Cassandra Kane and her husband, Lorenzo Berchielli, embarked on an adventurous journey to buy a three-bedroom apartment in Florence, Italy. This was Kane's first experience purchasing property, made even more challenging by her lack of fluency in Italian. Despite the hurdles, the couple successfully acquired the apartment for 390,000 euros ($406,836 USD) and a garage for an additional 30,000 euros ($31,295), all while navigating the intricacies of the Italian real estate market.
The couple's search for their ideal home began with extensive online research and tours of over 30 properties within six months. Their goal was to find a spacious apartment within the city limits of Florence but not directly in the bustling center. Kane and Berchielli were determined to save on renovation costs by spending minimal time in a rental, opting instead to live in a one-bedroom apartment owned by Berchielli until they found their dream home.
The learning curve was steep for Kane, particularly when she discovered that final inspections are not mandatory in Italy—a significant difference from her expectations. After signing the contract of sale in January to prevent the sellers from showing the property to other potential buyers, Kane reflected on the importance of self-advocacy throughout the process.
"You need to make sure that you understand everything. You need to be your own biggest advocate. If you don't feel like somebody is working right for you or doing what you know you're paying these people for, ask the question," – Cassandra Kane
The couple's decision to purchase the apartment was influenced by a unique aspect of their new home: a mural that Kane feared would be lost if another buyer painted over it.
"That was a sign that we needed to buy the apartment," – Cassandra Kane
"Because somebody else was going to buy it and paint over the mural and that would have been a tragedy." – Cassandra Kane
Kane's journey to Italy began with a leap of faith following her instincts.
"Something inside me was like, 'You're 28 years old, and you're single; just go to Italy. Go for a year, and you can always come back," – Cassandra Kane
"But if you don't, you're going to regret that you didn't have that experience." – Cassandra Kane
This decision led her to not only find love but also establish her luxury accessories brand, Sieme, in 2021. The brand specializes in crafting pieces from repurposed leather. Additionally, Kane co-founded Zerolab, a sustainable design hub that collaborates with luxury brands to recover and repurpose excess leather. These ventures reflect her passion for innovation and sustainability.
Despite the challenges of renovating their new home, the couple embraced creativity and thriftiness. They purchased a used kitchen on Facebook Marketplace and undertook some of the renovation work themselves. While the apartment is still a work in progress—with bare light bulbs hanging from the ceiling—Kane and Berchielli find joy in the transformation process.
Kane's favorite aspect of living in Italy is discovering unique historical pieces within their old apartment, such as leather-bound books dating back to the 1800s and 1900s. These finds add character and depth to their living space, further fueling their enthusiasm for their new home.
Throughout the journey, Kane emphasized the importance of asking questions and being proactive during the homebuying process.
"It's your money and it's going to be your home. The only way out is through so literally ask all the questions." – Cassandra Kane
The couple's determination to secure a three-bedroom apartment stemmed from Kane's foresight about their future needs.
"I'm very happy that we ended up getting through the whole process because when my husband was saying he didn't understand why we needed an apartment that big, I was like, 'Because we're never doing this again,'" – Cassandra Kane
Kane expressed relief and satisfaction now that the purchase is behind them.
"We're very happy that it's done and we know we're going to stay here for a long time and now we just get to invest in making it our home." – Cassandra Kane