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Buying a Static Caravan | Advice and Tips

March 19, 2019

Our Top Tips to help you buy the perfect Holiday Home

At West Country Park Homes we understand that buying a static caravan is far from a small decision, and with more choice available than ever before it’s easy to get overwhelmed.

We want all of our holiday home owners to enjoy their time with us for years to come so we’ve compiled this list of advice and tips to help you at the start of this exciting journey;
1. Consider your lifestyle and how often you will be using your holiday home
If you favour weekend breaks rather than longer, less regular getaways, a caravan park within a couple of hours travelling time from your home is probably the sensible option. However, if you plan to visit for several weeks at a time, a couple of times a year, you may be willing to travel further. 

Remember to check the length of the parks season, our parks vary from 9 – 12 months of the year. 
2. Think about how you enjoy spending your leisure time
If you have a young family you may prefer a park with enough facilities and events to keep everyone entertained. However, if you are hoping to enjoy a peaceful retirement, peace and quiet with like-minded people may be more important.

Consider the pitch location; would you prefer a quiet pitch away from the main facilities or are you the kind of person who would you rather be in the middle of things?

We strongly recommend that you visit any potential park before making a purchase. If you can spend a couple of nights there that’s even better!
3. Set a budget
Static caravans come in a wide range of specifications; from basic entry-level models to highly luxurious. It can be easy to get carried away when looking at lovely glossy photos of brand-new units, but in our experience the model that you choose will depend on your budget.

Remember that in addition to your initial purchase you will also be responsible for site-fees, gas, electricity, insurance and general maintenance costs.
4. New or pre-owned?
Many pre-owned units can be purchased in ‘like new’ condition for a fraction of the price of a new unit, however, in the event of any issues a brand-new unit usually comes with a manufactures warranty. You may also find that the heating system is more efficient in new units. If you decide to purchase a pre-owned unit remember to ask the current owner for any available paperwork.

At West Country Parks we don’t impose strict age limits on our static caravans, however most parks do. Older models may be removed from site, so always ask for clarification from any park that you are considering.
5. Choose the right model and layout
Static caravans come in an almost infinite variety of styles and layouts. It’s important to consider how you will use your new holiday home; How many beds will you need? Is it more important to have a spacious kitchen or will you spend more time in the living area? Do you need an en-suite, bath or just a shower? Does anyone in your family have accessibility needs?

These are all really important questions so don’t be afraid to spend a bit of time having a look around and investigating what is available.
6. Finally, ask for a copy of the park rules
Every park has its own set of rules and it’s important to familiarise yourselves with them before committing to a purchase; Is the park pet-friendly? Are there restrictions on car-parking? Are the park facilities free or will you have to pay extra? Are there restrictions for having sheds, storage boxes etc?

These may seem like small points, but they are all things that you will wish you had checked once you take ownership of your holiday home!

So, in summary, it is important to look at the bigger picture. Purchasing a holiday home is a big decision and we hope that you will enjoy the experience for years to come. Take your time and don’t be afraid to ask questions - but remember to be realistic about your expectations!

Static Caravans and Holiday Lodges for sale at our parks

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Location: Cherry Tree Holiday Lodge Park. With a fresh colour scheme, this open-plan lodge is ideal for family holidays
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Location: Edithmead Leisure and Park Homes. Available now
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At West Country Parks we offer a superb range of new and pre-owned holiday homes from the top manufacturers. With 6 unique holiday parks all located in beautiful Somerset we are confident that you will find your perfect holiday home. Please contact us for more information.

Latest News

By Kim Boyd December 9, 2024
We are delighted to share that Riverside Holiday Village has been named the Holiday Park of the Year at this year's Bristol, Bath and Somerset Tourism Awards held at Batch Country House at Lympsham in Somerset. This award recognises holiday parks, sites and villages that provide exceptional guest experiences across static vans, touring pitches and more with a wide range of facilities and entertainment. Marketing Executive, Kim Boyd, was also named Unsung Hero . The Unsung Hero Award recognises an individual working for a tourism business who excels in their role and deserves to be applauded for their work and commitment to the industry. Awards Director Nell Barrington said “For many it has been a really challenging year but tonight was all about celebration and recognising those businesses who go above and beyond every day to ensure every visitor has a fantastic, truly memorable experience. It is great that they get recognition for all their efforts and my sincere congratulations go to them for everything they do to put Bristol, Bath, Somerset and beyond on the map.” Giles Adams from VisitSomerset continued “I am delighted that the core ethos and hard work of Somerset tourism businesses is continuously recognised. Our county is all about authenticity and giving value for money. The awards help to ensure that our consumers understand and value what we all represent by recognising and rewarding our quality offer.” Kathryn Davis from VisitWest told us “We are thrilled that so many of our businesses have been rewarded for all their incredible achievements this year with their success at the awards and look forward to seeing some of our winners hopefully progress into the national Visit England for Excellence finals next year. We have so many iconic destinations and world class experiences in the region, it is important to remember to celebrate this, and that tourism doesn’t just happen. It is thanks to the investment, creativity and hard work of these businesses that make our visitor economy so valuable, worth more than £2.5bn just to the West of England. While this sector is largely made up of many small businesses, together they are incredibly powerful and thoroughly deserve the recognition received this evening.” We would like to thank our visitors, supporters and all of our fantastic team for your support.
By Kim Boyd December 2, 2024
We are ecstatic to share that West Country Parks have been named the Hospitality and Tourism Business of the Year at the prestigious Sedgemoor Business Excellence Awards 2024. This award is intended to recognise the Hospitality & Tourism business that is the most successful in Sedgemoor, detailing what makes them stand out from other businesses and how they attract customers to the area. We were also named as finalists for the Sustainable Business Award in recognition of our efforts to reduce our businesses carbon footprint. Speaking about the awards, Roger Smith, General Manager at the Bridgwater Chamber of Commerce, said; 'This year, we’ve received a record-breaking number of high-quality entries, leading to 67 incredible finalists. This outstanding response highlights the immense talent, creativity, and innovation within our local business community'. Commenting after the awards dinner which was held at The Canalside in Bridgwater, David Tattersall, Group Manager at West Country Parks, commented; 'We are thrilled to have been nominated for two awards and it's fantastic to have won one! Our business has progressed a great deal over the last few years, and it's great to have had all of our hard work recognised.' We would like to thank our visitors, supporters and all of our fantastic team for your support. 
By Kim Boyd November 28, 2024
 We are thrilled to share that our family orientated holiday park, Riverside Holiday Village, was crowned winner of the Customer Choice Food Award for Family Fun Destinations at the staycation specialist’s 18th annual Awards – a celebration of the holiday parks, lodge resorts and boating locations in the company’s UK portfolio that have achieved the highest scores in independent guest satisfaction surveys throughout the 2024 season. Commenting after the awards were announced during a ceremony at the Hilton Metropole, in Birmingham David Tattersall, Group Manager at Riverside Holiday Village said: “It’s fantastic to be recognised for the quality of our food and it’s a testament to everyone on the team who works so hard to make sure our guests have the best possible experience when they stay with us. We are very aware that they place an enormous amount of faith in us when they choose where to go on holiday, so it’s great to know we’re getting it right." Speaking after presenting the award in front of more than 600 operators, industry suppliers and members of the Hoseasons team, Gemma Brown, General Manager at Hoseasons, said: “The team at Riverside Holiday Village are shining examples of the dedication and commitment needed to delight our guests and encourage the kind of positive reviews we know others look for when deciding where to spend their staycation. We are grateful for their continuing partnership in this our 80th year and wish them all the best for another successful season in 2025.”
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