Set yourself a realistic budget and stick to it. Are you going to use savings or get finance to buy your dream holiday home? Most Parks and Caravan sales companies will be able to offer you finance subject to circumstances. Decide on your budget before you start looking or you may end up falling in love with a holiday home that you can’t afford. Remember to allow for extras such as steps or a verandah and there may be a set up or delivery fee too.

Once you have decided on your holiday home you will need to consider the yearly running costs. These include pitch fees, possible management fees, insurance, gas and electric.

Setting up your new holiday home is like setting up a new house – You’ll need to furnish it too! Whilst you’ll probably find all the big furniture is included or inbuilt, you are going to need kitchen essentials such as pots and pans, knives and forks, a kettle etc. You’ll need to allow money for things such as bedding, cushions, a TV and a DVD player too. Try to factor these costs into your budget.

Holiday and park homes come in lots of different sizes with length and width options to accommodate your needs whether you’re just a couple or a large family. Decide on the number of bedrooms you need and whether you will want more than one bathroom. Size options vary depending on the park you choose but most new parks are designed to accommodate the largest of holiday and park homes.

• Don’t rush this decision. Spend a little time looking at parks in the area that you like or better still, book a holiday on the park to get a feel for what it’s really like there. Some parks have lots of amenities on site such as clubs or children’s activities, others are very simple and quiet but you’ll find these facilities within the local area. You are making a significant purchase and it is important that you get this part right.Consider how you are going to use your holiday home. Are you going to let your new static caravan or holiday lodge? If so ensure the park allows letting. If you are not planning to let and just want the caravan or lodge for your own use you may be happier on a non-letting park.Are there facilities for disabled access if required? If you or members of your family and friends require disabled access or facilities you need to make sure your chosen park has these available.  This is also something to consider if you will be letting your caravan or lodge.

It is important to choose an area that you love to visit, but it needs to be convenient for you too. Decide on how often you will be travelling to your caravan. If you intend to travel most weekends then you really need to be within a reasonable travelling time. Most people find an hour to an hour and half journey time comfortable. You may be looking for something for longer holidays. If you plan to travel to your holiday home and stay there for weeks on end, then you might be willing to travel a little further.

Some parks have restrictions on the age of the holiday homes on their park, meaning you may be forced to upgrade or sell in the future if your home gets too old. This does vary from park to park so check with your chosen location for their terms. It should be quoted in the contract they issue to you when you buy your caravan or lodge. If you’re buying a second hand home this is very important so check the manufacture date of the caravan or lodge and the park terms carefully.

• People decide to buy a static caravan or lodge for many different reasons. It could be that you want to spend quality time with your family, to escape from the day to day hassles of life and experience views that you don’t have at home. It’s a place to unwind and relax.Holiday homes are not permanent residences so you cannot use your holiday home all year round. This will be stated in your parks terms and conditions. If you plan to spend a lot of time there you need to discuss their specific limitations with them.Your static caravan or lodge will depreciate over time so think about how long you intend to keep it. As with a car, the trade in value is much better when the caravan or lodge is newer. If you are wishing to remain on the same park, consider upgrading your holiday home before it gets too old, to ensure a reasonable trade in value.Enjoy your holiday home and make memories, don’t expect it to be a long term investment.

• Each park has its own rules and regulations. Ask to see a copy of their terms and conditions before you choose a park.Some really important things for you to consider are:Does the park allow subletting?
  Does the park welcome pets?
  Are facilities on site discounted or free for residents or will you have to pay extra?
  Are there parking restrictions?
  Are there restrictions for having verandahs, storage boxes etc.?
  What are the terms of your occupation of your caravan or lodge and how many years will your home be able to stay on the park?
  Don’t be afraid to ask the Park Operator questions now, it’s better than being disappointed once you have made your decision and signed your contract.

Park operators have varying opening times and seasons and many are open for practically the whole year. Even if the park is open, some areas can be very quiet during the winter months, so consider when you will want to use your new holiday home.

If in the future you decide to move your holiday to another park or sell it there may be restrictions, commission and levies applied by the park operator. Find out the details now so you know what your rights are and to avoid any disputes that may occur in future