Make sure that your heart does NOT rule your head. It is an expensive thing to do, so make sure that you have really thought it through and that it is something you are positive you want to do.
Running a renovation project, however small or large, is hard enough when you are on site, never mind if you are not in the same country and do not speak the language. Italian construction language is different than day to day conversational Italian! Make sure you either make the time to visit the project at least once a month, or get a project manager that speaks your language.
Set yourself a budget (based on fact and Italian prices) and actively manage the budget. Costs can easily spiral if you do not oversee things properly. That having been said, you are almost certainly going to spend 20-50% more than your initial plans account for. Not necessarily because the quotes become more a discussion point than a factual document, but because you will want to do more to the house as you see it progressing. Be aware of this.
Use local labour. It is cheaper, they know where to source materials and will know how to deal with the local community and its set of particular rules. It will also do you no favours locally if you import the labour.
Learn to speak Italian or at least be able to get by. It is a huge advantage to be able to communicate directly with the plumber, labourer, delivery person as well as your project manager. Added to that, the Le Marche region for example, is not "Little England" - one of its many advantages - and not many people are English speakers. A huge advantage to the area!
Go with the flow. Certain things in Italy happen at their own pace regardless of how much you jump up and down. There is little point in showing your anger or displeasure because someone has not turned up or things are delayed. All you will end up with is high blood pressure and a builder or geometra (surveyor) who is no longer on your side.
Be prepared to put a lot of personal effort into the project. The more you put in the more you will get out and the closer to your vision the results will be.
Read about the area you wish to buy in. Speak to people who have been through it and get hold of a book on buying and restoring a property in Italy ('Buying a home in Italy' by David Hampshire - ISBN 1-901130-81-9- is a start). Also become aware of, if not familiar with, the idiosyncrasies of Italian property purchase and renovation law - it is significantly different to UK law and in some ways better!
Italy 'closes' in August. Be prepared for this and plan ahead. Buy things that you will need during this time well in advance.
Do not be afraid to negotiate. It is surprising what you can save.
Enjoy it. It can be fun as well as fraught and if you do it right you will never look back.
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Buying Real Estate and Property in Italy - Tips
