one of the most important professional decisions is knowing when not to propose a property. Presenting homes that do not genuinely match the client’s brief rarely leads to a successful transaction.
The agent as cultural intermediary
The most important lesson I have learned is simple: never assume anything. What may seem obvious within the Italian system can easily appear confusing, or even concerning, to someone coming from a different legal or cultural background.
As Italy continues to attract international buyers, I believe the role of the real estate agent is evolving. It is no longer purely transactional. Increasingly, it involves acting as a cultural intermediary: translating not only language, but also expectations, systems and different ways of understanding property and home.
Are you looking for a property in Italy? First step to do is: CALL ME!
