Yes — and it is one of the most important steps an international buyer can take. Italy’s planning system, heritage protections and structural complexity mean that a beautiful property can carry significant hidden costs or legal constraints that are not visible in a standard viewing. Our Villa Assessment gives you an independent, professional view of a property’s structural condition, planning status, realistic renovation costs and design potential before you exchange contracts. It is the single most effective way to avoid an expensive mistake.

No. The selling agent’s interests are aligned with completing the sale, not with protecting yours. They are rarely qualified to assess structural condition, interpret planning constraints or provide realistic renovation cost guidance. Most international buyers manage this risk by relying on the very person least suited to give them independent advice. A Casatua Villa Assessment gives you a professional view from people whose only interest is in giving you an accurate picture of the property.

The most common and costly mistakes are: underestimating renovation costs, failing to understand planning and heritage restrictions before purchase, relying on the selling agent for independent advice, and not having a qualified English-speaking team on the ground before committing. Many buyers also purchase without understanding the difference between what a property looks like and what it can legally become — particularly when it comes to layout changes, pool additions, or structural alterations to protected historic buildings.

Italy’s planning system treats historic properties with considerable care. Many rural properties — particularly stone farmhouses, historic villas and listed buildings — carry heritage protections that limit or govern what changes can be made. These can affect structural alterations, facade changes, roof materials, window placement, pool additions and landscaping. The restrictions vary significantly by region, municipality and the specific classification of the building. Understanding these constraints before purchase is essential — what you intend to do with the property may or may not be permissible, and the answer significantly affects both your renovation scope and your budget.

Renovation costs in Italy vary significantly depending on the condition of the property, the scope of works, the region and the quality of finish. As a general guide, full renovation of a historic stone property in Tuscany typically ranges from €1,500 to €3,500 per square metre for a high-quality finish — though this can be higher for properties requiring structural intervention, complex heritage works or exceptional specification. The most reliable way to understand what your specific property will cost is through a professional pre-purchase assessment that reviews the actual condition and scope — not a general estimate applied to the square footage.

Several factors contribute to budget overruns on Italian renovation projects. Historic properties regularly reveal hidden structural issues once work begins. Planning and permit processes can extend timelines and add unforeseen costs. Contractors without proper oversight may underquote to win work and manage costs upward once on site. Currency fluctuation affects international buyers paying in a different currency. And without an experienced project manager coordinating trades and contracts, costs leak at every stage. Our Construction and Project Management service is structured specifically to prevent these outcomes — with detailed upfront budgeting, fixed contracts where possible, and constant on-site oversight throughout the build.

Yes — provided you have the right team on the ground. The practical challenges of managing a renovation remotely — language barriers, contractor coordination, permit processes, quality control — are real, but they are entirely manageable with experienced local representation. We work exclusively with international owners and have built our entire service around remote management: structured weekly progress updates, remote design approvals at every stage, and a dedicated English-speaking project manager on site throughout construction. You stay close to the project without needing to be there.

No. Our team operates entirely in English and manages every Italian-language interaction on your behalf — contractor negotiations, authority liaisons, permit applications, legal documents and every conversation that requires translation, literal or otherwise. The language barrier is one of the most significant risks for international owners, and removing it entirely is one of the core reasons clients work with us.

This is one of the most challenging aspects of renovating in Italy without local expertise. Quality varies enormously, and international owners without established networks are frequently exposed to contractors who underdeliver or over-charge. Our studio has spent eight years building relationships with skilled local builders, craftsmen and specialist trades who have a proven track record on historic Italian properties. We manage the full tender process, select the right team for your specific project, and remain on site throughout to ensure the work meets the standard specified.

Yes — and this is precisely what we design towards. The most successful luxury Italian rentals are not properties that have been designed for the rental market at the expense of personal enjoyment. They are homes with genuine architectural character, exceptional comfort and considered design — properties that feel like a personal retreat because they were designed as one. The exclusive short-term rental market rewards exactly the same qualities. Every design decision we make serves both ambitions equally: the owner’s experience and the property’s commercial performance

A full renovation of a historic Tuscan villa typically takes between 18 months and 3 years from initial assessment through to handover, depending on the scale of the project, the complexity of any planning or heritage approvals required, and the scope of construction. The design and planning phase generally takes 6 to 12 months; construction varies widely by project size. We structure a clear timeline at the outset of every project and manage against it throughout — with transparency about what is within our control and what is subject to Italian regulatory timelines.

Our studio is rooted in Tuscany, where we have spent eight years restoring some of the region’s most beautiful historic properties. That expertise travels. We work with international clients across Italy — the Lakes, Umbria, Puglia, Sicily — wherever an exceptional property deserves an exceptional team

We work exclusively with international buyers on the renovation of Italian luxury properties — historic villas, rural farmhouses, lakeside residences and historic palazzi. We do not work on small-scale domestic projects. Our clients are typically high-budget international buyers who want the confidence of a single trusted English-speaking team managing their project from pre-purchase due diligence through to final handover.

The first step is a private consultation with our studio founders, Candida and Tim Surgenor. We discuss your property, your vision and your objectives in full — whether you are at the early stage of searching for a property, have found something and want an independent assessment, or are ready to begin a renovation. We work with a limited number of clients at any one time, so every project receives the attention it deserves from the outset.