Tools & Checklists
Visit Planner: How to Scout Your Future Home
You've landed. The boxes are (mostly) unpacked. Now what? The first month sets the tone for your integration,and there's a sequence that makes life easier. This guide covers what to prioritise, what can wait, and how to avoid the chaos of doing everything at once with no plan.
The Purpose of Scouting Visits
Scouting visits aren't holidays. They're research trips with specific objectives. The goal is to gather information that helps you make an informed decision,not to fall in love with a place and then rationalize the decision afterward.
The Three-Visit Minimum
Before buying property or committing to a move, plan at least three separate visits: an initial exploration, a deep-dive into your preferred area (ideally in off-season), and a final decision trip. Each has different objectives.
First Visit: Exploration (7-14 days)
Cast a wide net. See different areas. Develop a feel for what you like and don't like.
Objectives
- Visit all four Abruzzo provinces (L'Aquila, Teramo, Pescara, Chieti)
- Experience both coastal and inland areas
- Visit towns of different sizes (city, large town, small village)
- Drive the roads at different times of day
- Note what services exist in each location
- Start learning which areas feel right and which don't
Daily Activities
- * Morning: Drive to a new area, explore on foot
- * Midday: Eat where locals eat, observe the community
- * Afternoon: Check practical amenities (shops, pharmacy, medical)
- * Evening: Return to base, make notes while fresh
Questions to Answer
- * Which province appeals most? Why?
- * Inland or coastal,what's your preference?
- * Town size: do you need services nearby or prefer isolation?
- * What's your realistic tolerance for driving/distance?
- * What surprised you (positively or negatively)?
Second Visit: Deep Dive (10-21 days)
Focus on your preferred area. Ideally visit in a different season than your first trip, and ideally in winter or shoulder season, not peak summer.
Objectives
- Stay in your target area for the entire visit
- Rent an apartment, not a hotel,simulate living there
- Establish routines: same cafe, same shop, same walk
- Meet estate agents, view properties
- Talk to expats already living in the area
- Visit the comune (town hall) to understand processes
- Test internet speeds, mobile coverage
- Explore the practical: supermarkets, medical facilities, transport
Living Like a Resident
Don't do tourist things. Do resident things:
- * Cook meals at home from local ingredients
- * Do laundry
- * Experience a rainy day stuck inside
- * Navigate bureaucracy (even just observing a queue at the post office)
- * Have a boring Tuesday with nothing planned
Questions to Answer
- * Could you see yourself doing this every day?
- * What frustrated you about daily life here?
- * How did you feel after two weeks? Energized or drained?
- * Did you find potential community (clubs, activities, people)?
- * Is the property market what you expected?
Third Visit: Decision (7-14 days)
Confirm your choice. This is when serious property viewing happens and decisions get made.
Objectives
- View shortlisted properties with fresh eyes
- Arrange independent surveys on serious candidates
- Meet with lawyer, confirm legal process
- Visit properties at different times of day
- Talk to neighbors of properties you're considering
- Get renovation quotes if applicable
- Make a decision,or decide to wait
Decision Framework
Before making an offer, you should be able to answer "yes" to all of these:
- * I've seen this area in at least two seasons
- * I understand the property's condition (survey completed)
- * I know the total cost including fees and renovation
- * I've talked to people who live nearby
- * I can picture my daily life here,boring days, not just highlights
- * My partner (if applicable) is genuinely enthusiastic
- * I'm not rushing due to pressure or fear of missing out
What to Document
Keep detailed notes. Memories blur together; documentation doesn't.
For Each Town Visited
- * Town name, province, approximate population
- * Services present: shops, bar, pharmacy, medical, school
- * Distance to nearest larger town with full services
- * Road quality and drive times tested
- * Mobile signal strength (test it, don't assume)
- * General impression: vibrant, declining, seasonal, year-round?
- * Photos of town center, residential areas, views
- * Notes on people you talked to and what they said
For Each Property Viewed
- * Full address and listing reference
- * Asking price and your assessment of value
- * Condition notes: what needs work immediately vs. eventually
- * Photos and videos (all rooms, exterior, views, problems)
- * Utility situation: connected? What type of heating?
- * Access: road quality, parking, private or shared?
- * Neighbors: who's nearby? Occupied or holiday homes?
- * Immediate negatives and positives (gut reaction matters)
Documentation Tips
- * Use a dedicated notebook or app for each trip
- * Take video walkthroughs, not just photos
- * Record voice notes immediately after property viewings
- * Save Google Maps locations for easy comparison
- * Note your energy level and mood each day (affects perception)
Red Flags to Watch For
Pressure from agents
"Another buyer is interested." "The price will go up." "You need to decide today." Good properties will still exist next month. Urgency pressure is a sales tactic.
Nobody in the village
If the streets are empty and the bar is closed, that tells you something. Visit at different times,morning, lunch, evening,to get a true picture.
Access issues
Steep or narrow roads, unpaved sections, no winter maintenance. Drive the route yourself. Consider what it's like at night, in rain, with snow.
Reluctance to answer questions
Agents or sellers who avoid specifics about property condition, legal status, or neighborhood issues. Transparency is your friend.
Your own exhaustion
Decision fatigue leads to bad choices. If you're overwhelmed after viewing 15 properties in 3 days, take a break. Come back fresh rather than forcing a decision.
The Bottom Line
Scouting visits are investments that pay dividends. The cost of three trips is negligible compared to the cost of buying in the wrong place. Treat them as research, document everything, and resist the urge to fall in love too quickly. The right place will still be right after proper investigation.
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