Rustico in Zimella
Rustico in Zimella. garage.
What it really costs
Can you move in?
Livable, but something basic is worn out
Condition not stated in the listingMust be done first
- Damp
- Bathroom
- Windows
See what needs doing and what each job costs
Price €77,000 for 150 m2 (€513/m2) but after an estimated €700/m2 renovation (typical for a 'rustico') the effective cost is €182,000 (~€1,213/m2), well above the regional baseline of €317/m2, so this looks overpriced. The listing gives almost no detail (condition, year, energy class missing), although there are 35 photos.
More on the house and the area
Solid two‑storey farmhouse with original beams and usable rooms — a lived‑in, characterful shell rather than a polished home. Good value for the square metres and includes a garage, but expect a full refresh of finishes, services and damp repairs to make it a comfortable long‑term house.
Certified wiring, water and drainage, a heat source, a roof that keeps the water out, one working bathroom. Facade, insulation, a second bathroom and the floors wait.
All the services redone, bathrooms, kitchen, windows. The structure is left alone.
Our read of the photos, €700/m², falls in this band.
Turnkey, facade and insulation included.
Materials only, work you may do yourself€30,000 – €53,000
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.
- Exterior and many interiors are tired and need thorough cosmetic renovation.
- Signs of damp/patching and dated suspended ceilings need attention.
- Only one bathroom shown and outdoor space is limited to a courtyard/parking area.
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 38/100This is the eastern Veronese plain near the lower Alpone valley, with flat farmland and irrigation canals around the settlements. The nearest larger towns are San Bonifacio and Lonigo, which provide the usual rail, shops and services for this part of the plain. Verona is farther west and matters for work and transport, but it does not change the landscape around the cluster. The area is known mainly for agriculture and wine-growing on the nearby foothill side of the province, though Zimella itself sits in the plain rather than in the hill zone.