Buyer’s Guide
We know that buying a holiday home can be daunting, especially if you’re a first-time buyer. It can be difficult to know where to start and how the process works.
To help you out, we’ve compiled a step-by-step buyers guide covering everything you need to know about buying a holiday home or lodge in Dorset. This handy guide covers all of the major topics from viewing a property for the first time to arranging insurance and budgeting for running costs.
The Merley House Holiday Park team are here to help you every step of the way. If you require more information, we’re more than happy to provide personalised advice.
Step-by-Step Guide
1. Choose the right park and location
Choosing the right holiday park is the single most important decision you’ll make when buying a holiday home or lodge. It’s really important that the park has everything you need and is in a convenient location to indulge in your hobbies and interests.
Once you’ve chosen your preferred area, make a list of the amenities you value. Do you want to be close to pubs and restaurants, or would you prefer a quite location away from the hustle and bustle of town. Do you require extensive on-site entertainment, or is a peaceful park more up your street?
Merley House Holiday Park for instance, has the best of both worlds. Our owners only holiday park occupies an idyllic countryside location on the outskirts of Wimborne and benefits from an indoor pool, sauna and hot tub on-site. Our proximity to the A31 affords holiday home owners convenient travel to towns and villages across Dorset. Bournemouth, Poole, the New Forest and the Jurassic Coast are all within easy reach.
2. Work out your finances
Next, you’ll need to think about finances and decide on a comfortable budget for you. Some holiday parks offer finance, whilst others require the full balance to be paid in full before you get the keys.
In addition to the cost of the property itself, you’ll need to cover the annual running costs. Most holiday parks charge annual site fees to cover the upkeep of communal areas and facilities. You’ll also need to budget for utilities, replacement gas bottles and adequate holiday home insurance.
It’s important to have open and honest conversations during your search for a holiday home, so you know exactly what you signing up for. This will allow parks to show you properties within your price range.
3. Select the holiday home or lodge that works for you
The next step to becoming a holiday home owner is to pick the perfect property. Again, it’s really important to put some thought into what you need from a holiday home – you’ll be spending lots of time in it after all! Think about the number of rooms you’ll need and whether you’ll have children or grandchildren visiting. Is outside space important to you? Do you like open plan living, or would you prefer something more compact?
We have a range of holiday homes, luxury lodges and cabins for sale at our holiday park in Wimborne. If you’re after something a bit different, we can work with you to source a better suited property direct from the manufacture. This gives you the ultimate flexibility to find the right property for you.
We highly recommend viewing the park and holiday home in person so you can get a feel for the place. Nothing beats walking around the property and imagining yourself and your belongings in the space. Many of our existing owners say they knew Merley House was right for them the moment they walked through the door!
4. Choose your perfect pitch
The decisions are not quite over yet – after picking your property, you’ll need to choose your perfect pitch!
5. Complete the paperwork
The process of buying a holiday home is simpler and shorter than buying a bricks and mortar property, but that doesn’t mean it should be underestimated. We highly recommend reading the contract in full and clarifying any points that you’re unsure of with the park before signing. The park will be able to talk you through the terms of the Licence Agreement and answer any questions you may have.
To secure your holiday home and pitch you will need to pay a deposit and provide a copy of your ID and primary address. You will also need to prove that you have an appropriate level of insurance. Some parks can help you arrange this.
Once the park is satisfied that everything is in order, you will transfer any remaining funds and take ownership of the property!
