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A Guide To Buying A Static Caravan

When it comes to spending a lot of your hard earned money on something like a static caravan, you want to get it right the first time so it’s best to follow a guide to make sure you have everything covered. By following our guide we will ensure that you’ve thought about every aspect that should impact the purchase of your static holiday home.

 
Buying a static caravan is a huge lifestyle choice. Purchasing one will give you a cosy home from home to relax in when you need a little escape from reality and to spend quality time with family, however, it’s essential to keep on top of the maintenance.
 
The process of purchasing your static caravan can sometimes be daunting with an overwhelming amount of information to take in, so Caravansforsale is here to help!
 
 

Make, model and layout

 
Static caravans come in all the specs, from basic to highly luxurious. It’s completely your choice which spec you choose and is only dependant on your preferences, needs and budget.
 
If you plan to spend longer durations in your holiday home you want to consider selecting the spec that has all the features you need, for example, a kitchen and toilet facilities.
 
It’s important to keep in mind your budget, you don’t want to choose something of a high spec and be struggling to keep up with the finance agreements. It’s better to go for something that you know you can afford and is within your budget range.
 
 

Park location

 
When choosing a location for your holiday home, be sure to choose a place you absolutely love, as this will be where you go to enjoy your time out.
 
Once you have chosen a city/place you love, it’s time to think about the facilities around you. If you have children you might want an area that has attractions, outdoor activities or access to the local countryside. Think about the things that would suit you and your family.
 
Make sure you consider the distance from your home. You might not want to travel too far, so choose somewhere that is only a couple of hours away so you are able to make the most of your holiday home.
 

 

The Park

 
Now you’ve thought about the location of your park, it’s time for the next step.
Each park will have a number of different features that will suit different types of holiday goers, all with their pros and cons. For example, if you are looking for a quiet retreat you may not want to choose a park that facilitates for most families with children.
 
Visiting potential parks is a must. This will allow you to get a feel for what it's like there. You can visit parks by attending sales days or renting a caravan there of your own. If you choose to rent a caravan at the park and then go on to purchase one there, let them know, they sometimes refund the price of your holiday if you end up purchasing a holiday home at their park.
 
Think about your profile, are you a family with young children, young adults or retirees?
Parks usually have a recommended profile type that they are suitable for, make sure you choose a park with a profile type that fits your profile.
 
Most parks are open for a duration of 10 to 11 months of the year and close during off-peak season for maintenance, while others are open all year round allowing you to enjoy even more time in your holiday home, over the Christmas period. It may be worth checking on the parks opening seasons if that's something you would be looking to do.
 
Always check to see if parks have an owner’s association as this can be a valuable source of information to a buyer.
 
 

Pitch Location On The Park 

 
If you manage to find the right park for you, you want to think about the location of the pitch on the park’s premises as this is just as important as the park's location. Ask what pitches are available and consider the cost of each pitch’s fee. Think about whether the pitch is close to any facilities like toilets and showers. A good view may also be something you wish your holiday home to have. Pitches with a great location and good views often come at a higher price so make sure you allow for this in your budget.
 
 

Budget

 
Think about the amount you are willing to spend on your holiday home, this isn’t just the price of the static caravan, it is also things like maintenance, running costs and cleaners’ fees.
 
Running costs are a major thing to consider because as well as the large outlay for initially buying the caravan you will also have ongoing costs to keep the caravan running in tip-top condition. You will also have to pay things like monthly site and cleaners’ fees if you wish to have them. You also need to bear in mind that there may be repair fees to come over the years of owning a static caravan.
 
Consider what payment plans are available to you through the park. It would be worth asking for additional information on these to find out exactly how they work, this way you can work out if it's affordable for you.
 
Here are a few things to think about regarding running costs:
 
  • Site Fees - The rent of the pitch that your caravan stands upon. Think about potential increases throughout the year that it may have.
  • Gas - Gas is a source of power for your holiday home and is usually supplied by the bottle unless the park has a mains gas supply.
  • Insurance - You will need insurance on your caravan and its content, this will give you cover in case anything gets damaged.
  • Electricity - Another source of power for your holiday home and different parks will charge different rates.
  • General Maintenance - Some things may need to be replaced over time due to wear and tear.
 
