Before leaving your holiday home for the last time at the end of the season, ensure you empty the fridge and give it a clean with a weak solution of bicarbonate of soda. Leave the fridge door propped open to allow air to circulate.

To prevent burst pipes through winter, it is essential to turn off the water at the mains and drain down the entire system. Expert staff on the park should carry this out where possible.

Some holiday homes will be fitted with central heating systems that contain anti-freeze. These should be set to the temperature stated in the manufacturers instructions and serviced regularly to spot any potential problems before they occur.

Sinks and toilets provide convenient entrances for vermin, so dont forget to close toilet seats and put plugs into plugholes.

Remove all your valuables from the holiday home and leaving cupboard doors and curtains open, so its easy for potential thieves to see that there is nothing in the holiday home worth breaking in for.

An alarm system is also a good idea if you dont already have one fitted. You can even buy an alarm that will alert the park owner or manager of a break in. Speak to your park for advice.

Condensation can be a major problem through the colder months without adequate ventilation in your holiday home. To help prevent condensation from damaging your interior, leave interconnecting doors open and stack any removable upholstery such as sofa cushions, in the middle of the rooms, or at least away from walls.

Should you be in any doubt about preparing your static caravan holiday home for the winter, speak to your park owner or manager.

Static caravan holiday home insurance is provided by Leisuredays.

There are a lot of factors to be analyzed before families commits to spending on a static caravan in France. Geographical tendencies of the campsite are something to take in consideration before signing a contract for placing static caravans in France. If a specific caravan park or camp site tends to get flooded, it is advisable to choose a location better suited to you and your caravans needs. Inquire about the licensing period and the number of years the contract allows for your caravan to be on the park premises. Many parks for caravans in France are not open year round and are closed during the winters. So check if there are any season restrictions and if this will clash with the time of year you would like to use your caravan. If in the future you wish to sell your caravan and the plot your caravan is on, make sure that is permissible with the park. Check for any other park regulations you would need to adhere to such as bottled gas, insurance, and pet regulations. External dcor for caravans in France such as driveways, gardens, pathways and decks also have regulations specified according to each park.

As far as location goes, you need to see if travelling to and from the static caravan park is feasible for your expenses. Consider road maps, bus and train routes needed to get there when calculating the costs of travel. Probe for any associations and rankings the park has been affiliated or credited with, to estimate how established and respectable the static caravan park is. When researching parks for static caravans in France, ask caravan owners at the campsite you are visiting, to get a realistic and frank idea of the location. Refer to friends and family who own static caravans in France to gain the notion of experiences theyve had. Many campsites and parks for static caravans in France offer exhibition trials for your family to experience 2 or 3 days, to gain a better concept of a caravan home holiday.

Prices differ according to new and used static caravans. It would be a safe precaution to hire a professional to assess the worth of the location and condition of the static caravan, especially if interested in a pre owned caravan. Even the details of the contract should be confirmed such as the fee structure of the static caravan and park payments, how fees will be billed and should be paid. Find out the subletting or renting policies for static caravans within the park. Some parks for static caravans in France allow private subletting or renting while others do not allow these options. This will be the source of steady income when your family is not using the caravan, so read all the fine print carefully. Do not miss any small print and make yourself acquainted with all terms and conditions to know exactly where you stand on specific issues and situations. Keep a copy of the contract and regulations in your records for future reference.

Static caravans in France are excellent financial investment for families, providing cost effective holidays every time they feel the need. There is a lot of information available for static caravans in France and it can be confusing where and how to start looking. Once you equip yourself with the right knowledge and essential basics for static caravan purchasing, you will find the ideal static caravan to fit your familys needs.

Exterior Maintenance.

Often the build up of dirt and mould on the exterior walls can encourage damp and deterioration. Use a jet wash or traditional bucket and water a wash the caravan and remove dirt and mould.

Roof & Guttering.

Moss build up on the roof or in the gutter can cause the gutters to become blocked and promote damp issues. Keep the gutters clear at all times to allow the water to run away freely. The Autumn can be a particularly prime time for build up in the gutters caused by falling leaves.

Gas / Electrical.

Determine who’s responsibly it is to maintain the gas and electricity. The owner and park operator may hold responsibility.

Anchoring.

Check on a regular basis to ensure the anchor chains are not rusting. Any concerns should be reported to the park operator. Try to keep the underneath of the caravan free from vegetation of clutter to allow air to flow freely.

Steps.

The steps leading to the caravan should be checked on a regular basis. They are often lightly built, so rust or general wear and tear may take they toll.

Windows and frames.

The windows and frames of the caravan can be prone to weathering as do traditional windows. The rubber seals should be checked for any defects and be fixed before any water enters the caravan causing internal damage.

Wheels.

If the caravan is blocked up, then there is no need to service the wheels on an annual basis, however keeping them as dry as possible and lubricated will extend their life. If the caravan is being relocated ensure the wheel and bearings are fully serviced and working.

Caravan Insurance

it is important to protect your caravan with quality caravan insurance. Club Care Insurance offer affordable policies for all types of caravans and motorhomes.

There are plenty of sites around the UK and the quality of park-homes and caravans have steadily increased over the years. For those of you that have already taken advantage of the UK park home market the next step is to ensure your property is adequately insured against some of the negative experiences that befall mobile-home owners. For those of you looking to obtain quality insurance for your static caravan, considering Park Home Insurances Ltd is a must.

12 years of specialising in the field of mobile home insurance should heavily contribute to your faith in them as an organisation. In particular when purchasing insurance for your static mobile home they offer a number of benefits that would satisfy the most particular of customers. The peace of mind that comes with knowing your property and it’s belongings are covered if an unfortunate event were to befall them, be it fire, theft or a natural disaster. For static homes, Park Homes will cover your property and its contents in the upsetting event of a fire or flood, the latter being subject to your homes location and the amount of excess you have chosen to take out.

Similarly if your home was to fall victim to malicious damage; spray painting, graffiti or simply broken windows, these too will be covered under your insurance policy. Another mishap that can befall a mobile home, static or not is that of impact, this is when another vehicle bumps into your mobile home causing damage. Such damage can be anything from a minor scratch to caving in a side of your property which would result in both structural damage as well as damage to whatever contents were located at the site of the accident. Whether you are the cause of this damage or it is at the hands of another knowing you are covered in such an event will contribute heavily to your oeace of mind.

Another aspect of cover offered by Park Homes is that of permanent new for old, as long as you have stipulated on taking out the cover the adequate sums to cover your homes permanent features such as a fitted kitchen or storage units and decorative features. If any of the above mentioned were to befall your property you will have the comfort that comes with knowing that you will not have to send your products off to be repaired, rather you simply need to provide the insurance company with a list of the belongings damaged in whatever the accident and you will have new versions of your old products delivered and possibly installed, again depending on the sum of your cover and the terms stipulated.

One of the most valuable aspects of the cover offered by Park Homes is that of their hefty 2 million public liability cover which will cover you in the event that you are the one responsible for damage to another person or their property. If the damage is done to the individual the cover will help towards covering any medical bills they incur as a result of the accident. Similarly if you happen to be the one that causes the impact on their mobile home then any repairs or damages that need to be covered will be paid out of this sum allocated for such mishaps. Last but not least is their generous legal expenses cover that will aid you in the event of a dispute between you and any site owners or other residents.