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Maintaining Your Static Caravan: 5 Simple Tips

Posted on by Daly Caravans

Your static caravan provides you with a comfortable and easy way to live – but it’s not immune to issues. There are things you need to be aware of to ensure your static stays tip-top. Regular checks and running repairs are important. Maintaining your static caravan means just that – making efforts to keep it in good condition. To do this you have to go through the process of checking to see if any problems have occurred already, or whether there are indications that problems are likely to develop in the future. You will be able to take the right steps to fix problems or prevent them.

1. Cleaning

This is a fairly regular domestic task whatever your environment (a bricks and mortar house, a mobile home or a static caravan) and so it is something you will undoubtedly be familiar with.

On a day-to-day basis, keeping control of your things means you will have a manageable environment (things like the washing up, your clothes that need washing etc). Your static is a relatively limited space and so any gathering of ‘stuff’ is going to contribute to a feeling of being cluttered and untidy. If you’re in control of all of this, it’s more likely that you will feel better about the interior of your static, and be more inclined to look after it in a broader sense.

On the interior, running the hoover round and doing a bit of surface wiping is one thing, but doing a more thorough regular deep clean is highly beneficial too. Move the furniture (sofa, chair, shelving, table, TV unit etc) from its regular position and clean those areas, as well as the usually visible areas. Clean down all walls and surfaces, and windows. Empty out cupboards and other storage areas and clean the interior of those. If you are leaving the static for a significant length of time then leave the door of your fridge freezer ajar to prevent a growth of mould.

2. Exterior Maintenance

On the exterior of your static caravan, you can run a damp, warm cloth around to take off surface dirt and grime, but it is worth doing a full wash (like with a car, involving soapy water and rinsing etc). Your caravan will have suffered all sorts of debris build-up, from general dirt and dust to things which can become quite destructive if left (e.g. bird poo).

Areas such as the roof, drains and guttering also require your attention. You should ensure that fallen leaves are not left covering the roof or blocking drain holes or clogging up the static’s guttering. Fallen leaves decompose and can turn into an awful mess which, if left unchecked and unsorted, can eventually block drains and guttering.

Static caravan chassis maintenance is also important. The chassis is likely to be galvanised or painted – or somewhere in between. Check and maintain it regularly to avoid rust and other damage.

3. Boiler and Utilities

Just like back at your bricks and mortar home, you need to keep on top of the correct functioning of your hot water and heating system boiler. A qualified service engineer should be contracted to come out and check this over for you, certifying it as fit for purpose etc. This needs to be done once every three years.

In the time that your static caravan is not in use (over winter, say), then you should make sure that the gas bottle and the electricity are switched off. You can discuss full gas and electric safety checks with your park operator (you may have to pay an annual fee for these services). 

4. Damp

Really, what we are talking about here is airflow and moisture. It’s important to ensure that the flow of air in your static caravan remains decent. Like in any other enclosed space you should be ready to open your window regularly so that air can circulate. It’s good to allow air to flow through the static caravan, as this will help with the prevention of condensation – and therefore damp and any of the problems arising from it. 

Condensation is most noticeable when it appears on surfaces such as glass or tiles. It’s common for condensation to occur in bathrooms and kitchens as these are mini-environments with high moisture content. However, condensation can also occur in corners, on ceilings and window frames, and on the inside of cupboards. As a result of this, black mould may develop in those places.

When you leave your static caravan over the winter, it’s a good idea to keep any bedding and upholstery away from walls and windows. A really smart move might be to store sheets etc in vacuum packs – and it’d also be beneficial to invest in a small dehumidifier or absorber to prevent damp from building up and prevent mould. Once you return after time away, open the windows and vents to allow fresh air into the static and any moisture to escape.

5. Doors / Windows

An important part of maintaining your static caravan is checking the efficiency of the seals on windows and doors. These strips of rubber form an airtight and watertight barrier. However, if they are compromised in any way you will find that this can lead to problems. Due to the nature of the material they are made from, seals can weaken and become brittle over time, leading to loss of function. When this is compromised seals may start to leak, and water problems may start to occur within the static. When you are leaving your static caravan for a few weeks or a few months, you should ensure that windows and doors are properly closed and locked.

