What a pleasant surprise to see your video. Thank you for sharing your progress! On a future road trip you may consider Graz Austria and then Ljubljana and Lake Bled in Slovenia. All were splendid this past autumn. I really love Switzerland but can’t afford to stay very long! 😂

I said to myself: another abandoned project! I am wrong! I said July 2024 for the end of the work, I wasn't really wrong in the end! Glad to see you again, good luck, and continue to enjoy life!

We like to travel from the UK through Switzerland into Italy as its part of the holiday and allows you to decompress from "home state" to "italy state". We have flown, but the transition is too abrupt we feel,. much prefer the drive down. Haven't found our Italian dream project yet, but its fun looking.

Thanks for the update - we've been wondering how the work on the house was going. FYI Laura and I honeymooned around Lake Garda. Beautiful area and good food.

Hi Darren, I am doing my annual review of the channels I subscribe to and wanted to ask whether you will be continuing with your renovation journey or posting any updates as it has been over a year since your last one? Many thanks.

Darren hi... hope all is going well with your self and the property...I've just brought a property in Barga myself and would love to communicate with you Regards Ralph

I' am going for 2 years from the day of this video

First step: don't have kids 😂

3 years

The whole video is talking. I thought this was about a house. Lol.

Any updates on progress of the beautiful house ?

Hello!!! I loved the few videos you’ve posted but see they are a year old. Will you be posting new episodes? I want to subscribe but fear that you may not be doing anymore updates. Good luck either way.

Happy 2023! Any news ??

What happened??

I’ll saw March 15, 2024.

October 2023

I m very jealous of you project. Your house has amazing potential, and an extraordinary view of the valley and mountains beyond. Bravo. If i owned your property I would walk from my car park into my kitchen. That amazing fire place and a window in the right spot for a sink and a door going out to the exteaordinary view is screaming to me kitchen, kitchen, k...... Also a nice little terrace with a chair or two and table for coffee is great, but I see a terrace the width of the back of the house and at-least 6' or 8' or 10' off the house, or what ever. It might also be accessed from the other room in the walk in level with the great room. And also have that terrace project built so that it can accommodate yet another level of terrace for the two bedrooms to enjoy from the $$$ shot. I think you deserve terrace off your bedroom, maybe not your guests or why not? Maybe even extend it to the guest BR. Also, now that we are talking about the guest room, Im thinking about two bedroom each with their own en-suite. When you walk up the stairs to the top level you might find yourself on a vestibule, with a door to the left, your BR and a door to the right the guest room. The two new bathroom can be back to back, sharing the common way to water supply and water removal. Now I am not suggesting that each BR be the same. I would extend my Bath Room into the guest BR and also take the front window, possibly, for our bathroom.. Im thinking the guest room bathroom has the side of the house window and the master BR has a yet to be determined amount of front wall maybe both window and a closet too. Perhaps a ½ bath on the middle level under the guest bathroom.

What a project!

A guess your house will be livable in Summer 2024

wow a lot of work , i recently purchased something similar . I believe in the end it will be worth it:)

Good luck with the adventure . Should be great fun

Hi Darren, I love your view. I too have recently purchased in Tuscany. We bought 2 houses in the town of Boccheggiano. Tiny little town and the houses were unbelievably affordable. We have sea views (I can see the Isola d'Elba from our 1st floor bedrooms. I am trying to start a youtube channel to show our renovations as well but things move a little slowly in Italy unless you are there full time. I am going to guess that you will have water, electricity and it's livable by September 23. I had our plans approved in September of 21 and the electricity is just starting this week. It doesn't help that there is only one electrician in our area...oh and he is also the plumber. But we have a house in Tuscany and that is all that matters!!

Puppy comes before your “kiddy” …..typical of a Brit to put an animal before his child, the Italians would agree with that sentiment……🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

I'm going to say December 2023. I hope you will show us more of the little hamlet the house is in . Good luck with everything

Fantastic. I hope you can keep some of the stone walls in the kitchen. I wonder what treasures you will find in the barn?

That view !!!!! Can't wait to see the house come together

50 k is quite optimistic for what I see and the current pricing. Good luck anyway. Do your research on the moisture in the wall. Quite tricky to deal with.

