Casa colonica in Laino Borgo
Casa colonica in Laino Borgo. Habitable, autonomo heating, garage, cucina, balcone, terrazzo, parzialmente arredato, cantina.
What it really costs
Can you move in?
Livable, but something basic is worn out
In the listingHabitableSee what needs doing and what each job costs
Large farmhouse 6,000 m² at €20,000; estimating €200/m² renovation gives an effective ≈€203/m², about 17% below the regional median €244/m². Habitable condition, 20 photos, garage and independent heating support this as an attractively priced find.
More on the house and the area
A simple, habitable country farmhouse set on plenty of private land with a peaceful wooded backdrop — great for someone wanting a low‑cost rural home. Interiors are intact but dated and portions of the roof/exterior need attention, so expect light-to-moderate works rather than a move‑in luxury.
Decoration, tired fittings, a bathroom or a kitchen. The house is liveable as it stands.
Our read of the photos is €200/m². There is no published price band below €350/m², so the range is that figure widened by the spread of the lightest band.
Materials only, work you may do yourself€396,000 – €669,000
Wiring, water and sanitary work of any kind, heating, air conditioning and gas go to a registered firm by law, and so do flues and the air openings for gas appliances. That labour stays in the bill. Yours is the stripping out, plaster, paint, floors, tiling and carpentry.
Labour is 61% of a renovation price on average and 67% at the median, across 191 items of the Emilia-Romagna 2025 public price list. Materials are the rest. An averaged price list, not a quote.
Materials you buy yourself carry 22% VAT; supplied by the firm doing the work they go at the 10% renovation rate. On a €30,000 materials bill that is €3,600 of extra tax.
Household wiring installed before 13 March 1990 counts as compliant if it has a main breaker with overcurrent protection, protection against direct contact and a 30 mA RCD. Having a firm bring the existing wiring up to that and certify it is the cheapest lawful route.
- Dated, basic interiors need cosmetic updating
- Portions of roof/exterior appear damaged and will need repair
- Remote/rural location — limited views beyond wooded hillside
Estimate from the listing and its photos, not a survey. Treat it as the starting point for your own quotes. An Italian builder's quote is normally written without VAT and without design fees, so add about a quarter to any figure a firm gives you.
The area around
Location score 72/100The cluster sits in the Lao river valley on the lower slopes of the Pollino massif (Apennines). The area lies within and around Pollino National Park, a protected mountain area covering the local peaks and plateaux. The Lao River runs through the valley and there are limestone gorges of the Lao nearby. The locality is used for outdoor activities such as hiking, river sports and canyoning. Several small hill towns with medieval centres are within the local valley (for example Laino Castello and Morano Calabro). There are no major ski lifts within the immediate 15 km radius; winter alpine facilities are on more distant parts of the Apennines and require a drive. Larger service towns and railway connections are a drive away from the valley.