If you are concerned about maintaining your static caravan, don’t be. As long as you keep control by doing these things as and when they are required, rather than letting things slide, then it should work out as not very expensive at all. If you follow the suggestions we have made in this edition of our blog, your static caravan should remain in great condition – not only during the spring and summer but also when it is unoccupied throughout the winter. Saving yourself from the inconvenience and expense of major maintenance work is not that difficult and doesn’t have to cost too much at all.

If you’re looking to sell your static caravan, but don’t know where to start, or are worried about its condition or value, why not give us a call at Daly Caravans. Our expert team have years of experience in both the buying and selling of static homes offering fair prices and competitive quotations whatever the condition of your home. Get a free quote today by filling in a few easy details on our online form!

How To Drain Down A Static Caravan

Posted on by Daly Caravans

Although this blog is being written and published during the summer it talks about something particularly important during the process of winterisation, as well as useful to know the rest of the year round. Getting your static caravan prepared for the winter is very important, and draining it down is a crucial part of the process. Static caravans can flood and be subject to frost damage – so draining down can protect you from incurring repair costs. In this edition of our blog we’ll run through the process.

What does ‘draining down’ actually mean?

Draining down means emptying out all of the water in your static caravan’s pipes, boiler and water systems. During winter the water in pipes or essential parts of your boiler and water system could freeze, and the physical expansion caused by this could cause cracking or splits. Pipework could burst and the water would then melt and cause damage to your static, possibly flooding it. Not only will you have to spend money replacing damaged pipework, you may also have to pay out for replacement of things like carpets, furniture and so on. 

How Do I Drain Down? 

The great news is that when the time comes you can drain down your static caravan yourself. You don’t need to employ the services of a specialist or an engineer, and can complete the draining simply by undertaking the following steps.

  1. Switch off: Turn off your water supply and switch off your heating.
  2. Taps: Open the drain-down taps on your static caravan. These are usually positioned beneath your caravan. Turn on all water taps until pipework is fully drained. 
  3. Flush: Make sure to flush the toilet, and also turn on the shower to let the water drain out of that system. To assist in getting the water to flow through and away, you could remove the shower head and even the connecting pipe.
  4. Blow: If you have access to compressed air, blow it through the pipework to blow out any remaining water and remove it.
  5. Anti-Freeze: Pour a non-toxic variety of anti-freeze into the toilet and down any plug holes (into the system) to remove water residue.
  6. Shut: Make sure you close and lock all windows, skylights and doors. This will prevent cold air from entering the static caravan.
  7. Additionally: Check your boiler itself, plus any external pipes on the static caravan. These will be the most likely to suffer cold damage as they are closer to the effects of the elements.

When Do I Drain Down My Static Caravan?

Winterisation is the process of preparing your caravan for winter. Though the term is mostly used in the context of the type of caravan you tow about on holidays, it applies equally to static caravan holiday homes. You are likely to leave the caravan over winter and return to your bricks and mortar home, so you want to make sure it is prepared for being empty and disused during the cold season. 

As a general rule, drain down should be completed by early to mid-November – though some static caravan parks will have their own particular guidelines on drain downs written into contracts as stipulations or advisories. Your insurance policy may also have a clause regarding drain downs – that, for instance, the caravan must be drained down during periods of emptiness, or between particular months etc.

Drain Down Ready To Sell

Another great reason to drain down is when you are preparing to sell your static caravan. It may lay empty for a period of time after you have vacated, and it is advisable to make sure you mitigate against risk, and that it remains in the best condition possible so that prospective static caravan buyers see it at its best – undamaged.

Here at Daly Caravans we have static caravans for sale across our parks, so there are plenty of holiday home options for you as well as the option of selling your static caravan for the best possible price. Find out more now on our quick valuation page. 

How To Maximise Your Static Caravan’s Value

Posted on by Daly Caravans

When you hand over your money and take ownership of a static caravan you are making quite a sizeable purchase. Just like with anything else big that you buy, when the time comes that you decide to sell it pays off if you’ve looked after it. Caravans depreciate in value over time, but you’ll ensure you get the best possible price for your static if you keep on top of all of the necessary maintenance, repairs and domestic tasks. Why wouldn’t you do that anyway? Your static is your pride and joy!

