My search for an apartment has been stymied by the 1950s-style methodology used in the real estate industry here.
First, there is no concept of Multiple Listing.... No, it's worse than that really... There is no appetite to 'split the commission'. So, you, The Agenzia, have some listings, you have to leave the office to show them, there may not be anyone in the office when another renter/buyer comes by to look... so they keep walking down the street to the next shop with photos in the window. You've potentially just lost a commission. Because, in the mind of The Agenzia, you must get the whole commission. The idea that making 3 simultaneous half-commissions is more Euro in your pocket than 1 whole commission hasn't taken hold. Not even sure if it's been introduced, or if the messenger bringing such a sacrilegious thought was shot on sight.
Next, the most desireable lease in Italy is the 4 + 4 -- meaning the renter is guaranteed to be able to stay 4 years, with an option to renew for another 4 at the end. For this reason (I think!) the owner has a long lead time knowing when the current renter is leaving... and The Agenzia starts advertising really early. I called this week on a great apartment -- it comes available in April... 6 months from now. And, get this, when you call about an apartment on Via 123, and they tell you it's available in April, and you say I need an apartment now, THERE IS NO UPSELLING. They don't say "You know, I've got this great apartment available right now..." Only one guy has said anything like that to me.
Next, The Agenzia work normal Italian office hours. Meaning, they work the same hours that YOU are working. No holidays. Definitely no Sundays! And I haven't been able to find anyone who will show me apartments on Saturdays. As a person with a NEW JOB, relying on public transportation, it is very dicey to try to see an apartment between classes in a different part of town. This bit me last week, and I won't play that game again.
Allora, today my classes are cancelled because the corporation my students work in gave them 3 full days of holiday, giving them a 5 day "bridge" weekend. I'm sitting here, calling in broken Italian, hoping to find at least one apartment I can see TODAY or Saturday.
Great idea of the Day: If an ambitious realtor were to come to Milano and open an agenzia where you will show when it is convenient for the customer, and you will split commissions with the other Agenzia, you could make a fortune! Advertise in the universities that you speak fluent English, and you will become The Rental Regent!