Buying

Buying a Holiday Caravan or Lodge

The advantages of owning a caravan holiday home are:

Caravan holiday homes represent excellent value for money, compared with other types of holiday accommodation.

A caravan holiday home comes fully furnished and equipped and will not require substantial sums for furniture and fittings.

No time-consuming gardening or odd jobs and maintenance required.

Caravan holiday homes can be self-financing if you decide to sub-let. Many parks will do this on your behalf.

Owning a caravan holiday home truly represents freedom, and a chance to 'escape' whenever the fancy takes you.

Choosing a holiday caravan

The right size for your family: Although most holiday homes are 10' wide, there's a greater sense of space in a 12' wide model.

Buy the biggest caravan you can afford - 35' long at least.

Make sure it has enough bedrooms for the whole family, preferably without some having to sleep in the lounge.

To extend the comfortable use of your holiday home into the Autumn/Spring, a good heating system is important.

If buying used, choose the newest caravan you can afford. Some parks have a limit on the age of caravan they will accommodate.

Example of annual running costs

Annual pitch fee £850
Water and sewerage £70
Rates £150
Gas (bottled LPG) £35
Electricity £45
Insurance £350
TOTAL £1,490

Some questions to ask

These area the main questions you should ask the park owner if you are about to purchase a caravan on site:

* What months is the park open
* What is the specification of the caravan
* Are there optional extras and are they included with the caravan
* What is the annual plot rental
* Are there any extra costs beyond the annual plot rental
* What facilities and services are available on site
* Is the park a member of the NCC or the BH&HPA or similar professional organisation
* How long has the park's licence still to run
* Are there any development plans in process
* Can I have a 'right to move' written into our contract?
* If we have an urgent need to sell, do you have a guaranteed 'buy back price'
* Is there a maximum age of caravans allowed on site
* Are children and pets allowed (how many pets per van)

Selling

Selling Holiday Caravans

It is fairly common practice for park owners to claim a percentage of the sale price should you decide to sell your caravan holiday home, whether they actually sell the caravan or not. The law states that where the occupier sells the home, and assigns the agreement, the park owner will be entitled to receive a transfer fee (commission) on the sale: this is usually around 10%.

However, if you do decide to sell your holiday home:

You have the right to sell your holiday home, either privately or through the park owner.

Park owners who are members of the NCC and/or BH&HPA will permit one "For Sale" notice to be displayed in the window of a home for sale, provided that it does not exceed A4 size (210mm x 297mm).

All new agreements issued under the Charter shall not place an obligation on the park home owner to sell the holiday home to the park owner.

You must consult the park owner as s/he is required to give consent to your prospective buyer, but is not allowed to withhold approval except on reasonable grounds given in writing.

Full information is published in the Code of Practice for Selling and Siting Holiday Caravans.

If you decide you would like to move your holiday home to another pitch or park, you can, but all moves are subject to the Park Owner's discretion and a charge will be made for the cost of transportation and connections that will vary according to the distance and complication of the move.

Insurance

Protect your investment

A touring caravan can represent a significant financial outlay for most caravanners. Brand new tourers cost anything from £5,000 - £20,000. New motorhomes considerably more expensive. It is also a sad fact that every year several hundred caravans and motorhomes are stolen - often from outside the family home.

Obviously there are many security devices on the market, some more effective (and expensive) than others, but at the end of the day, it is essential to have good insurance cover for your prized holiday home.

Choosing the right insurance

Caravan Insurance - A Consumer's Guide. Caravan Insurance Online, is a web site created to help you and the wider caravan community access impartial information about touring caravan insurance and related topics. They are not related to any insurance company and it is their aim to provide you with a means assessing the available services and therefore helping you make an informed decision on how best to protect your caravan.

What to check up on

• What does the policy cover?
• What security measures am I required to have
• Is the caravan/motorhome covered for touring abroad?
• What value contents cover is included?
• Can I lend it to family or friends?
• What is the excess for each claim?
• Are there any conditions for its storage?
• Is the cover new for old?
• Will there be a replacement if a holiday is imminent?

£33 million and rising...... that's the approximate value of stolen caravans that have yet to be found!

'Thiefbeaters' - Protecting your caravan from thieves is essential. Use Thiefbeaters - A 'Thatcham' Approved Theft Deterrent for peace of mind security. Professionally installed at your premises for under £180. Make sure you're protected.

Minimum cover

Obviously, you need to be covered for replacement or reimbursement if your caravan is stolen, destroyed or damaged beyond repair. This should also include all accessories you have so expensively acquired over the years.

You will also need to be covered for accidental damage, or all kinds of fire, storm, flood, theft and malicious damage.

Most insurers offer recompense for hotel accommodation if your caravan is rendered uninhabitable during a holiday away from home.

It is a wise precaution to include third party liability cover.

Another essential is to have cover for the caravan's contents while you are on holiday. When the van is in storage, no valuables should ever be left inside.

Competitions and Ticket Offers

The Motorhome & US RV Show - Shepton Mallet 12th-14th September

It’s fast approaching that time of year again when we'll all be heading to the Shepton Mallet Motorhome & US RV Show, held for the 23rd year at the Royal Bath & West showground, just south of Shepton Mallet in Somerset on the A371. If the idea of owning one of these fascinating vehicles appeals, there cannot be a better place to view and compare so many different models than at everyone’s favourite show.


Over the long weekend of the 12th-14th September new and used motorhomes from Europe and the USA will be for sale along with a host of accessories from the very latest awnings, to reversing aids and high tech electronic gear, plus a great selection of outdoor leisure clothing, all at unbeatable prices.

In addition to the exhibition, visitors staying for the long weekend have a varied entertainment programme organised for them. With cabarets on Friday and Saturday evenings and a superb firework show on Saturday night. Kicking off the Saturday evening will be the presentation of trophies to the winners of this year’s prestigious Motorcaravan of the Year Awards. There’s also a fun craft competition on the Sunday morning and a best pet show around lunchtime.

The show opens 9:30am - 6pm Friday & Saturday, 9:30am - 5pm on Sunday. Day visitor admission price is £5 per adult, accompanied children under 16 are free and day car parking is also free.

Visitors who would like to stay for the whole weekend can arrive from Thursday onwards. The weekend fee is £30 from Thursday or £25 from Friday onwards. This includes unlimited admission to the show plus all of the free evening entertainment. You can book in on the gate or obtain booking forms direct from The Organiser, Motorhome & US RV Show, Andrew House, Granville Road, Sidcup, Kent DA14 4BN 020 8302 6069 or 6150 or FAX 020 8300 2315 or download a booking form from www.stoneleisure.com

We have negotiated a special offer to give you "two for the price of one" entry to the Motorhome & US RV Show, any day of the show from 12 to 14 September 2008.

Simply download the PDF file and print off your money-saving voucher.

Get your voucher here

Shows and events

A caravan or motorhome show is a great place for manufacturers and dealers to show off their latest models, and for customers to snap up the occasional bargain.