Client reactions

When we started looking for a house in Italy, we were convinced that Tuscany would be the place for us. That changed when Stef, Nico and Roberto introduced us to the Oltrepò Pavese. After our very first visit, we were completely won over. It is a beautiful region: authentic, welcoming, surrounded by vineyards, and still untouched by mass tourism. That is exactly what makes it so special.
From our very first contact, we felt genuinely welcome. Stef, Nico and Roberto took plenty of time to show us the area and really listened to what we were looking for. Their personal guidance, dedication and genuine interest made all the difference.
A special word of thanks goes to Roberto. His commitment is truly exceptional. He is always available, constantly thinks along with you, takes the initiative and leaves nothing to chance. Throughout the entire buying process, he supported us every step of the way with practical advice and expert guidance. Thanks to his energy, expertise and determination, we felt confident and well looked after during every stage of the process.

We look back on this wonderful journey with great pleasure and are absolutely delighted with our new home. We wholeheartedly recommend Unsognodicasa to anyone dreaming of owning a home in Italy.

Turning an Italian dream into reality, that is the goal of Un Sogno di Casa! From the very first moment we contacted them, we felt fully supported and guided on our journey to finding our dream home in Italy.
Roberto, with over 40 years of experience, is a true master of his craft. His expertise and dedication are unparalleled, and he goes above and beyond to find the right home for you. And in our case, it's not easy. Because we have an Italian dream, but it's not entirely clear what it should look like. Should we fully emigrate with everything included, or just have a second home, with the Netherlands as our permanent address? And the Oltrepò Pavese was also unfamiliar to us. What does this region have to offer and could it be something for us? That's precisely why Roberto's in-depth knowledge of the local market and this part of Italy is so valuable.
Roberto took the time to understand our wishes and needs, and then they worked tirelessly with unwavering determination to find the perfect property. Their professionalism and determination were truly admirable.

What truly sets Un Sogno di Casa apart is their dedication to the entire process, including handling all Italian bureaucracy and paperwork. As we didn't fully master the Italian language initially, we were concerned about how to approach this aspect. Fortunately, Stef and Nico (I Due Padroni) were always available as interpreters, making the whole experience as smooth and stress-free as possible. Stef and Nico quickly felt like family, always willing to help and always with a smile. Their warmth and friendliness enriched our entire experience, and we are particularly grateful to them for their support. Step by step, we are pursuing our dream. And even the journey itself is already enjoyable!

On 4 October 2023, Francesca Calcaterra left the attached review (translated from Italian) on Google. Roberto Rampinelli helped her find a house in the Oltrepò Pavese and mediated its purchase.

On 1 April 2019, we received the key to our 'Casa' in the Oltrepo Pavese. For some time, we had been working on buying our dream house. This did not go without a hitch. Fortunately, we received assistance from various people. Also from Roberto Rampinelli. It is clear that he has experience in the construction world, is knowledgeable and has the necessary contacts. Contacts from which we benefited greatly, including when we got to work on our own casa. Need a plumber? No problem - Roberto knows where to find someone. Adjusting the electrics? That's possible - Roberto knows how to find a reliable electrician. And because Roberto knows the people, you can also rely on them coming on the day and time you agreed with them. He thinks about construction issues and gives the necessary advice as well.

What is also very nice is that Roberto regularly takes a look at our house when we are staying in the Netherlands. It's a reassuring feeling to know that Roberto regularly checks whether everything is still in order. For instance when a big storm had hit the Oltrepo Pavese. Then it's reassuring that he checks whether everything is still OK there. We are very happy with Roberto as 'caretaker' at our house. He is reliable and keeps his appointments.

A few years back, my dream of living in Italy began. But how do you do that, where do you begin and where do you need to be... And especially if you don't like "The great Escapers" scenes and would like everything to be arranged in confidence. It was through the owners of B&B "I Due Padroni" that I came into contact with Roberto, he started looking for suitable properties for my project and even better for the resources to finance it. In the meantime, we were able to visit some beautiful gems together and ideas were exchanged. Contact is always good despite the fact that they are in Italy and I am still in the Netherlands/Belgium.

The communication goes via WhatsApp, video calls and sometimes a visit to Italy. They are always available and there for you. Also, the first grant application for financing the investments have been sent and I am kept informed about its progress. They always discuss the possibilities with you first and then get to work, they know the right way and know the right people to make my dream a reality.

As seasoned experts by experience, we can say that finding, buying and renovating a house in Italy is an 'adventurous' (let's use an understatement) process. In 2008, we jumped into the deep end ourselves, without the help of local confidants, gente di fiducia. And we knew it: estate agents who never let you view the houses that interest you despite your insistence, who know even less about the formal rules than you do, who don't know the area where they are offering houses at all, a plumber who turns out not to be a plumber at all and who, together with his electrician boyfriend, swindles you, a contractor... Oh well, let me stop, you can read up on our whole adventure in the book 'Living in Italy. The Real Deal'. A TV programme like "A New Life in the Sun" is fun to watch from your armchair as a disaster tourist, but experiencing it yourself in person, no.
And here's the good news: you don't have to! Since our turbulent move, we got to know Roberto Rampinelli, a contractor with decades of experience and great track record in the construction world. So when we decided a few years ago that we wanted to quit our B&B and live smaller, Roberto's qualities came in handy. Soon, through his network of contacts, he found us the ideal building site (which was not officially for sale and therefore untraceable for us).

The vendor also happened to be the engineer of the Castana municipality where the land was located, so we also found the right person to develop the building plans right away. When it was clear that a number of brokers were unable to arrange pre-financing through a mortgage on our present house, despite their sweet talk, Roberto contacted the regional manager of the bank he had already worked with in many of his previous projects. He immediately proved willing, after negotiating with us and Roberto, to lend us a decent amount of money with which the construction of our new house could start. Subsequent problems (including additional financing) were also overcome with Roberto's help. Needless to say, without Roberto's help we would never have managed to get this project off the ground. And frankly, we wouldn't have dared to embark on it either.
So when embarking on the adventurous process of buying a house (and possibly emigrating) in Italy, we cannot stress enough how important and useful the support of experienced and reliable experts on the ground is. And now they are available through
Un Sogno di Casa in the person of Roberto Rampinelli. The comprehensive services offered by Roberto through Casa di Sogno are unique and at the same time indispensable for those who want to buy a house in Italy reliably and with as little stress as possible. Mind you: even with their help, it remains an often incomprehensible and slow process for Dutch people. Unfortunately, nobody can change that. Patience with Italian bureaucratic procedures remains a very fine thing when buying a house in Italy, we know from long experience.