Casa bifamiliare
In una caratteristica e tranquilla borgata del comune di Valdilana, proponiamo in vendita un'antica casa piemontese ricca di elementi tradizionali. La zona giorno è collocata al primo piano ed è composta da una cucina abitabile e da un ampio soggiorno dal quale si accede direttamente al retro dell'abitazione. Una caratteristica scala interna in legno conduce al piano superiore, dove si...
What it really costs
Can you move in?
Livable, but something basic is worn out
Condition not stated in the listingMust be done first
- Roof
- Wiring
- Bathroom
See what needs doing and what each job costs
Asking €12,000 for 70 m²; I estimated modest renovation at €200/m² → ~€14,000 work, so effective price ≈ €26,000 or ~€371/m² versus the regional baseline ≈ €355/m². The listing does not state the building condition explicitly (there are 24 photos and traditional features mentioned), so I assumed only light-to-medium works.
More on the house and the area
A very characterful, inexpensive Piedmont townhouse with original wood floors, a vintage wood stove, wooden staircase and exposed beams that will appeal to lovers of authentic details. The building appears roofed and habitable but needs cosmetic updating and attention to floors, wiring and some roof/attic repairs for full-time comfortable living.
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€5,000 – €8,000
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.
- Worn wide plank floors with gaps and some sagging — likely need repair or replacement
- Visible cracks and exposed wiring on walls — update electrical and check structural cracks
- Attic/roof photos show exposed rafters and small openings — inspect/repair roof/insulation before living comfortably
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 is in the Biellese prealps, on the forested slopes above the Cervo and Sessera valleys. The Sessera stream and the Panoramica Zegna road are part of the immediate area, and the upper valley rises toward the Bielmonte side of the mountains. The Oasi Zegna protected area lies within this part of Valdilana and is the main named landscape feature nearby. The nearest ski lifts are at Bielmonte, roughly 20–30 minutes by road depending on the exact hamlet. Biella is the nearest town of size, with full services and a historic upper town. This area is known for the historic wool-textile industry of the Biella district and for the Zegna mountain estate.