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More Cons To Look For When Buying Used Caravans

February 7th, 2012

When buying a used caravan it is important to make sure that you are getting what you have paid for. This involves making sure that you are not being conned or tricked into buying a used caravan that is less than desirable or is not as described. So, if you have read the first article, what are some more of the caravan cons that you should be looking out for?

‘Sold as seen’ trick
This con is relevant to people who buy their used caravan on one day and come back on another to pick it up. By then, the seller has removed pretty much anything that is not bolted down, such as awnings, leisure batteries, spare tyre’s and so on. When making a deal on a caravan, be sure to get all the inclusions in writing so that both you and the seller are clear on what is staying and what is going. It is best to take the caravan with you straight away if at all possible.

‘Driveway’ trick
The first clue you should notice if someone is trying this used caravan con on you is when you arrive to view the van and the seller is waiting for you in the driveway. They may explain that they are selling it for their parents or sibling or whoever. The second clue is that the seller will never enter the house because they don’t have the keys, or the relative is at work or on holidays. So what is the con here? The caravan doesn’t actually belong to the seller and they’re trying to get you to take it before the real owners get home. To make sure the seller actually owns the used caravan, make an excuse for them to go into the house and if they refuse, don’t make the deal because you are the one who will get in trouble in this situation.

‘Pushed sale’ trick
If you have made an appointment to check out a used caravan you are interested in buying, be wary if someone else turns up to view the caravan half way through or if the seller receives a very well-placed phone call within your ear shot. The ‘interested buyer’ may offer more money than has been asked for. These methods are designed to put pressure on you so that you buy the used caravan on impulse without properly checking it out. The ‘interested buyer’ is most likely a relative or friend of the seller. If this happens to you, tell the seller you will get back to them and leave. If you do decide you want the caravan, it will most likely still be there when you call.

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Posted in Vans

Tags: Caravans con first clue spare tyre

The Best Time Of Year To Look For Caravans For Sale

February 7th, 2012

If you are looking for caravans for sale, you want to make sure that you get the best possible deal and have a wide variety of choice. Believe it or not, both these things can be drastically different at various times of the year. So when is the best time of year to start looking at vans for sale?

Well, that all depends on whether you intend to buy from a caravan dealership or to check out the private sellers. This will also shape the decision on what time of year to start looking at caravans for sale.

Most caravan dealerships will receive their new shipments at the beginning of spring, just in time for the busy caravanning season of the year when everyone gets a few weeks off. If you are in the market for a brand new caravan, visiting dealerships in the months before the start of spring, when the dealers are trying to get rid of last year’s stock, is likely to yield you the best deals. This is known as the ‘dead’ sales period and is when most dealers offer the best bargains.

If, however, you are in the market for a used caravan for sale and would prefer to buy from a dealer, you should wait until towards the end of summer to buy. This is because the dealership will be full of trade-in caravans that were used to purchase a new caravan in the spring. You, as a buyer, will have more choice due to the larger range of used vans for sale, as well as the added bonus of being able to pick up a fairly new model. The dealers may even cut you a good deal, just to get an extra caravan off their lot.

Those people, however, that are looking for caravans for sale from private sellers should begin their search around mid autumn and winter. This is because winter marks the end of the caravanning season for a lot of enthusiasts. There will be sellers, generally with fairly new caravans, that have found the lifestyle is not for them and so have decided to sell their van. Then there are the sellers that are looking to upgrade or downsize their caravan and want to get it out of the way before the next season starts.