Many an English person arrives in Abruzzo with ideas that they will go househunting. On that housenhunting trip they plan to see at least 8 houses a day. Now in Britain you might even be able to do that in a morning. In Abruzzo, it is impossible. You would in fact be lucky to see 2-3 houses a day.

Why does househunting in Abruzzo take so long?

Simply because there needs to be several people present usually.

If you choose a house over the internet there will undoubtedly be an intermediary or introductory Agent. So they will need to be there.

The Italian estate agent will also be there.

The house owner may also be there.

Normally Italians do not arrive alone, so each one of these parties may be 2 people or more. Try getting 8 people, all with different views and opinions around a small Italian house.

Then what happens is as one person tries to describe the house the others may interject, or disagree and this results in one big merry argument that can last for hours. Add to that the fact that some people may be late turning up. Your guide might struggle to find rural properties and the fact that more than likely everything that is said will have to be repeated to be translated to you into English.

If you are British you may assume that all the particulars for the house are agreed before the house goes on sale and that the representatives would be aware of them. That would be folly. They are not, in fact, most of the time while you are walking around the property the various parties involved in the process are literally negotiating  as to what is included, what is not, and the price etc.

Add all these things together and what you have is a very time consuming process.