Professional guide · Updated March 2026
What a Geometra Does and Why You Need One
If you buy property in Italy without a geometra, you're guessing.
The geometra is the professional who tells you whether the building you're about to spend your savings on is legally what the seller says it is. This is not optional. It's the difference between buying a house and buying a problem.
The role in one line
Part surveyor, part building inspector, part planning consultant. Licensed by the state. Regulated by the Collegio dei Geometri. Must pass a state exam to practise.
What they check
Six things that determine whether your purchase is safe.
conformità catastale
Does the plan match the building?
The geometra measures the building and compares it to the Catasto floor plan. 80% of Gargano properties have some discrepancy. Minor ones may be tolerable under the 2024 Salva Casa decree. Major ones need resolving before the sale.
conformità urbanistica
Does the building match planning records?
Separate from the catasto check. A property can match its catasto plan perfectly but still be urbanistically irregular if modifications were made without permits. In Southern Italy, this happens constantly.
visura ipotecaria
Are there mortgages, liens, or court orders?
Checked at the Conservatoria dei Registri Immobiliari. The notaio also does this, but the geometra catching it early saves you time and compromesso deposits.
structural assessment
What condition is the building in?
Cracks, roof condition, rising damp, electrics, plumbing, foundations. The things that determine whether your renovation is €20,000 or €60,000.
Relazione Tecnica Integrata
The combined compliance report
Most notai now require this before proceeding. Covers both cadastral and planning conformity in one document. The geometra prepares it.
renovation permits
CILA, SCIA, catasto updates
If you're renovating after purchase, the geometra files the permits with the Comune and manages catasto updates after the work is done.
The first two — conformità catastale and conformità urbanistica — are the ones that catch foreign buyers. They sound similar but check different things. Both must pass.
What they cost
The pre-purchase survey is the best €300–500 you'll spend. It tells you what the building needs before you commit, not after.
Who works for whom
Three professionals, three allegiances. Don't assume one covers the other.
Geometra
Checks the building itself. Does it match the plans? Is it structurally sound? Are there irregularities? Their job is to tell you the truth — even if it kills the deal.
Hired by you. Paid by you.
Notaio
Checks that the transaction is legally valid. Clean title, cadastral conformity, correct tax payments. A public official serving the transfer, not you personally.
Will flag what makes the deed invalid. May not flag what's merely bad for you.
Estate agent
Matches buyers with sellers and closes transactions. Paid commission by both sides when the sale completes. Their incentive is completion.
Useful for finding properties. Not your advocate.
How to find one in the Gargano
In small towns, the geometra IS the property market.
They know every building, every family, every inheritance situation. There may be 2–3 covering a town like Cagnano Varano or Carpino. In Vieste or Manfredonia, more options.
01
Ask locally
The ferramenta (hardware store) knows every builder and geometra in the area. So does the bar. Word of mouth is more reliable than any directory.
02
Check registration
A practising geometra must be registered with the Collegio dei Geometri of their province — Foggia, in this case. You can verify this.
03
Ask about workload
Good geometri are busy. If someone is available tomorrow for a full survey, ask why. If they need two weeks, that's normal.
What to watch for
Four signs you have the wrong geometra.
They also found you the property.
Common in small towns. Not necessarily a problem, but know the dynamic: if the geometra has a relationship with the seller, their incentive to flag problems is reduced. For high-value purchases or any doubt, hire a separate geometra for the survey — one with no connection to either side.
They say “don't worry about it.”
Building irregularities in the Gargano are common. A good geometra tells you what they are, what they cost to fix, and whether they block the sale. A bad one waves them away. If your geometra dismisses a discrepancy, get a second opinion.
They don't issue fatture.
A professional working in regola has a partita IVA and issues formal invoices through the SDI system. No fattura means no paper trail, no warranty on their work, and no recourse if something goes wrong.
They rush.
A proper pre-purchase check takes time. Visit the property, measure it, request records from the Comune, compare plans, check the Conservatoria. If someone offers to do it in a day, they're cutting corners. Budget a week minimum.
If you're buying in the Gargano
Find a geometra before you find a property.
Tell them what you're looking for — budget, area, condition you're willing to accept. A good local geometra knows about properties before they reach the market. They know which buildings are sound and which will eat your renovation budget. They know which sellers are straightforward and which have inheritance complications.
The geometra is not just a technician you hire after finding a property. They're your first call.