A contract checklist for buyers of Italian property

• Do you know exactly what you're buying?

• Have you seen the seller's title deeds?

• What extras and immovables (if any) are included in the sale?

• Have you established the property boundaries?

• Have your lawyers established who will be the legal owner of the property?

• Have you taken legal advice on tax and inheritance issues?

• Have you established who has access and right of way rights on the land?

• Have you seen the current land registry details?

• Have you set your escape clauses?

• Do you know who the seller is? Is he/she clearly and unambiguously described?

• Are you the buyer clearly and unambiguously described?

• Do you have your mortgage finance in place?

• If the vendor isn't signing the deed of sale in person, have you seen the power of attorney authorising their agent to sign?

• Have you or your agents made all the necessary checks (see the Geometra's checklist for more on this. Failing that, have you inserted get-out clauses in your contract, making the deal contingent on certain checks being resolved to your satisfaction?

• Is the property correctly and legally described in the paperwork, does it accord with the Land Registry details, and is the price correctly listed?

• Have you set a date for signing the rogito?

• Does your contract stipulate that you aren't liable for outstanding claims, charges and debts on the property?

• Do you know what happens if you or the vendor pulls out of the sale?

• Have you established who will pay the estate agent's fee?

• Have you stipulated that you take vacant possession?

Italy real estate … unfinished properties only

• Is the date for completion of work guaranteed?

• Do you have a complete set of plans of the projected finished property, including sketches and artists' impressions?

• Is full planning permission in place for the property? Do you know where you stand on future developments of the property — putting in a swimming pool, adding an extension, using the real estate as a live/work venue for instance?

• Do you have a crystal clear outline of the staged payments you must make, with dates due and penalties attendant?

• What legal and financial recourse do you have against the builders failing to complete on time and to your satisfaction?

Italy real estate … existing properties only

• Can you make the changes or perform the building work you have in mind?

• Is the property legally able to be used for the purpose (domestic, commercial) that you want?

• Is it hooked up for water, gas, electric and sewage disposal?

• Has your survey been done and come back satisfactorily?