5 Things to consider when buying a house on lake garda

Buying a home means investing a large part of your time (and money) into a tangible, physical asset.

This has both advantages and disadvantages: the upside is that, being a physical investment, it can be seen, touched, and concretely measured (unlike, for example, stock market investments). On the other hand, like anything material, it is subject to deterioration over time.

Personally, I appreciate the level of predictability that real estate offers (even though, of course, nothing is 100% predictable).However, I realize that for me—someone who has spent the past ten years visiting and evaluating properties—viewing a house or apartment feels like opening an exciting new book. For those not in the field, though, this kind of assessment can seem overwhelming.

That's why I’ve put together my "Top 5 Technical Aspects to Check When Viewing a Property for Purchase," especially in the areas surrounding Lake Garda:

🔹 Rising damp

This is perhaps the most critical point and is particularly problematic in areas near Lake Garda due to the soil composition, which often features clay or sandy substrates with high water retention capacity. These materials encourage moisture accumulation in the subsoil, which can rise through building walls via capillary action.If you are considering a ground-floor property or one with a basement, it’s essential to check the base of the interior walls for moisture stains, assess the ventilation—especially in underground spaces—and ask the seller about the waterproofing systems in place.Good signs to look for include: dust on the floors, presence of mechanical ventilation systems (VMC) on the ground floor, and stable, defect-free floors and walls.

🔹 Electrical system

Across Lake Garda and indeed throughout Italy, the electrical system is one of the easiest elements to cosmetically "upgrade" when selling a property—while leaving hidden issues untouched. Replacing it can be costly, so a careful check is essential.First, look at the outlets and switches. If they seem new, that’s a good sign, but not definitive proof that the entire system has been updated.Sellers often replace only the visible elements.A few tips: inspect the electrical panel—how many circuit breakers are there? A modern system will usually have many. Is there a functional grounding system? How many outlets are there per room?

🔹 Stormwater management system

In rapidly expanding areas like the southern part of Lake Garda, the public drainage infrastructure often struggles to keep up with new residential developments. It’s important to ask the seller about the property's water drainage system and whether hydraulic invariance measures have been implemented—these help control rainwater discharge into municipal systems, reducing risks of overload.

🔹 Landscape and environmental regulations

Proximity to hydrogeological basins often brings stricter zoning and renovation regulations.Always consult your technical advisor to verify whether your renovation ideas would be permissible under local administrative regulations.

🔹 Floor structure stratigraphy

Unlike exterior wall insulation (which can usually be improved later with interventions like external cladding), the structure between floors is much harder—and more expensive—to modify once built.This is especially crucial in apartment buildings: a well-constructed floor slab improves soundproofing between units, boosts privacy, and enhances thermal insulation.