If you’re buying a home in Italy through a real estate agency, your journey starts with the purchase offer — in Italian, it’s called a “proposta d’acquisto.”
This is a formal, written offer prepared by the agency. It’s not just a simple letter of intent — it’s a legally valid document. Italian law requires every real estate agency to use a registered offer template approved by the Chamber of Commerce (Camera di Commercio). That means the format and content are standardized to protect both buyer and seller.
What’s Included in the Offer?
1. Basic Information:
Your name, address, and Italian tax code (codice fiscale), as well as the seller’s.
2. Details About the Property:
What and where it is (house, apartment, etc.)
Official property records (cadastral info)
A statement confirming the seller actually owns it
Confirmation that the property follows building regulations
That it’s free of debts or legal claims
Utility systems are compliant
Whether there’s an energy certificate — or a commitment to provide it before the sale
If it’s in a condo, an estimate of current monthly costs
3. Purchase Terms:
The agreed price
The deposit amount
How payment will be made (wire transfer, cashier’s check, or via a notary)
4. Expiration Date:
The amount of time the seller has to accept your offer.
5. Estimated Closing Date:
The offer includes a target date by which both parties intend to sign the notarial deed (rogito). If the property is vacant and both sides are ready, it’s often possible to agree on an earlier closing date later in the process.
6. Delivery Terms:
By default, the property is delivered free of persons and belongings, unless otherwise stated. Usually, keys are handed over at the notarial signing.
Additional Clauses
If the purchase involves a mortgage, the offer will include a suspensive clause depending on loan approval. It’s also common to include a legal due diligence clause, ensuring that if serious legal issues are discovered (e.g. unknown debts or construction irregularities), the contract is nullified and the deposit is returned double. Even if not explicitly stated, such buyer protection is guaranteed under Italian law.
When Do You Pay the Agency Fee?
Once the seller signs your offer, the agreement becomes legally binding, and that’s when the agency fee is due. From a legal standpoint, our job as intermediaries is considered complete at this stage.
But of course, we don’t disappear. Especially when working with international clients, we stay by your side — coordinating the process all the way through to the notarial signing. Our role simply shifts: from executing the agreement to supporting and guiding you through the final steps, making sure everything stays on track and stress-free.
Private or Notarial? When the Offer Becomes a Contract
Once the seller signs the purchase offer, it automatically becomes a preliminary agreement (preliminare di compravendita). This document is legally binding and obliges both parties to complete the sale.
In most cases, a private agreement is sufficient and fully enforceable. However, for deals involving large sums or long timeframes, the parties may choose to formalize the preliminary contract with a notary, offering additional legal guarantees.