Five Factors To Consider Before Purchasing Static Caravans
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COVID-19 forced people to embrace unprecedented changes, including staycations. According to one report, staycations are the holiday trend, and static caravans account for 51.4% of revenue from holidays in the UK.
Static caravans are temporary leisure accommodations, serving primarily as holiday homes. The boom in local tourism makes statistic caravans seem like viable, seasonal income-generating investments. Moreover, static caravans function as free getaways, allowing you to recharge away from chaotic concrete jungles.
However, the caravans are a high-value purchase, requiring serious consideration. Below is a buyers’ guide to help you decide whether purchasing a static caravan is worthwhile.
- Cost
Cost is the most important consideration before purchasing a static caravan. Static caravans are like a second home, and while they do not cost as much as traditional homes, the buying price is prohibitive for most people.
Pricing for static caravans varies depending on the age/condition, model, size, location, and additional specifications. Also, transportation fees for static caravans bought off-site increase the purchasing cost.
Finding a static caravan to suit your budget is somewhat difficult if you are new to the static caravan space. However, you can click here for expert help finding static caravans for sale on small sites.
Nonetheless, finding a static home at a price range within your budget is only one part of the cost equation. The running costs associated with maintaining a static caravan are another finance-related aspect worth considering.
Such costs include annual site fees, maintenance fees, land rates, and amenities like gas, electricity, water, drainage, cleaning, and WiFi. Also, holiday parks typically mandate that static homeowners insure their static homes before being allowed to demarcated sites. Static caravan insurance premiums also vary depending on the market value and the type of insurance coverage you require.
Therefore, you must consider the direct and maintenance costs of owning a static caravan. Second, ensure a payment plan if you feel the investment is worthwhile. Some buyers negotiate to pay a down payment and clear the balance in monthly instalments to lessen the financial strain associated with the investment.
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- Holiday Park Location
According to one report, the UK is home to 2270 holiday parks scattered throughout its borders. However, the parks differ significantly in terms of the holiday experience they offer. Therefore, consider the holiday experience you expect or want to market before purchasing a static caravan.
First, any holiday experience begins with the journey to your holiday destination. Consider a park an hour or two away for an easy commute for weekend getaways.
Regarding weekend getaways, some parks are permanent homes, while others are holiday parks that shut down during the low season. Therefore, ensure the park you choose grants you the access your desire to your static caravan.
Third, decide whether you would rather spend your holiday in the inland countryside or the seaside. You should consider a holiday park with an opposite environment to your permanent residence.
- Consider The Caravan Pitch
A caravan pitch is the patch of ground on which your static caravan stays. Holiday parks assign a caravan pitch to static caravan owners seeking to set up a home within the park.
Ideally, the holiday parks charge a standard fee for all pitches, but some premium spots feature premium price tags. Nonetheless, the ideal pitch is less about costs and more about a conducive holiday environment that you can enjoy or use as a sales pitch to drum up business if planning to let the static caravan.
Therefore, create a checklist with your caravan pitch requirements and identify a suitable spot before purchasing a static caravan. To caravan pitch considerations include size; a larger pitch allows room for upgrades and other outdoor modifications.
Second, proximity to park amenities like parking lots, playgrounds, and garbage disposals matters. While a pitch close to amenities is convenient, noise could be an issue due to foot traffic to the amenities. Therefore, a pitch located further away from amenities is better for a quiet getaway.
Third, views can make or break your holiday. Decide whether you prefer a pitch with unobstructed views of the landscape. Also, views go hand-in-hand with the sun’s directionality because a south-facing pitch enjoys the morning sun, while a north-facing one basks in the evening sun. Therefore, plan a site visit to explore the pitch before paying pitch fees or buying an on-site static caravan.
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- The Static Caravan’s Intended Use
Most people purchase static caravans as a second home or an income-generating holiday home. A static caravan functioning as a second home should suit your family’s needs, including size and room for growth for younger families.
On the other hand, static caravans to let as holiday homes should meet the holiday experience you intend to create. Besides the park amenities and caravan pitch features, ensure the static caravan has a reasonable floor plan to suit diverse tenant needs.
- Decide Where To Buy The Static Caravan
You can either buy a brand-new static caravan or a second-hand caravan. A new static caravan costs more, but second-hand static caravans are okay if well-maintained by previous owners. However, some holiday parks only accept static caravans not exceeding a specified age.
Second, you can purchase the static caravan on-site and inherit the pitch or off-site. Off-site purchases mean you must find a different pitch.
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Conclusion
Static Caravan considerations vary significantly, depending on the buyer. However, the guide above applies regardless of your reasons for wanting to purchase one. So, use it as a checklist to decide whether a caravan home is worthwhile.
