Villa a schiera in Bistagno
Villa a schiera in Bistagno
What it really costs
Can you move in?
Not before the basics are done
Condition not stated in the listingMust be done first
- Damp
- Heating
See what needs doing and what each job costs
The €31,000 asking price (€204/m²) is 41% below the local €345/m² benchmark, but the listing only says “townhouse” and does not state the condition, bathrooms, or habitability. Allowing roughly €700/m² for an unspecified renovation brings the effective cost to about €904/m², so an inspection is essential.
More on the house and the area
This is a large old rural townhouse with some authentic character, including stone masonry, shutters and a traditional layout. The interiors are furnished with floors, kitchen and bathroom, so it is more than an empty shell, but the severe damp, neglected exterior and overgrown surroundings make it a serious renovation project rather than a ready dream 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€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.
- Extensive damp, peeling exterior render, cracked walls and heavy overgrowth indicate substantial renovation needs.
- The property appears furnished and basically usable, but the condition of the roof, structure, plumbing and utilities is not established.
- No compelling view, garden presentation or distinctive setting is shown.
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 58/100The cluster lies in the Bormida valley in the hills between the Langhe and Monferrato systems, with vineyard and woodland slopes around the river plain. The Bormida river runs through the area. Acqui Terme is the nearest town of size, with a substantial historic centre and thermal baths. This part of southern Piemonte is known for wine landscapes and mixed vine-covered hills, but the strongest named wine zones are outside the immediate 15 km radius.