DAY THREE: LOOKS LIKE I FOUND A NEW PLACE!
2008 November 18
Last month I wrote about having to give up the villa and moving into smaller quarters. I was hopeful that I could find a less expensive place…the high euro, the economy, and high plane fares made trying to keep my present villa very hard.
Guests who rented the villa last year were deciding not to come to Sicily, and I had figured that income as part of the plan beforehand.
I had searched all over with a price in mind that I could afford, and one of the reasons that I came here now (besides to rest) was to hopefully find something that I like, but most importantly, that I could afford.
There was a place I had found in the Messina area, but I am Catanese…that is, I prefer something in Provinca Catania…between Catania and Taormina.
Maria Pace has a friend who is a real estate agent, and guess what?
I found a terrific place|
It is a condo in Aci Castello…not far from where I am now. Aci Castillo is named after an ancient Norman castle that is still standing, on the Rivera Di Cyclopes (the Rivera of The Cyclops)…overlooking the Ionian Sea.
The place has three bedrooms, a kitchen, a living room, 2 baths,…plus a breathtaking view of the ocean. Actually it is a panoramic view…I can see from Taormina and Etna on one side to the Bay of Catania on the other…a 360degree view|
With balconies on each level (there are two levels), I can visualize myself sipping espresso on the deck every day!
In Sicily, it is a lot different when you rent a house, or in this case, a condo.
First, both parties pay the real estate agent. Usually the fee is 2 months rent each (the homeowner and tenant). In my case, since the real estate aggent is Maria’s friend, my fee will be one month’s rent. Next, the contract is for four years.
On Wednesday, I will sign the contract and pay two months security deposit (standard),and then the fun begins.
Since I return to America next week, I cannot make all the arrangements. Both Massimo and Maria will help- Massimo will make arrangements to get a mover, set up the electrical, and move my kitchen shelving over. In Italy, the tenant has to install everything…kitchen shelves, refrigerator,gas stove…everything including the light fixtures. That is another big difference.
You could get one already furnished, but only tourists do that. Since this is my residence and I already have everything from soup to nuts, the rent is much lower…..so I have to have everything installed.
Now, I have to sort through five years worth of stuff and decide what to keep and what to give away. I have a complete home set-up right now, so the biggest problem is organizing everything.
I was tackle that on Thursday, as in Sicily you never know about a deal until the ink dries!
However, the major goal of this trip appears to be achieved.
I am not counting the chickens just yet, however. In Sicily, things can (and do) go wrong. I will keep my fingers crossed until Wednesday and hope that there are no problems!
Tomorrow I will tell why you should never buy meat in Sicily on Monday. This one is a lulu!
Ciao|
