Viewing Apartments in Italy

Google translate has helped me out significantly. I have the vocabulary to answer small talk, but not to ask if they are fixing the dry wall and how soon I can move in. So I rely on my Italian classes and google translate.

I live in a small area, so I mostly walk to all of my appointments and then again home. I am exhausted and yet I have never been so healthy. I walk at least a half hour almost every day now at the minimum. Luckily, my Italian keeps improving. Just a few years to go before I fully assimilate into the culture. Now I do have a head start being Italian, but still. I need to go from an A2 level Italian speaker to a C1. That is not easy.

So walking a half hour to each apartment means I only see one or two per day. I am too tired to walk more than two hours a day. And of course, my child is not having that. He already has an attitude about walking everyday. Some realtors will pick you up and drop you off. Some won’t. Depends on how they work and if you see multiple apartments. I have noticed they are much nicer after I have told them I need to buy in the next few weeks. They really get moving after that. Sketchy but it is super helpful because I need a place ASAP.

There are a lot of places with water damage. Some are being repaired. Some will have you do that after purchase. Many are very small, even for me. Some are much larger than I would need. It is very challenging in any place to find the perfect apartment. Especially since I do not plan on moving for the next few years. This has to be able to grow with me and have outdoor space.

Many are furnished and many are not. It can be difficult to picture a place while it is still being lived in. I like the idea of a ground level, but also the idea of a top floor. I mainly care that it is easy to find for deliveries and emergencies. That has become an essential I didn’t know I needed.

Updated:

I did find a place. This one is small, but with a nice community and a courtyard in the centre of the building. It took much longer than planned. That is a story for another time.