Rustico in Mascali
Rustico in Mascali. Needs renovation, terrazzo.
What it really costs
Can you move in?
Not before the basics are done
In the listingNeeds renovationMust be done first
- Roof
- Damp
- Wiring
- Heating
- Kitchen
See what needs doing and what each job costs
At €59,000 plus roughly €42,000 for renovation, the effective cost is about €1,683/m²—over four times the €389/m² local benchmark. The sea view, terrace, and location within 5 km of the coast add appeal, but do not offset the high all-in price for a home needing renovation.
More on the house and the area
The standout feature is the broad sea view from the lush hillside garden, with a genuinely attractive Sicilian setting and room to create terraces or outdoor living space. However, the house is not move-in ready: it has floors and a usable bathroom, but visible moisture damage, a badly deteriorated ceiling, peeling finishes and neglected outbuildings make this a serious renovation project rather than a ready home.
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€12,000 – €21,000
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.
Bringing a house that has stood empty back into service: new water, sewer and electricity, plus the practices. The same sum on an 80 m² house and on a 300 m² one, which is why a €40,000 house is not a €40,000 project.
Show more
Water 1,800 · sewer 2,500 · electricity 700–1,600 · CILA 1,000 · cadastral filing 500 · structural design 700 · Legge 10 report 900 · safety coordination 1,800
No mains drain: add €2,000–4,500 for a septic tank. Listings never say, so ask.
- Substantial renovation is needed, with damp, peeling walls, exposed ceiling damage and debris visible indoors.
- The overgrown garden will require significant clearing and maintenance.
- The sea view is partly screened by vegetation and neighboring roofs; utilities and structural condition should be verified.
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 78/100Mount Etna rises immediately inland, with the lower eastern slopes and lava-built terraces within this area. The Alcantara river valley is nearby to the north, and the coast on this stretch is the Ionian shore between Fiumefreddo beach and Giardini Naxos. The Parco dell'Etna begins higher up on the mountain above the coastal belt. The nearest ski lifts are on Etna around Piano Provenzana, roughly an hour's drive depending on the starting point and road conditions. The nearest town of size is Giarre, with everyday services and rail connections, while Taormina is nearby on the coast with a major historic centre and tourism. The area is known for citrus groves, especially around the Fiumefreddo plain, and for the meeting of volcanic slopes, river gorges and the Ionian coast.