Buyer's Guide To A Static Holiday Caravan

For many of us owning a Static Caravan offers the dream of owning a real 'home from home' to allow yourself, friends and family to enjoy fantastic holidays for many years to come.

However, looking for your Static Caravan can be a complicated and daunting task.

To give you a helping hand we have complied this 'buyer's guide', with the help from the leading UK Park Operators, to assist you with the process.

Park Location

Your park location will be crucial to your long term enjoyment of your Static Caravan. And need careful consideration. Remember you may want to take a large number of short weekend breaks and traveling time will become more important than if you were taking an annual 2 week holiday. Many people also 'lend' their holiday home to friends and family and again this may influence your choice of location.

You may also want to consider carefully what the region has to offer for your extended visits.

Consider;

· Traveling Time

· Length of visits

· Location to friends and family

· Choice of local Attractions and Amenities

The Park

Once you have decided on your location you need to find the right Holiday Park for you. It is often a great idea to book a visit with parks sales team to allow you to have a full tour of the Holiday Park, available plots and example Static Caravans.

Many parks cater very well for children with excellent facilities including the all important pool. Others have a quieter more relaxed feel that appeals to a very different buyer.

Remember to check how long your park is open for throughout the year as many parks operate a 'closed season'. A park that closes over the winter may not be a bad thing as it gives the park owner a chance to make improvements and repairs and also discourages the 'residential' purchaser. The last thing you want on your holiday park is someone repairing their car next door to you! Also check how long you can site you Static Caravan before it requires replacement or removal, this will be outlined in your contract with the Park Operator. Some parks will allow you to keep your caravan on the park indefinitely provided that you pay the appropriate fees and maintain your caravan in good condition.

Consider;

· Getting to know the Park

· Whether park is right for you

· What Facilities are on offer

· Owner events

· How long is your Holiday Park open throughout the season

· How long you can site your Static Caravan

Running Costs

As with any major purchase you need to consider the price and the ongoing running costs such as;

1. Site Fees - These are annual fees and vary by park and plot

2. Gas - This is normally purchased by the bottle

3. Electricity

4. Insurance - You will need to ensure the value of your static holiday home and contents. Prices can now be found easily on the internet.

5. General Maintenance - Modern Static Caravan are extremely well constructed and require little or no external maintenance as the external aluminum skin is extremely durable. Manufacturer warranties can be extended but do not cover damage from wear & tear.

Many people choose to subsidize the cost of ownership by letting their caravan holiday home. This can help towards the annual fees payable. Many parks will offer rental programmes including booking and maintenance (i.e. cleaning) arrangements. Remember if you let yours you will compromise the time you and you family have to use it, so think clearly about you priorities.

The Static Caravan

You will generally have a wide choice of Static Caravan from a basic model through to a very high specifications luxury example.

Generally this choice will depend on your budget and personal tastes.

If you indented to spend extended periods at it the specification of kitchen and bathroom facilities, are normally a priority. When buying one you need to be aware there may be a substantial waiting time for delivery, if it is manufactured to order.

Many buyers choose to spread payments for their caravan holiday home and most parks offer finance arrangements and special offers. As with any credit arrangements it is always worth shopping around for the best deal. Finance packages offered by park operators usually use the caravan as collateral so you are not risking your home unlike many large purchases that are financed

Location on Park

Finally you will need to consider the location of your Static Caravan on the selected Holiday Park. Although this is the last stage of the process you still need to research fully.

Consider

· What plots are available

· Annual 'Site Fee' costs

· Proximity to Amenities

· Potential noise levels

· Quality of your view

Remember - Always view your plot prior to purchase.

By JJ Smith

static caravans for sale

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=JJ_Smith
http://EzineArticles.com/?Buyers-Guide-To-A-Static-Holiday-Caravan&id=612811

Technorati Tags: holiday static caravan, static caravan, static caravans for sale

Mobile Homes Abroad Have you ever thought of owning a property outside your country? If you have, one thing that you're most probably worried about is if you could afford it or not. After all, the price of properties is seemingly reaching new heights year after year and this makes it very difficult for someone to achieve the dream of owning a home abroad.