 

New or Used

 
Of course, buying something used is always cheaper than buying something new, however, maintenance and repair costs on an older or used static caravan may catch you out later down the line, so while you may be saving money now, you may be spending it on repairs in a few years. If you do choose to buy a used caravan, take into consideration how old it is, you don't want to be purchasing something that will need to be renewed in a couple of years anyway. Be sure to carry out all the necessary checks on a used caravan before buying as this will decrease the risk of large outlays on repairs.
 
 
Buying a new static home may be more pricey but they usually come with some kind of warranty, so you may be covered for any faults in the first few months. However, faults and repairs are less likely in a new holiday home.
 
It’s sometimes an idea to write down all the pros and cons of buying a new or used home to help you decide.
 
 

Buying Options

 
If you chose to buy a used Static home, you will have the choice to buy from either the park or privately. For static homes, it's unusual that you would buy privately as this doesn’t have the benefits of the parks team members being there to help you every step of the way. When you buy a static home from a park everything is included, whereas if you buy from a private seller you are just buying the unit.
 
Again you may want to write a list of all the pros and cons against each buying option and see which ones best for you.
 
 

Viewings

 
Make sure you view your caravan before agreeing or signing anything. If you are buying a used caravan, you need to check that everything is as it was advertised.
 
There are a number of things to check, especially if you are buying from a private seller. For example, make sure all of the appliances are functioning correctly, or as they were described in the ad, and make sure there are no damp areas in the caravan, as these things can be costly to repair.
 
Ask any questions that spring to mind, the seller is there to provide all the information you need so make sure that if you are unsure on anything that you ask.
 
If you are buying a used holiday home, here are a few things to check:
  • Fittings - You will want to check all of the cupboards and doors etc to make sure they all open and close with ease.
  • Beds - If the caravan has pull-out beds then you will want to ensure that they are all working well. Pull them out and check the slats and be sure to test any retractable bunk beds.
  • Water system - We would also recommend that you get the owner of the caravan to demonstrate how the pumping system works along with the taps, to make sure that everything is in working order.
  • Gas - As with the water system, it’s also wise to check that the gas works properly and is all safe and sound.
  • External checks - You should also take a look at the outside of the caravan. Check its grab handles are secure and look for other signs of damage. Keep an eye out for cracks or damage to the awning rail. Dents and scratches should result in the price dropping slightly.
 

Renting

 
Think about whether you want to rent your caravan out when you aren’t using it. Whilst you are unlikely to make a profit on your holiday home, this may cover general maintenance fees.
 
Many parks offer their own rental services where they deal with the bookings and caravan cleaning in between guests, however, this will come at extra costs. Alternatively, you can decide to do it all yourself, but this may take a lot of your time.
 
 

Depreciation

 
Do not enter the purchase of a caravan with a view to making a profit as the value of static caravans will depreciate, this can’t be avoided.
 
If you decide later down the line that you would like to get rid of your static caravan, your holiday park would usually offer to buy it off you. However, they will offer you the price that the caravan is valued at and no more.
 
You could also sell your caravan privately but the park will have rules and guidelines that it imposes on private sales, so make sure you inform that park first and find out any guidelines they may have.
 
 

Completing The Purchase

 
Make sure you read through the purchase agreement carefully before signing anything. The agreement will outline rights and responsibilities for both the buyer and seller and answer any questions you may have on the agreement.
 
Make sure you have been given all the documents needed to hand over the ownership of the holiday home.
 
Read through your finance agreement before signing it to make sure everything is as agreed. They are usually the best way to spread the cost of your purchase over an extended period of time. Most caravan parks know this and will offer finance agreements of their own.
 
Make sure that you don’t enter into any agreements that you may not be able to afford and be sure to look at the terms and conditions of any loan agreements.
 
Spencer Thomas
Marketing Executive
Published on 17-09-2020