Casa indipendente in Scalinata Dossello 6
Nel caratteristico centro storico di Pigra, a lato di una scalinata con invidiabile vista panoramica, proponiamo in vendita una casa di paese libera su tre lati completamente da ristrutturare. Dal piccolo spazio esterno si accede al pianterreno con soggiorno, cucinotto e comodo sottoscala; al primo piano troviamo…
What it really costs
See what needs doing and what each job costs
The description says completely to restore, so I estimate about €1,100/m² renovation; effective cost is roughly €1,972/m² (€872 + €1,100), far above the low-stock baseline of €575/m² in Lombardia country houses. Positives are the historic-center setting, panoramic view and 25 photos, but mechanically this is not a bargain once full renovation is included.
More on the house and the area
The panoramic lake-and-mountain view is the real wow here: it feels dramatic and distinctly Italian, with a sunny terrace/balcony adding dream value. The house is not a ruin and has floors, bathrooms, kitchen area and a fireplace, but it is clearly very dated and needs full renovation to become comfortable. As a cheap entry to an exceptional setting, it is charming rather than turnkey-wow.
All the services redone, bathrooms, kitchen, windows. The structure is left alone.
Turnkey, facade and insulation included.
Our read of the photos, €1,100/m², falls in this band.
Materials only, work you may do yourself€16,000 – €23,000
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.
- Completely to be renovated despite being structurally a real house.
- Interiors are dark, dated, and show wear/staining.
- Very small size at 39 sqm, so livability is limited.
- Historic-center access appears via steps, which may be inconvenient.
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 74/100The cluster is in the Intelvi area of the Prealpi Comasche, with steep wooded slopes and limestone ridges above Lake Como and Lake Lugano. Lake Como is close by at Argegno, and the Swiss border and the slopes above the Lugano basin are also nearby. The nearest ski area is Monte Sighignola at Lanzo d’Intelvi, with small local lifts and a short drive. Menaggio and Como are the nearest larger towns used for services, while the valley itself is known for mountain villages and old mule tracks linking the lake to the upland pastures.