On a tight budget? Consider a pre-owned home

THE first thing to bear in mind if you’re considering buying a residential home or lodge – whether pre-owned or new – is that your choice may well be dictated to a large extent by the location of the park.

The chances are that this could be your last home move, so you do need to make sure that you choose a park that is right for you. Hence, before signing anything, you must check the park thoroughly – including, importantly in the light of last year’s weather, finding out if it was flooded. If it was, then for obvious reasons you may decide to look elsewhere.

During your inspection visit talk to existing residents and ask about local facilities including shops, doctor and dental services, and public transport. Think ahead to the time when you may not want – or be able – to drive and might have to rely on public transport.

Bear in mind, too, that residential parks are closed communities harking back to the days when everyone knew everyone else and looked after each other. So it’s important that you feel you’ll be able to fit in with your future neighbours.

Only when you’re sure of this should you proceed to the buying stage. Don’t be surprised, either, if you have to wait for a home to become available on your chosen park, because there is often a waiting list for them – especially on the top rated sites.

Thorough check

Second-hand residential homes are sold in three ways – by the owner, by the park or via estate agents (usually ones specialising in this type of home).

Check for hidden damage
behind storage units

Regardless of how the home is being sold, there are certain stages you will have to go through – though we must point out that they are much less stressful than when buying a bricks and mortar home.

At the outset, you need to carry out a thorough check of the home both externally and internally. Externally, look at the roof. Older homes often have non-tiled roofs, in which case there may be the possibility of water seeping in, evidenced by the roof covering showing signs of lifting – bubbling – or by stained ceilings.

More modern homes are likely to be tiled, in which case there will probably be no problems.

That said, do check for storm damage and also look at the gutters and downpipes and be suspicious of any signs indicating that they may be blocked. If you are in any doubt about any possible structural faults, seriously consider either walking away or paying for a survey from a company such as Blue Chip or SubjectIISurvey.

It will almost certainly be a lot cheaper to pay for professional advice than to pay for rectification work later on. And apart from the home itself, don’t forget to inspect the driveway, paths, garage, shed – and the verandah if there is one.

Modern residential homes and lodges tend to have galvanised chassis but older homes and ones on the coast – are likely to be susceptible to salt attack. If the home has a brick skirt it may be impossible to check the chassis, but certainly in the case of an older home or one by the sea where salt damage might be an issue, do make the effort as a corroded chassis could affect the home’s structural integrity Take a torch and something to lie on - if nothing else, it will probably impress the seller!

Ask questions

Inside the home you need to check all the walls and ceilings for signs of staining, which will almost certainly indicate water ingress and/or damp. Be wary of any walls that appear to have been redecorated for no apparent reason.

If there is loft access, have a look in the void – again, a good torch is an essential tool for this type of inspection. Don’t forget to check the roof insulation and for signs of leaks from any water pipes while you’re up the ladder.

If you do spot something amiss, don’t be frightened to mention it and get your questions satisfactorily answered. It’s your money you are going to spend, so the old advice of caveat emptor – buyer beware – is paramount.

The floor in each room also needs to be checked for signs of damp, water and leaks –be very suspicious of any damp carpets, especially in the bath and shower rooms. If necessary, move the furniture so that you can see behind and beneath it and check the walls inside all the cupboards – again for signs of staining due to water leaks or damp.

Test water supply

Once you are satisfied that the home is structurally sound, run the water system to check that each tap, shower, toilet, etc, is in working order. Obviously, this means running the boiler so you can check the hot water and the central heating.

No matter that it may be the height of summer, you need to confirm that it is in working condition in readiness for the winter. The same applies to any gas fire.

In the same way, you need to check that all the appliances – oven, fridge, dishwasher, washing machine, microwave, lights and power outlets – are all OK. If you have any doubts about anything operating on gas or electricity – arrange for a proper inspection by a qualified technician – CORGI for gas and NICEIC for electricity.

We also recommend you ask to see the latest bills from the various utilities so that you can get some idea of the home’s running costs, because with the escalating cost of both gas and electricity – and to a lesser extent water – you don’t want to be lulled into a false sense of security.

It also goes without saying that during your inspection you should make sure what items are included in the sale of the home. Any that you don’t want could be the subject of a possible reduction in price.

Meet your requirements

No home is ever likely to be 100 percent what you are looking for, whether it is a residential park home or a bricks and mortar one. Do expect to have to carry out some redecoration or refurbishment – the latter might well be the subject of negotiations in respect of the final price.

However, the important thing is that once you are satisfied that both the home and the park meet your requirements, you can proceed with confidence to the next stage –actually buying the home and moving in.

Open the windows

Check windows to make sure they open and close properly and are sealed against water ingress … just in case there is hidden damage, damp or evidence of structural problems.

Run taps and radiatiors to test the water suppl.y Always take a look behind storage units or other items placed against exterior walls…

Check windows to make sure they open and close Always take a look behind storage units or other … just in case there is hidden damage, damp or Run taps and radiatiors to test the water supply.

Inspection tips

* With older homes – especially outside the 10-year Gold Shield Warranty – it may be worth having a survey done.

* Check walls, ceilings and carpets for signs of damp, and always look behind and beneath furniture.

* Carefully check the exterior (including the roof) for signs of damage.

* Make sure appliances are working, and that all power points are useable.

For all you need to know see Park & Holiday Homes magazine.

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