Fortunately, such is not the case with buying mobile homes abroad. This type of home is very much recommended especially if what you want is a home that could serve both as a holiday home and as something where you could permanently dwell. Buying mobile homes abroad is an even cheaper alternative to owning your own home somewhere else aside from where you are. Hence, it's basically being able to get quality homes for less.

In the days of old, a mobile home used be classified as a caravan. These days, it's seen as something more than that. Nowadays it is considered a residence. First time home buyers who cannot afford a traditional home overseas may opt to buy a mobile home if what they want is a quality property that a fraction of the traditional bricks and mortar.

Aside from the fact that buying mobile homes abroad is usually cheaper, it has other advantages, especially as opposed to buying traditional counterparts like villas and apartments. Below are just a few of the advantages:

Advantages of Buying a Mobile Homes Abroad

It can be as stylish as you want it to be. Just because it's a mobile home does not mean that it can't be as classy and as beautiful as any other bricks-and-mortar home. First of all, you can purchase a mobile home with one or two storeys. Then, you can have it custom-made complete with cathedral ceilings, fireplaces and immaculate kitchens.

Location won't be a problem. As suggested by the word "mobile," you can choose from the many different coastal and countryside locations wherein you can station your mobile home. You have the freedom to choose the area that could suit your requirements.

It is convenient and portable. You can move your home from one site to another. You can just move anytime without to much hassle.

You can earn extra money from it. Another good thing about a mobile home is that it is "rentable." You can charge a certain fee for other people to use it when you're not resident.

You can bring it home with you. If, in case you decide that you do not wish to live abroad anymore and you want to go back to your homeland, you can just take the mobile home with you.

It boasts a built-in temperature-controlled environment. Mobile homes are of a higher calibre than traditional homes because there is very little chance that they will be exposed to dampness and moisture. Weather won't affect the building process, nor will it damage them. This will save your pocket from spending for expensive repairs.

You can choose the features you like. There is an array of styles and designs to choose from as you decide on the look and model of your mobile home. In fact, you can get an entire set of appliances to be shipped along with your home if you wish.

The construction is definitely faster and less expensive. Let's take the case of a traditional home. If you would ever think of changing or adding something to the design of that home, the budget allowance would be high since you may require an architect, new floor plans, and permits. On the other hand, construction of a mobile home is three times faster and it won't cost you that much.

However, while there may be advantages, there are also disadvantages of buying a mobile home abroad. Disadvantages of Buying a Mobile Homes Abroad

For one, if you own the land on which you plan to place your manufactured home on a foundation, it will be treated like a site-built home. Therefore, you can take advantage of all the tax benefits and appreciation. However, if you were to place it on a mobile home park where you simply rent the lot, you will not get all the tax benefits meant for real estates and the value of your home depreciates as time passes.

Secondly and based on recent statistics, more than a third of mobile home buyers report plumbing and electrical problems. Obviously, these are also the same problems encountered by traditional home owners. Hence, one can safely say that these so-called disadvantages are common ones.

Given all these options, buying a mobile home abroad may be quite a challenge. However, it's a challenge that can be fulfilling, especially if you choose the best mobile home that could address your needs. You can start choosing your mobile home by browsing through our listings here or by visiting our Mobile Homes Abroad website for details on mobile homes for sale abroad. While brand new mobile homes are the better option, don't think that you can't jazz up a second hand or pre used mobile homes. Just add a dash of your creativity and taste and you're all set to driving into the sunset with your unique mobile home abroad.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/real-estate-articles/mobile-homes-abroad-buying-a-mobile-home-abroad-263252.html

Author: Les Calvert

About the Author:

Property Abroad's directory Les Calvert writes interesting and useful articles on all subjects dealing with overseas property and buying property abroad. With over 400 company websites selling and renting property in almost every country around the world Les is well placed to offer advice on existing and emerging property locations. Visit their flagship site www.property-abroad.com for more details on buying abroad.

Mobile Homes Abroad - is a dedicated website aimed at offering Mobile Homes for sale abroad - check out the mobile homes on offer.

Technorati Tags: Caravan, mobile Home, Mobile Homes Abroad, property, static, trailer