1.
After 10 years of owning my own holiday home, my very first tip to anyone who is thinking of following in my footsteps is simple: Do it! You won't regret the decision.
Having your own Holiday Home gives you a level of freedom, flexibility, comfort and convenience, plus value for money, which no other commodity or service can match.
2.
Choose your park before you choose your caravan.
You can always change your holiday home for a different model but there is nothing you can do regarding the park on which it is sited, other than moving to another site, which could prove very costly indeed.
Make sure your ideal holiday home park has a base perfectly positioned to accommodate the size and design of your holiday home to prevent any heart ache later.
3.
When choosing a holiday home park, aim for one which is no more than two hours' drive from your home, preferably less.
That way you will make more use of your caravan and your travelling costs will be reduced.
4.
Pay a few visits to your chosen park before committing yourself, spending a few hours each time to look round, try out facilities, talk to park management regarding the parks plans for the future and more importantly chat to other caravan owners on the site.
That way; you have a more detailed all round view of the park.
5.
Ask for the park's vital statistics: 1.
The number of years a caravan can stay on site 2.
The dates of the open season and 3.
The annual pitch fee.
6.
Having decided on your park, analyse your available budget.
Draw up a list of features you want in your chosen caravan and put them in order of priority.
For example: number of bedrooms, en-suite or not, shower or bath, front or centre lounge, fixed or freestanding furniture, fully fitted kitchen or something simpler, central heating or individual room heaters, single or double glazing, one or two external doors and so on.
7.
Spend plenty of time looking at lots of different models before making your final choice.
After all, this is one of the biggest purchases of your life and you will be living with your decision for years to come so make sure that holiday caravan is perfect for you.
Most Caravan distributers display around 60 static holiday homes from several manufactures for you to gain a better understanding of what is available.
8.
Buy a model with a galvanised chassis - especially if your chosen park is on the coast to avoid any risk of corrosion.
9.
If the chassis is not galvanised give it a coat of paint, under seal or a protective treatment every year or two.
Keep corner steadies and wheels lubricated.
10.
Enforce a "no-shoes" rule inside your holiday home.
Asking guests to leave their outdoor footwear in the cupboard by the door ensures your carpets last longer.
11.
Keep your plot tidy, to avoid upsetting others.
Keep the outside, as well as the inside, of your caravan as clean and tidy as possible.
Not only does having a clean caravan and pitch make your holiday experience more pleasurable, but it also maximises potential return should you wish to sell your holiday home.
Little and often is the labour-saving way.
12.
Buy an Ordnance Survey Map of the Caravan Park's surrounding area.
This way you can explore the local area to best effect.
You'll be surprised how many footpaths and wild life trails you will find off the beaten track! 13.
My unlucky point 13 will be to make yourself familiar with dental and doctor services in the area.
14.
Check out and make full use of the amenities on site; Most parks host a range of free facilities such as: Heated Swimming pool, Crazy golf course, Tennis court, Children's play area, Nature trails, Social club house (with children's and adults play rooms) and recreational fields.
15.
If you share you holiday home with family or friends; put up a little list on the fridge door of the tasks that need doing when using the caravan, such as switching on the gas, water and electricity on arrival and telling the office who they are and how long they are staying.
16.
Take all the usual common sense precautions regarding security, not least locking all external doors and closing all windows whenever leaving your caravan unoccupied or you may find a squirrel has ransacked your cupboard! 17.
Have a place for everything and keep everything in its place.
Caravan life is simpler and more enjoyable when you are not surrounded by clutter.
18.
Invest in a large external storage shed, the bigger, the better.
Keep garden chairs, a mower, tools, bikes, spare bulbs, sports equipment and the like in there and secure with a good quality padlock to keep your pitch tidy and your possessions safe from the elements.
19.
Keep a few changes of clothes, some footwear, a variety of tinned food stuffs, some booze, reading and writing materials and a selection of games in the caravan, rather than transporting everything with you each time you visit.
20.
Never keep gas cylinders secured by a big hefty chain! In the case of a fire they cannot easily be removed and dread the thought that a small garden fire could lead to your caravan being obliterated! For the sake of 30 quid it simply isn't worth it.
Number, date and marking gas cylinders with a felt tip pen each time they are replaced will help you keep tabs on your gas usage and improve security.
For the mega security conscious, simply place your spare in your external storage locker out of sight.
Only have two gas bottles at a time, as two is all that you will ever need, the one you are using and a spare for if you run out in the night.
This will reduce clutter and untidiness.
21.
Switch of the gas, electricity and water at the mains if you are leaving your holiday home for 12 hours or more.
22.
At the end of the season, remove all valuables and perishables.
Take down curtains and nets and, if necessary, use the opportunity to give all bedding a good wash.
23.
At the start of the new season, allow yourself a full day to get everything sorted out before you plan to take a holiday.
This ensures everything is fine and your holiday home is ready for occupation.
24.
Do some forward planning! Put dates in your diary to visit your caravan, not just weeks but months ahead.
This helps to avoid commitments at home to prevent you from visiting.
Ensuring you get the most out of your holiday home.
25.
Finally, visit regularly and often.
The cost per day goes down the more you stay there!