Dealing with Italian brokers

[[3889]]

I'm off to view a boat in Italy next week and have (almost) come to terms with the fact that I, as the buyer, am expected to pay the fee of the broker appointed by the seller. At least it's only C. 50% of the the more usual arrangement of sellers meeting brokerage fees. Anyway, what I would like forewarning of is any other peculiarities in the Italian boat sale process. I've previously bought boats in UK, France and the Netherlands which all operated on the view-offer-acceptance-deposit-survey-purchase/revise/withdraw model.
I'd be grateful for any experiences of buying through Italian brokers.

 

[grumpy_o_g]

I'm off to view a boat in Italy next week and have (almost) come to terms with the fact that I, as the buyer, am expected to pay the fee of the broker appointed by the seller. At least it's only C. 50% of the the more usual arrangement of sellers meeting brokerage fees. Anyway, what I would like forewarning of is any other peculiarities in the Italian boat sale process. I've previously bought boats in UK, France and the Netherlands which all operated on the view-offer-acceptance-deposit-survey-purchase/revise/withdraw model.
I'd be grateful for any experiences of buying through Italian brokers.

Try the Mobo forum - I believe they have a couple of very keen Italian members, not that you could tell for the quality of the English in the posts. Mapism and Portofino spring straight to mind. The impression I've got from third-hand stories is that some brokers don't mind taking advantage of the fact that you don't know the legal system and are a long way away if something goes wrong but that's very much an impression gained from one or two stories - and we only hear about the bad stuff of course.

 

[Dragon461]

I bought 2 yachts from Italy, the frightening bit is having to pay the deposit before survey. And only being able to withdraw if something major was found

 

[northwind]

@Whitelighter unfortunately got his fingers very burned by the Italian process.

 

[Metabarca]

Mapism is Italian and may be able to advise; Portofino is a Brit hiding in Switzerland and with a boat in Italy, but perhaps can also offer insights.

 

[Quandary]

I bought 2 yachts from Italy, the frightening bit is having to pay the deposit before survey. And only being able to withdraw if something major was found

How does that differ from the system in the UK?
If you pay for a survey without a contract you may find that you have to pay for another every time you are gazumped.

 

[[3889]]

@Whitelighter unfortunately got his fingers very burned by the Italian process.

Have PM'd him and hopefully won't cause past traumas to resurface! I've also discovered there is a E1.5k deregistration fee should anyone be interested in this process in the future.

 

[Metabarca]

Happy to read over the contract, if you need someone who understands Italian to check it out.

 

[[3889]]

Happy to read over the contract, if you need someone who understands Italian to check it out.

That's very kind, thank you. I have now seen the boat and intend to make an offer but I'm trying to get a firm grip on Italian protocols, particularly as to whether the broker owes the buyer a duty of care as they pay half the brokerage fee. It seems that professional pre-purchase surveys are unusual in Italy.