Testimonianze

Dear Tara

It only remains for us to say to you:

THANK YOU! THANK YOU! THANK YOU!

Although we had our ups and downs and a few disappointments, your patience paid off and not only did we sell quicker than we thought, but we sold the house to some lovely people. This obviously wasn't an essential part of your brief, but we were really happy that the house has new owners who will love the place as much as we did. 

We appreciated very much all you did for us, particularly in the final days leading up to completion. We are grateful that you were able to pull together all the chaotic paperwork and the sale was able to go through - almost exactly 16 years to the day since we moved into Casa Cipresso!! It has been quite a "journey" and I'm sure we will miss that view from the terrace watching the sun set with a glass of something chilled in our hands!

Thank you for all your help, advice and hand holding! You said the house would sell and you made it happen. Grazie mille Tara.

We wish you all the best for the future.

Sally

A huge Thank You to Tara for securing the purchase of our property in Italy, especially with the restrictions of Lockdown.

Tara certainly is an extraordinary hard working professional agent who goes above and beyond. Who’s friendly enthusiasm made viewing days such a wonderfully fun experience. She has the skill to find great potential properties to match your needs.

Despite finding our property just before the 1^st Lockdown the whole process was made seamless because of Tara’s abilities. She dealt with everything from offer negotiation, the notary, getting services switched on and so much more. Not many agents would have been able to achieve this.

We can not thank or recommend Tara highly enough for everything she has done for us on our Italian journey before, during and after we had the keys to new our home.

Claire & David

Uk (Paciano)

We first contacted Tara back in May 2019 to organise viewings of some of the properties on her books in August that year. It soon became clear she was also happy to organise viewings of properties advertised by other agents too.

In August we spent a couple of fun and informative days over a weekend with Tara shuttling us around the properties we had chosen to see as well as others she thought were worthy of consideration. The week before this and the following week we visited other properties with other agents; none showed the same passion or interest in finding us the right property. Although  our first visit was unsuccessful, we remained in touch and Tara continued to send us various new proposals which we might consider.

A further two trips followed, Tara making herself available, even delaying her her holiday a couple of days to accommodate us. Working around our business commitments, Brexit and Covid restrictions Tara eventually pulled a property out of the date. It had never been advertised, fitted our long list of hopes and aspirations, with few compromises even having the "WOW factor" we were looking for.

Everything was sorted quickly, Tara working with the seller, surveyor, Notary and local authorities on our behalf, organising the electrician, plumber, gas, electrical supply and mains water ready for our arrival. On the Saturday our furniture turned up and she was there to let the removal guys in and went even further by organising local help to decant the large truck as it could not manoeuvre sufficiently to park outside the property. We arrived around 6 pm to find Tara happily helping as she had done all day.
Her commitment did not stop there, helping us gain residency, a bank account, private health insurance, Italian driving licences and even came along with us to help select a new kitchen as we have little Italian.

Throughout all our contact nothing has been too much trouble - Tara exceeded our expectations on many levels. She has become a great friend.

We would not hesitate to recommend Tara to anyone looking to buy a property/lifestyle in this beautiful area of Umbria. From your first contact you will realise why she is so highly recommended.

There are lots of properties on the market, perhaps many not readily advertised. Finding the right property for you takes time and patience but most of all an exceptionally good knowledgeable agent to act as your guide.
 

David and Diane Pringle

from Newcastle upon Tyne

Buying or selling a house in a foreign country can be a daunting task. The language, rules, legal terms are all different and can be confusing, even for the most savvy buyer. And in Italy, the constantly changing bureaucracy alone can be very stressful.
You need a professional who knows the system to help you with the purchase of your dream home.
Tara will guide you through every step of the process; all the while calming your nerves and handling all the behind-the-scenes negotiations and paperwork needed to get the deal done.
Tara helped us close on the sale of our house the first day of lockdown. And then arranged to get us in to the notary to close on the purchase of our new home one week later. We couldn’t have done it all without her.

Anna & Peter Zin

We were fortunate to make friends with Tara during our time in Panicale, primarily as a first class real estate agent who helps us find a lovely apartment in the town centre with a lake view. From then on our paths crossed many times as she supported us with the sale of the apartment and also the potential sale of another property.

Tara continuously went way beyond reasonable expectations, whether that be with translation, negotiating a deal, taking care of the various legal requirements, or simply in organising services and ensuring everything was as it should be.

We made a good friend in Tara and whilst we were in Panicale she was the support that we couldn’t have done without.

Whilst our paths may not cross again we would have no hesitation in recommending her to anybody who was serious in finding the right property. Beyond that we wish her all the very best in the future.

