Our Home Featured on Youtube (Brad’s World)

Our Home Featured on Youtube (Brad’s World)

This is an “out of sync” blog which I am posting mid week because this just happened!

PART 142.5: It might be interesting to share how we pulled off living in Italy for part of the year. I will post some steps and what we are learning along the way.

We love every minute of it, and what was once a dream is our life!

We live in Tuscany in the Fall, then back again in the Spring, and in California for the rest of the time (in a previous blog, I explained why we live in Italy only part of the year).

Step 1: As we explore areas in Italy, we discover some gems worth sharing. Some are well-known tourist magnets, and others are lesser-known but always amazing. 

This week let’s explore our home on a popular Youtube channel: Brad’s World.

Step 2: One of the unexpected benefits of establishing a life in Italy is meeting many interesting people. There are others out there who are looking for something more, whether it be a bigger life, more adventure or expanded horizons. It’s been exciting for us to meet expats from Sri Lanka, part timers from San Diego and home searchers from Washington DC.

The willingness to help one another along this adventurous path has been an incredible experience that we have had time and time again.

We had coffee the other day with a fantastic couple from California, who recently purchased a house in our area of Tuscany, and are about to embark on the renovation journey. We shared some of our experiences and resources, and they shared some of theirs. Then, one of them said, “Have you ever watched ‘Brad’s World’ on Youtube? He showcases homes for sale, but also produces informational videos on living in Italy. You should check him out!”

I had heard of “Brad’s World,” and have watched many of his videos.

“Brad produced a video about our house. I think he would love yours, especially since it is for sale and you guys have done such a great job. Why don’t you contact him?”

Step 3: Brad and “Brad’s World”

My partner and I have looked at many Youtube videos about real estate in Europe in general, and Italy in particular, over the years. 

But Brad’s video presentations are different.

What I find so interesting about Brad’s presentations are the fact that he does his homework. Instead of simply walking the viewer through a house for sale, he researches the town, its amenities and geography. He also makes the distinction to whether it is a seasonal town (busy in summer, empty in winter), year round or a dying town. This puts the house viewed into context, since a great house in an area that is not a good fit for someone would not have a positive ending.

Brad also is a great guy and his sense of humor comes through on his videos, making them both informational and entertaining.

So, I thought, why not contact him, to see if he is interested.

Step 4: Deadline week

We had coffee with our friends on Wednesday of this week, and we were leaving for California on Friday. “Contact him today if you can!” they urged us. 

There was just no way he could come on such short notice; we would need to wait until September, when we returned, I thought.

Brad confirmed as much; when I contacted him that same afternoon, he said he could come in a few weeks, since he was really backed up.

Step 5: Change of mind

To give him more information, I sent Brad the real estate listing, with the photos of our renovated home in Arcidosso, Tuscany. About an hour later, I got a WhatsApp from him: “Mark, you guys did a fantastic job! I love your house, and my viewers would love it too! And just 99,000 euros? If you have some time tomorrow afternoon, I will switch my schedule around so we can make the video before you leave. Can we do that?”

Uh, yeah, I said!

Step 6: Brad, his method, and Brad’s World

My first impression of Brad is that he is a great guy. My second impression of Brad is also that he is a great guy.

Brad and his wife took the leap, moved to Italy full time, and are building a life for themselves in Montepulciano. They are also helping others realize their dream of living in Italy, sharing his experience along the way.

I immediately connected with him and was happy to connect the person with the video channel.

When we met at the clock tower in our town of Arcidosso, Brad expressed his enthusiasm for our town, which is alive year round, has all the amenities as well as historical character. Brad had already done his homework, as he told me that he had already filmed the town, found out where the local hospital and grocery stores are, and created the footage necessary to put the house into context, so that a viewer could judge if it would be a good fit for them or for someone else.

I walked Brad past our 1,000 year old castle and led him through the historical center to our house. When we entered the house, Brad said, “Wow!”

I think that the video he produced says the rest.

Step 7: The link to the Brad’s World video on our home for sale: https://youtu.be/98i38kjrMQo?si=A1Uc29F1xJsqZZuW

More next time.