Wow. I have a twin...😄😁 in misery that is. Two years into the same journey and still not going anywhere... Also in Northern Tuscany. Pontremoli

Wishing great luck in your adventure! The view is amazing and it alone should keep you motivated through the inevitable frustrations with the famous Italian bureaucracy. Given the structural work (doors, roof, etc), the double wall on the ground floor and the installation of utilities on all levels, I’d guess early-mid 2024 before it’s truly safe and livable, so let’s say May 15, 2024.

If you want to listen to a load of waffle then this is the video for you. I switched off.

Ciao Darren. As you can see, it's a few months after you made this video. I live in Northern Tuscany. Not in the heart of the gorgeous Garfagnana, but in equally beautiful Lunigiana its neighbor. The major part of Lunigiana are on either side of the Magra River, until at the southern end, the region becomes Liguria. I'm retired now, but I lived most of my adult life in the US as a permanent resident. However, because I was born in the UK, I was able to use my UK citizenship in Italy which made everything easier, opening a bank account and getting permanent residency right away for example. Of course I moved here permanently as well, and being a one-home owner I qualify for zero IMU or property tax. I have lived here for about eleven years. My renovated stone house is said to be about 700 years old. I bought it many years ago with a lot of renovation left to do at that time. It's in an ancient borgo with great views of the Apuane mountains. So, after all that information lol, let me say that I think it will take you two years to get the house built to a place where you can comfortably live in it. And that's assuming you have reliable builders. Ask what other projects the builder has before you make an agreement. Also, Italians think all Americans are extremely wealthy and are inclined to inflate estimates. And for stone work, make sure you hire an experienced muratore (stone mason). Wishing you the best as you move forward with your renovation. Your property is in an amazing location. And it's good you have friends nearby.

Hy Darren, your house is fantastic, beautiful shape and with a magnífic view, congratulations!!!

I’d say you might get into the house for Christmas. Having done a similar renovation myself and knowing that everything slows down over the summer holiday period, you might be lucky to be there with unfinished interiors for December. Fingers crossed 🤞

Hi Darren I just found your vlog and I too am just about to settle on an unseen house in Tuscany which I’ve bought during the lockdown, all the way from Australia! I bet you’re so excited about getting there, as are we! Best wishes…very cute puppy!

Fix the roof first. Looking forward to many videos of your project. You are embarking on a journey I have dreamed of taking myself.

January 2023--Good Luck!

November 2022, I will be anxiously watching because I want to get a ruin and renovate as well. 😊

Ya, my vote is October 23! Best of luck.

Easter 23 - the honey from that region will also make a good prize! Good luck!

May 5, 2023. LOVE YOUR VIEW!!! Oh my dog! I hope it doesn’t seem pretentious if I offer some advice: enjoy the messy, scary exhilarating journey. Every day.

How much does it cost to prevent an earthquake in this area? Yes, the view is intoxicating, just like your antidote to the roof quote. But soberly speaking, how much is the risk worth? Is there a market to re-sell the house in the event of your sudden death, or some other disaster? How will beneficiaries feel about inheriting this investment? Are you willing to take a complete loss if a disaster strikes? Is there disaster insurance available? I think I would love to live in Italy, especially with a view like yours, but I don't have enough money to warrant such a risk, and I'm too old now to gamble so high. Watching videos like this one give me a chance at vicarious pleasure, without the heart palpitations and anxiety. Thank you for sharing.

My house is currently livable but I want some garden refurbishment done, interior painting, air-conditioning fitted, new bathroom + kitchen fitted - have been told Summer 2023!!! One reason being the garden wall needs permission to be touched so this permit can take 5 months to get 🤦🏻‍♀️ 😆 So for your dream house I'd have to guess Easter 2024 but I would hope earlier of course so you can enjoy it sooner ♥️

Thank you for the update ❤️

It has great bones ! We are doing a similar project quite near to you ! It's a wonderful area, with plenty to see and do, soak in the culture, the wine and amazing food ! Enjoy the journey as you bring it back to it's former beauty.

Good luck ! We are doing a similar project in Tuscany too , i think we are near to you (Garfagnana) i recognise those mountains ! Enjoy your renovation journey 😁

Livable... August 13th

Hey Darren, I guess march 23, if you really get going. Remember that the "normal" bonuses are still available, although you are probably too late for the Superbonus. My project is moving along. The cost of materials is a little concerning, but manageable at this stage. I wrote a bit about it on my blog about my house if you want to have a look

April 2023

September 2022

Hi. Nice Chanel! I bet on Dec 2023