Robin, Thea & Isabella Windley

Spain

I was referred to Tara from Il Castello di Tara through a longtime family friend that purchased property in the Panicale, Perugia area of Umbria.  It was mid-2017 and I was planning a trip to Panicale to visit family friends in December for Chistmas.  I e-mailed Tara and asked if she had availability around Christmas to show me a few available properties.  I informed her that I was most interested in purchasing a farmhouse with a bit of land, as I was on a quest to find my Umbrian dream farm!  She made time to meet me and my Family during a VERY COLD Christmas week.  While she showed me a variety of homes and apartments and thoroughly explained the pros and cons of each property, our first stop was a home she had already scouted with me and my needs in mind.  I fell in love.  Alas, the long negotiations with the owner never culminated into a transaction as they decided to keep the property.  I was heartbroken.  The experience helped me focus on my needs in a property (walking distance to town and a fair bit of land).  Eight months later in August of 2018, I received an e-mail from Tara with a property that had just come on the market meeting my needs!  It needed a lot of work, but had all the potential in the world... I was ready.  I hopped on a plane, saw the property, and I instantly knew it was my new home!  Not only was Tara an exquisite negotiator, she even helped me source builders/goemetras to interview and provide estimates of the work needed prior to making an offer on the property!  I have never felt more comfortable closing on a home than I did with my home in Panicale....the irony being that I am a foreigner!  Part of the process in searching for a home in Umbria is discovering what YOU truly need/want in a new home.  Tara truly cares about that process, listened to me and protected my interests.  I will never forget this experience and I will never forget Tara. 

Robert Spencer

Denver, USA

A huge Thank You to Tara for securing the purchase of our property in Italy, especially with the restrictions of Lockdown.

Tara certainly is an extraordinary hard working professional agent who goes above and beyond. Who’s friendly enthusiasm made viewing days such a wonderfully fun experience. She has the skill to find great potential properties to match your needs.

Despite finding our property just before the 1^st Lockdown the whole process was made seamless because of Tara’s abilities. She dealt with everything from offer negotiation, the notary, getting services switched on and so much more. Not many agents would have been able to achieve this.

We can not thank or recommend Tara highly enough for everything she has done for us on our Italian journey before, during and after we had he keys to new our home.

Claire Hewertson & David Powell

UK

Ex Pats in Italy thinking of purchasing property here are often intimidated by stories of long delays, bureaucracy and so on. While these tales can be true, it isn't always the case. As Canadians and long time annual visitors to Italy and Panicale specifically, we were renters. And then, for a variety of reasons, we decided to buy.

Our experience with Tara, from showing us various properties, to taking possession of our new home, took 2 weeks. Tara and her associate Marta worked expeditiously, professionally and with our interests always in the forefront. This team knows the language, the process, the people and everything else needed to make a dream reality.

And there's more! We wanted some work done inside our new home. Tara brought us a qualified and reputable contractor and during our absence worked as our eyes and ears to oversee construction keeping us informed all the while.

She has been marvelous and we would recommend her to all.

Robert and Wendy Chrystian

Grimsby, ON. Canada /Il Casone, Panicale

Ex Pats in Italy thinking of purchasing property here are often intimidated by stories of long delays, bureaucracy and so on. While these tales can be true, it isn't always the case. As Canadians and long time annual visitors to Italy and Panicale specifically, we were renters. And then, for a variety of reasons, we decided to buy.

Our experience with Tara, from showing us various properties, to taking possession of our new home, took 2 weeks. Tara and her associate Marta worked expeditiously, professionally and with our interests always in the forefront. This team knows the language, the process, the people and everything else needed to make a dream reality.

And there's more! We wanted some work done inside our new home. Tara brought us a qualified and reputable contractor and during our absence worked as our eyes and ears to oversee construction keeping us informed all the while.

She has been marvelous and we would recommend her to all.

Robert and Wendy Chrystian

Grimsby, ON. Canada /Il Casone, Panicale

Na een lange zoektocht met verschillende makelaars troffen wij Tara van het makelaarskantoor Immobilare Il castello di Tara in Panicale.
Vanaf het eerste moment viel ons op hoe punctueel zij was in haar afspraken. Heel prettig was dat. Ze bracht ons diezelfde week naar een paar huizen die eigenlijk allemaal in de smaak vielen bij ons. Ze had dus heel goed geluisterd naar onze wensen.

We hebben toen via haar ons droomhuis gekocht. Ze heeft ons van te voren precies verteld wat we konden verwachten rond de aankoop en verwerving van een huis in Italie. Optimale begeleiding!

