Three simple steps to owning a holiday home

Do you like to be beside the seaside? Or high in the mountains where the buzzards call? Perhaps you want your second home nearby, so you can leave work on Friday and arrive in time for sunset. Or perhaps you want to explore an entirely new and exciting part of the country?

Where you locate your second home is crucial and worth deliberating for as long as necessary. Many caravan parks have excellent videos and virtual tours, but nothing beats visiting and exploring the place in person. And how else would you test the fish and chips?

We advise you shortlist several locations then concentrate on one at a time. Book into a local bed and breakfast for the weekend. Before you go, arrange appointments with the sales teams, so you’ll have a full schedule of viewings. Don’t forget to leave time for beach visits and sight seeing – treat it as a mini holiday, so you really get a feel for the area.

With a bit of coordination and plenty of help from the sat nav, you could see as many as ten parks over the weekend.

Can you afford the investment?
What a day! The kids are fast asleep after a hard day paddling, and you're snuggling under the duvet, sand between your toes, face tingling from the sun. You close your eyes and start dreaming of ice cream.

Moments later, you're wide-awake, screaming and thrashing in bed. You turn on the light but the nightmare won't go away: you've entirely overspent on your caravan, you can't pay the site fees, and your scary bank manager will not be impressed.

It’s no good splashing out on your dream caravan if it gives you financial nightmares.

Here's a breakdown of the typical costs you could expect, although these vary drastically between sites.

New caravan, including connection and accessories: £28,000 to £65,000.
Site fees: £2,800 to £5,000.
Gas and electric bills: £200 to £500.
Caravan insurance: £300+
Bank statements and calculator at the ready!

Find the caravan to suit your needs:
There are hundreds of caravan designs and layouts, and you can get overwhelmed with mountains of brochures.

Narrow it down: think how many bedrooms you'll need – for you, the kids, and any visitors. And if you're planning to grow your family, think carefully where baby (or puppy) will go.

Ask to see floor plans, brochures, and virtual tours. It's even better to see your new caravan in the flesh, but most parks only have a limited selection to view.

And now comes the fun part – choosing the internal décor and trim. Nowadays, caravans are more like high-class apartments inside, complete with matching furniture, fittings and appliances – a far cry from the chintzy horrors of twenty years ago.

If you plan and budget carefully, owning a caravan can be a life-enhancing decision. If you have the finances available and a location in mind, then get ready to take the first step. Good luck on your adventure!