Newbie - please help

[Ascat18]

Hi All,

We are just about to commit to buying a static caravan at Rockley Park in Poole. We have stayed in many parks as hirers and have often thought about purchasing our own van. This weekend, we put a deposit down on a van at this Haven site and I now have the wobbles! The facilities are great for our young family and the distance from home is perfect, the fees are pretty high though at just under £5,000 per year plus gas, electric and rates. :eek:

If anyone has a better suggestion of a park in that area or thinks that Rockley is a good place to be we would appreciate your views.


:):)

[Darren]

Hi and welcome to the forum,

I don't know that area too well personally but one piece of advice I will give is that when you are paying for a van and site fees etc you are paying for the park just as much as anything else.

If you are happy with the park, location etc and can afford the van/ fees then relax and enjoy the van ;)

If on the other hand you would be just as happy on a smaller park with less facilities etc and therefore less costs, it may be worth having a scout around for another park as they are certaintly top end fees you have quoted.

I have spoken to some owners from the park and they say that the facilities and location (near a lagoon isn't it?) are top rate and worth paying for.

Hopefully an owner on the park or at least someone who knows the park better will be able to help you out.

Darren

[indianwells]

Like Darren says, if you like the place and can afford it then go ahead. The costs are £100 a week whether you are there or not. Many may perceive that as good value, personally I don't, but then i've been in this business long enough to recognise value when I see it.
Before committing to such an expensive purchase I would go around as many parks as you can and talk to other owners. Things can change rapidly once the sale has gone through and the salesman has his commission. Having said that, everything may go swimmingly and you can enjoy many happy holidays in your caravan! Good luck!

[Ascat18]

Thanks for the sound advice, the park is lovely and as the only other parks we have visited had fees around the same level we did think that it was good value.

However, I am now realising that these fees are top end of the market so can you enlighten me on how much is a reasonable rate. All we really want is a lovely caravan on a park, near to rolling hills and water nearby, with a decent indoor and outdoor pool. We are not really into the evening entertainment and are resourceful enough to find exciting days out.

Any suggestions, anyone?

Thanks for your help. :D

[Teakbank12]

Thanks for the sound advice, the park is lovely and as the only other parks we have visited had fees around the same level we did think that it was good value.

However, I am now realising that these fees are top end of the market so can you enlighten me on how much is a reasonable rate. All we really want is a lovely caravan on a park, near to rolling hills and water nearby, with a decent indoor and outdoor pool. We are not really into the evening entertainment and are resourceful enough to find exciting days out.

Any suggestions, anyone?

Thanks for your help. :D

What other parks have you looked at (2 - 3 hours max) from your home location.
We pay £2,180 fees, plus insurance, rates, electric/gas & allow approx £3,500 to run the caravan annually.

[Ascat18]

We have visited a few sites on the IOW but decided that the cost in time and expense of the ferry outweighed the benfits. We have been to Parkdean West Bay, Haven Weymouth Bay and Rockley Park.

£2000 in fees sounds much better!

[dasboot]

Hi ascat18. We pay £1807 in Towyn North Wales for a 7 and half month season.There isnt much on our site but there is a club selling cheap beer and the beach is 2mins walk.This does for us and at this price we dont have to rent(touch wood) If you can afford 5 grand a year and the facilities are what you require from a site then good luck to you and enjoy your van.But if you feel that you have jumped in and the fees will be a burden then now is the time to read the small print and see if you are within a cooling off period and look for a cheaper location.All the best.

[mickarick]

Hi ascat18. We pay £1807 in Towyn North Wales for a 7 and half month season.There isnt much on our site but there is a club selling cheap beer and the beach is 2mins walk.This does for us and at this price we dont have to rent(touch wood) If you can afford 5 grand a year and the facilities are what you require from a site then good luck to you and enjoy your van.But if you feel that you have jumped in and the fees will be a burden then now is the time to read the small print and see if you are within a cooling off period and look for a cheaper location.All the best.
Would love to know the site your on please, sounds up our street and within reach without travelling to far .

[dasboot]

Hi mickarick.Our site is abbeyford holiday park.Please keep it to yourself though as its a very well kept secret.Err...is this connection secure?

[mickarick]

Hi mickarick.Our site is abbeyford holiday park.Please keep it to yourself though as its a very well kept secret.Err...is this connection secure?

Thankyou:)

[keira]

hi ascat i think its normal to get the wobbles as you say its a big commitment i was terrible but i love the van so much it was worth it.........our fees are about same as teaks but we dont have much on site but are very near everything anyway stop worrying and enjoy x

[Ascat18]

We have decided to pull out of the purchase and take our time finding the right location. Thanks for all of you advice. :-)

[keira]

well if your not sure you do right the location is most important that was my mistake i like it but i think i could have done better.........so good luck love xx

[Goldixpcx]

I am from Poole and go down a lot visiting family Rockley Park is very popular and is a very busy park I'm sure if you wanted to let I'm sure you would find it easy but you would have been paying a premium for the popularity of the park. Have you looked at Bridport?? there is a fab site there Eype I think its spelled in the country but has a pool etc about an hour from Poole my mum and dad have a motorhome and go there often statics are expensive though but anywhere down there fees will not be less than £3k fees a year minimum thats what they found when researching changing their van for a static they were almost tempted by one is Swanage but again the fees were high for a not very big park.

[LostGil]

Have you considered the sub-letting income e.g. our van made over £5000 last year. Site fees, rates etc. would have been less than £4000. It's perhaps something worth considering.

[fosters ice]

we are in the middle of buying a van on perran sands perranporth, cornwall and the site fees for this year ( free with buying van ) are £4100 + gas / electric and insurance, one thing to remember though v.a.t. is going up on 1 / 11 / 10 to 20% so site fees for next year will be a lot more :mad: but you can keep you van on for ever and the park has its own 3 mile beach :p

graham
_____________________
05 atlas everglade 35ft x 12ft

[LostGil]

VAT example if your site fees are £1,000 incl. vat next year with the VAT increase they will be £1021.20.

The big concern is parks will increase fees more but blame it on the VAT. Although most parks hopefully know they would be called on it.

[indianwells]

Our owners pitch fees are payable on or before 28th Feb each year. As VAT is going up on 4th Jan we have written to them all and told them if we receive payment before 4th Jan VAT will be payable at 17.5% instead of 20%.

[gag1951]

Hi ascat18.
Everyone I know who has bought a van has had a sleepless night wondering if they have done the right thing or not ! Enjoy it !
Best Wishes.
gag1951