Capo Boi's activity

 Thats the total bill. Everything run off electricity. Heating winter, Aircon summer. The two month bills vary, but not to any great extent.

 I've no axe to grind. Reasonable size house, 14m. pool, land.....Enel bill for last year €4,700. It is what it is (as my old boss used to say). Friends of ours, 20km away; maybe half size house and garden (with pool), €3,000 utility bills for the previous year. Can't take it, I don't have an answer. But would we live elsewhere? No.

 We do a similar thing. It obviously depends on your neighbour (and I have no idea of the legal implications) but we are continually taken to task for not taking enough produce. A handshake may not count for much in a court of law, but sometimes life is too short.

 There is still a bug in the software, or more probably, my computer skills are inadequate. So, I will reply to my own "header". I asked recently for three companies to quote on something (sorry, I can't be more specific here, but a more or less standard product). The local company (and obviously the preferred supplier), quoted €16,500. The out of town supplier quoted €11,300 and the "I work in town, but I'm not local" supplier, quoted, €13.500. A fourth company quote was then obtained, coming in at €12,750. When we first moved to Italy, eight years ago, we would never have challenged the local equilibribrium, but now I have no hesitation in obtaining competing quotes.

 I guess it depends on what you really want to get out of a forum or community. For me, I think the information aspect here is very good. Small things. But, for example, have four lemon trees but in eight years never thought about making my own limoncello. Yesterday, following Carole B's recipe, there is no stopping me. May have overdone the lemon content and at €12.90 for one litre of 95% alcohol, not cheap. But who cares? It gives me pleasure and if I can help others with things that maybe I have some knowledge about, then its an easy trade for me. 

As a whole, your prices quoted don't seem too out of line. I can only really speak for Sardinia but something like €1,500 per m2 is a realistic price for a total renovation to a standard build. If I were you, I would bore down into the individual elements of your build to see what costs you can cut out, eliminate as non essential, or can negotiate on. For example, the quote for your roof seems high to me. Something like €120-€150 m2 all in (scaffolding etc) should be closer to the mark. Pm. me if you need a rough guide to individual prices.

 Also replying to my own post here. There seems to be a very good deal being advertised throughout Italy at the moment for anyone looking to buy a new kitchen. For €2,590 you get a line of 3.6metres (above and below) of kitchen space / cupboards including hob, oven, hood, sink, dishwasher, and fridge freezer. Price includes, if I understand correctly, fitting but not connection to gas or water and the offer runs for the moment until the end of January but could well be extended. I've seen an example in a showroom and the quality looks pretty good. Certainly better than a lot of cheaper ranges that I've seen. Site is www.mobilturi.it Part of it, has an English translation service. I should add that I have absolutely nothing at all to do with this company (nor has anyone I know) but thought it may be helpful to others especially anyone in the latter stages of equiping an appartment or installing a line of units or simply for a comparison of what is on offer.

A good post ianj. Would agree with your nationality breakdown. I would also add that a pool does not seem to be a big plus point for Italians but being close to the beach certainly is. Interesting, how prices vary between regions. I agree completely that piling will add significantly to the price. Comune charges for permissions are around €3k here and surrounds which are often in grantite cost around €3k as well. Landscaping around €3k and internal tiling with fixing agent grout such as Kerapoxy a further €3-€5k.

 Even €25k may be too optimist. I've knowledge of around six pools all built in the last few years (maybe slightly bigger than 8 x 4, but not significantly) and total costs were around the €40k mark in each case.

 B Barbie and Ken, think you mean "google flocculante" not flocculent.