In Milanese palazzi the porter's lodge is an institution. The booth at the entrance, the porter who knows everyone by name, the post sorted into pigeonholes, the keys left for the plumber. For decades it was the norm; today, in many buildings, it has become a memory.
In prime homes, however, it has once again become one of the first questions clients ask me.
What a porter really does
The porter is not just a caretaker. In a good building they are a trusted figure who:
- receives parcels and deliveries, ever more numerous;
- screens access, knows the suppliers and notices who does not belong;
- follows small maintenance jobs and alerts the building manager to problems;
- keeps the keys and opens the home when the owners are away;
- guarantees discretion, for many the most valuable service of all.
The porter is the first person your guests meet. They tell the story of the building before your home does.
What it costs
The cost of the porter, with the lodging and contributions set by the national collective agreement, is shared among owners according to the building's ownership tables. In a palazzo with a few large apartments it weighs more on each; in one with many units it is diluted. It is an item to know before buying, together with the other service charges.
Why many buildings gave it up
Over the past twenty years many palazzi have replaced the porter with video entry systems, cameras and outsourced cleaning, sometimes selling the porter's flat to fund other works. It is an understandable choice to contain costs, but it often changes the character of the building.
The value for buyers
Between two similar apartments, the one in a building with a porter is generally more sought after, especially by families who travel, international buyers and people who live alone. It is not unusual for this very service to tip the choice from one home to another.
Some new buildings, like those in CityLife or Porta Nuova, offer concierge services that revive the same idea in contemporary form. But in the historic palazzi of the centre the porter keeps something unique: the memory of the place.
When you visit a home, stop for two minutes at the porter's lodge. You will learn a lot about the building, and how it is cared for.
Real estate advisor · Milan