Tara kunnen we vertrouwen in haar adviezen. Dankzij haar kunnen wij echt genieten van onze droomplek in Italie!
Fam. Lemmink

When my daughter and myself met Tara for the first time she drove us around to see properties in her old red Fiat Panda. It was classic! I knew at that moment that if I’ll buy a property in Italy it will be through Tara’s agency. For almost a year I asked her so many questions that a regular agent would have preferred  not to see me as a client. But Tara is not an ordinary agent. 

She is a rare combination of a very professional agent running a very efficient office in the beautiful town of Panicale with a very human care for her clients. This combination has made her so trustful which is so important for overseas clients who are not familiar with the Italian procedures of buying properties in Italy. Tara really loves her job of matching people with houses. It is indeed a “matchmaking”!

Tara’s after sale assistance is absolutely great. She and her office helps with every issue, be it bills and local taxes, calling plumbers or any help required. It is a huge relief for me to know that there’s someone who can help me out. 

She really plays it up to her slogan: “It is not just the Property, it is the Life” - every word is so true!
The old romantic red Fiat Panda has become a new black Panda but Tara is the same, a wonderful woman and a great agent!

Amir Meirom
Jerusalem, Israel

We want to say a massive thank you to Tara at Il Castello di Tara for making our dreams come true.

Tara’s help through the process was constant and reassuring, while in no way intrusive. Tara assisted us in a fair and transparent negotiation with our seller, undertook checks to ensure the property was free in title; arranged the notary, translation, and all in all made it a supremely efficient and easy transaction.
What makes Tara special though is that she goes above and beyond for her clients and is extremely caring and considerate.

…Tara not only sorted the utilities into our name, but made sure the boiler was working properly, so the house was all set up for us to move in on the day. This made the whole experience perfect. Tara’s wealth of local contacts and experience meant she was able to guide us with surety so we could realise our dream.

... Tara som på ett mycket trevligt sätt visade oss runt bland de olika alternativ som fanns tillgängliga. Hon gav oss inte bara en utmärkt hjälp vid köpet av våningen, utan gav – och ger oss fortfarande – ett starkt stöd i alla de praktiska frågor och regler som uppstår i samband med ett lägenhetsköp. Vi kan varmt rekommendera Taras tjänster.

Our simple point… - your chosen real estate agent should understand and think like you in all the stages of achieving a “happy equilibrium”. Tara Acheson, the owner of Il Castello di Tara, ABSOLUTELY did so for us!

We were not the cookie-cutter, easy clients. Sorry Tara. ;-); however, Tara totally understood our macro goals, priority details, and the timeline for our search. She worked with us while tirelessly communicating in and outside of her time zone. Tara and her staff were quick learners absorbing all of our complex wish-list items, which took us through multiple towns in multiple provinces of Italy. With Tara’s tenacity of working with the group of secondary agents, her flexibility to our flying-from-overseas schedule, and recommendations of notarial services, banks, etc. our equilibrium was achieved – we have found our dream property in Lucca, Toscana.

THANK YOU TARA AND IL CASTELLO DI TARA STAFF!!! Seriously, we would dare anybody to find a bi-lingual, friendly, experienced, Italy-savvy, and execution-oriented agency better than Tara’s. Don’t even try ;-)

I was so lucky to find Tara. She has been amazing. When I finalized the sale of the property in Piegaro, Umbria in the complicated three steps it was Tara that walked me through everything.
It was the little things that Tara did….

I continue to be fortunate to have Tara help me out on a small renovation, check the house in the winter and now she is doing a legal translation for me.

Buying property for a Canadian in Umbria, Italy is no simple task. I was very fortunate to find Tara to walk me through all the processes, paper work and guide me through the sometimes Italian maze of eventual property ownership.
I highly recommend Tara. She is professional, knowledgeable and is competent in real estate transactions. Most importantly, her costs and fees are reasonable and there was no hidden expenditures in my transaction….I was amazed how smooth it all went. I think a large part of that was due to Tara’s diligence behind the scenes.

I am now thinking about buying some land and I would not go to anyone else but Tara Dunn Acheson in Panicale.

Tara Dunn Acheson has a very unusual quality in a realtor… she listens. Over many years I have looked at quite a lot of properties, and Tara is the only person who ever listened to what I said…

Usually when you are house hunting, you wind up wasting time, energy and patience being taken around to see completely unsuitable properties: I get frustrated. Tara will not do this to you.

I also recommend Tara highly for her supportive and comprehensive efforts on behalf of her clients. She is truly a pleasure to work with. And she quickly found me exactly right place to buy.

The emotions of buying a home are especially high when purchasing in a foreign country. However, when working with someone as special as you, who immediately knew our heart, they are all wonderful emotions!

You brought us to the perfect home for us, you listened and took us in a direction we had not planned but ended up being perfect. Thank you!