Whether you’re buying your first caravan or this is yet another in a long stream of vehicles, there’s no doubt that it’s an exciting time. It’s even more so when you’re not just trailing around showroom after showroom hoping to find what you’re looking for but can do some major footwork online and shortlist the places where you have a genuine interest in their stock.
Most showrooms will not only stock brand-new caravans for you to look around but will also have a stock of pre-owned ones listed online and on-site for viewing. Of course, in addition to this, you’ll also have people who are looking to sell their caravans privately, and this is where bargains can be had.
1. Buying a fixer-upper
Buying a caravan from a stockist could mean that you’re purchasing a run-of-the-mill model, which is fine for most people; however, if you’re the sort of person who likes to put their own stamp on their property, then going for the private market and looking for a caravan that needs some repair work and modernizing may be more up your alley.
You may find that the work that you need to do could include refitting the kitchen area, installing some additional luxuries, or a complete overhaul of the interior in order to get it precisely how you feel it should look. If, however, it needs more than cosmetic work, such as bodywork or new window or door fittings, you may do better to get a professional involved to either perform the work for you or help you get the necessary work done.
2. Finding the right financing options
Whether you’re choosing to purchase a fixer-upper, a pre-owned model, or a brand-new caravan, you’re going to have to make sure that you have your financial options already sorted out. There are two main reasons for this;
- You should only be looking at caravans that you can afford
- If you find what you want, you may have to move quickly to secure the deal
Rather than paying out the full price in one go, you may find that it’s far easier for your financial situation to apply for a loan where you can pay monthly. This is even more important when purchasing a fixer-upper as it means that you’ll then be able to put your money into the project build as you’ll know how much your monthly installments are.
3. Don’t be afraid to travel to get what you want
Although the internet has made the world smaller, which means that you can shop for your caravan worldwide, should you want to, you ought to keep in mind that it’s a good idea to see a caravan (especially a pre-owned one) in the flesh before parting with any money. However, if you’re certain that you want to get one from outside your immediate location, you can ask the seller for a virtual tour as well as a video tour.
Getting your new motorhome back to your location can be relatively easy as there are professional shippers that will collect your new purchase for you and deliver it to the location that you specify. Of course, it’s a good idea to use a reputable business and one that offers full insurance for the items that they’re transporting.