Can I buy a surplus unit then site it on a park?
Sometimes this is possible but most of the time it is not and surplus mobile homes are sold to people who already have somewhere to site them.
What's included in the price?
The prices quoted for mobile homes WITH a site pitch include all taxes, documentation, the purchase price of the mobile home, transportation & insurance in transit, connection to mains services & siting, commissioning, steps and even the refund of your viewing trip if you took one!
If you would like to buy a mobile home excluding any of the above costs we would of course be happy to re-quote.
The costs for a sited holiday home from us are comprehensive. When you arrive to collect the keys everything will be in working order ready for you to enjoy it.
What's NOT included in the price?
There are no hidden charges, we are a very reputable company and are highly respected in the industry. All charges are up-front and pricing is transparent.
The only major cost not covered in our pricing is the site fee you will need to pay to the park each year, this is typically around £3,000 per year. What exactly this covers will be made clear to you before purchase and you will sign a contract directly with the campsite or park.
Extra installation costs can arise such as the need for a crane or other specialist contractor work. If this is to affect the price you will be informed before purchase.
Not all extra costs are negative! We can also supply added extras to make your holiday home even better such as decking, air conditioning, central heating, garden sheds, etc.
What are the annual costs after purchase?
As mentioned above, the annual site fees of around £3,000 are the main cost. Electricity and water charges are sometimes included but if they are chargeable the rates are normally far lower than on a house in the UK. Gas bottle refills cost around £15 in France (a bit less in Spain) and should last at least a fortnight.
Which holiday park will best suit me?
Choosing the holiday park is probably the most important thing to consider. Although it is possible to up sticks and move to another park after a few years, this is an added cost and you are more likely to stay on the same park for a good few years to come so it is in your interest to choose the best one for you. This decision is a very personal one and you may want to ask yourself a few questions on the following topics.
Access to your holiday home: You will need to consider whether you plan to drive, fly or take the T.G.V. and which parks are accessible by which means. If you have holidayed in France in the past you may have a good idea of which region you would prefer.
Atmosphere / Ambiance: Are you looking for a large and lively park with entertainment in the evenings, a calm and peaceful atmosphere or something in between. We believe that we have a really good selection of holiday parks and hope that we have something to suit everyone.
Facilities: On-site facilities such as laundry, bar restaurant and swimming pool will no doubt be important to you. You can be assured that all of our handpicked parks have excellent facilities; however you may wish to consider access to local facilities too. How far is it to the nearest supermarket, post office, doctors etc.?
Opening dates and leaseback: How many months of the year can you see yourself using your holiday home? Sometimes the longer the park’s season, the higher the annual site fee will be. Is it important that your friends and family can also use it? Would you want the park to rent out your holiday home when you are not using it?
Which model will best suit me?
There is an extensive range of holiday homes on the market, which we think can be pretty confusing. At Canvas Holiday Homes, we feel that we have selected a range that offers a good choice of price, size, layout and style. And you will be pleased to hear that there are no limits! If you do not see what you are looking for in our range we are happy to supply other models from our market leading suppliers BK Bluebird and Willerby (maybe link to the relevant pages (models on offer) of their websites here).
Before choosing your holiday home, you will need to consider the size of the emplacements at the park of your choice. Most parks have emplacements that fit all model types; however there are a couple of parks where it is only possible for our teams to install the smaller models of holiday home in our range. Then there are all sorts of different questions that you will need to consider. How many bedrooms will you require? Would a central lounge or a panoramic end lounge make the best of the emplacement and views? Which colour scheme and style do you prefer?
Will my Canvas Holiday Home meet recognised health and safety standards?
Yes. Every single holiday home that we sell meets the European standards needed for mobile home accommodation. These standards cover electrical installations, gas appliances, insulation and ventilation to mention but a few.
Are there any legal issues of which I need to be aware?
Buying a holiday home in France is a relatively easy process and there is no requirement for any special documentation to own a property here. Because it is a holiday home not a permanent home there are no legal fees to worry about and no council tax either!
With whom is my contract?
The sales contract will be with Canvas Holiday Homes, a subsidiary of Canvas Holidays Ltd. Your ongoing contract for the emplacement will be with the holiday park owner.
How long will it take from when I choose my Canvas Holiday Home until I can move in / holiday in it?
Once you have chosen your emplacement and your holiday home you can reserve them by paying a deposit of £3000. Once we have received this – your emplacement is secure and no longer available to anyone else. At this point we will also order your holiday home getting things in motion. Only when we have received payment in full can we deliver your holiday home to site and have it installed.
What happens if my Canvas Holiday Home requires repair work sometime in the future?
Upon purchase of your mobile home we will offer you a maintenance package with our specialists, Millenium Proserve. This will include:
• Winter Preparation
• Parts repairs/replacements
• Gas Check
• Exterior Cleaning
• Summer Preparation
Can I live in my Canvas Holiday Home all year round?
We do have some campsites that remain open all year round, although your holiday home is still classified as a second home. So you must always be able to provide proof of your permanent home address. Generally the rest of our sites are open from April to October.
How do I book a viewing trip to see a Park?
Simply give us a call and we will be happy to arrange a trip for you. Trips are scheduled and your group (normally 5 or 6 parties) will be met by a member of our staff. We will show you around the park, introduce you to the owners and let you get a feel for the area. Upon purchase of your new home we will reimburse the brochure price of the trip. For those who take a trip before our accommodation is available, we will still reimburse the brochure price of the trip.
How do I view surplus mobile homes?
On most sites you can simply go and choose a mobile home, note the chassis number down and that's enough for us to complete the transaction and deliver the unit to you.
We also have storgare areas all across France where you can view the homes. Please speak with our advisors who can advise which storage area would be best suited to you.
All surplus mobile homes come with a limited parts warranty and many people buy our mobile homes without viewing them.
Can I install my mobile home myself?
No, installing mobile homes is dangerous and has resulted in death when attempted by ill-equipped and un-qualified persons. Please call us to arrange for our installations team to visit, or please find another specialist insallations team to set up your mobile home.
IN ANY CASE, DO NOT ATTEMPT TO DO THIS YOURSELF
How much does transport cost?
For mobile homes sold with a campsite pitch transport is included. The price for surplus mobile homes does not include transport but we can arrange for your unit to be delivered to you and add this to the bill. As a guide here are a few prices to help you work out the cost (Based on France where most units are located):
Inside the same department / county: £300 - £500
Add roughly £250 per departmental / county border crossed
Add roughly an extra £450 for each international border crossed
12' wide mobile homes are more expensive to transport as they require a pilot car to escort them an main roads. 26' long mobile homes can be transported 2 at a time, this can bring a saving of over 60% if you have purchased multiple units.
Whether you are going to use your mobile home as a semi-permanent home or for holidays on a campsite, you will normally need to transport your mobile home as no units come with a site emplacement. Canvas Holidays work with only the best transport companies in Europe.
Can I have a mobile home delivered to my house?
Our transporters will deliver as close as is possible for the delivery truck to get to the mobile homes final resting spot. This is normally a campsite carpark but with surplus mobile homes especially is frequently the site of a renovation project, or some private land as extra accommodation.
We recently delivered a surplus Jubilee mobile home to a Seafood Factory in North Africa so if you are in doubt please give us a call and we will do our best to help you.