In this edition of our blog we’ll look at the things you can do to ‘work towards’ a good selling price when you’ve reached the “I think I want to sell my static caravan” moment.

Our Tips For Getting The Best Price For Your Static

  1. Condition: This might seem obvious, and we just mentioned it in our introduction, but keeping your static caravan in good condition is a must. That means: a clean and tidy interior and with all fixtures, fittings and systems in good working order. Monitor the condition of the furniture and soft furnishings for serious wear and tear, check that things like hinges on cupboards are all tight and working correctly, and keep an eye on paintwork for chips and scratches. Obviously when you are living in a place and using all of these things regularly there will be some deterioration in quality, but you should do what you can to make sure things don’t get damaged or shabby. 

Wash the soft furnishings, if they have removable covers, or sponge clean or wash them. You should also ensure that the exterior is up to spec. Check regularly for paintwork damage (scratches etc). Check the condition of (if you have it) your exterior decking etc. Basically, do everything you can to keep things ‘nice’ – and this will ensure as high a price as possible is available to you when the time comes to sell.

Similarly, all systems should be working correctly. You might need to occasionally get ‘the experts’ in to sort things out for you if there are performance issues – water systems, gas systems etc. Ultimately, your aim should be to keep your static in a condition as close to the original as possible.

  • Restoration: It’s your place, so you will have personalised it – and that is acceptable, but there’s no getting round the fact that it can have a detrimental effect on its value. Your taste, your style, is different to everyone elses, so (just like you’d ‘neutralise’ the colour of your walls if you were selling your bricks and mortar home) you should ensure that any ‘wild’ colours or curtains, furnishings, carpets and so on are restored to the original basics.

Similarly, any additions you have put in there which might not suit other buyers should be removed or restored, if possible. For example, you might have replaced or reupholstered the furniture or installed a new kitchen. Surprisingly, this can have a negative consequence in terms of the sale value of your caravan, despite your perception that what you’ve done ‘makes the place nicer’. Most people, when buying, like to buy something that bland and inoffensive. Your intention, when selling, should be to have a caravan which you’ve restored to more or less an absolutely ‘blank canvas’ so that someone else can work their own personality, tastes and ideas into it.

A static caravan is at its highest value when it’s ‘box fresh’ – kitted and fitted with all of the original factory features. As we have mentioned, this may be surprising but it is broadly true. When you feel it is time for you to sell your static, you should do your best to make sure you can get it back to this original state, or as close to it as is possible. Obviously in many circumstances this is not possible (if you have installed a new kitchen, for example).

When the time does come to sell your static caravan or, at least, if you feel that you would like an idea of what your caravan is worth so are looking for a valuation, then don’t forget that here at Daly we buy static caravans using a hassle-free and simple three step process. Just fill in our quick valuation form and that gets the ball rolling on establishing what your static caravan is worth. We have a great deal of experience in this area, and our prices are always fair. If you have any further queries simply get in touch – we’d be more than happy to help!

How To Sell Your Static Caravan With Us: A Guide

Posted on by Daly Caravans

You’ve made the decision to sell your static caravan. When the moment comes to go through with it, you are not going to relish the prospect of it being difficult or ruled by ‘the irritating admin of life’. You certainly won’t want loads of forms to wade through and fill in, or calls to have to make. You’re going to want a very quick and easy way to navigate the whole thing. There are other methods of selling, but our buy scheme is simple and productive and highly efficient – and that’s why selling to Daly Caravans is your number one choice. 

We buy any static caravan and we’ve been through the process more than 20,000 times in nearly five decades in business, so if you’re looking to sell your static, get in touch! In this brief but brilliant edition of our blog, we’ll offer a reminder of the how and why of it!

Why would I want to sell my static?

Although it’s unlikely, it does happen – there may come a time when the appeal of spending time in your static just isn’t there anymore. You’ve fallen out of love with that lifestyle a little bit, and are ready to move on to something else. That’s fine, and we can help – sell to us! Similarly, you may find that the cost of living the rest of your life has increased and the static is something of an asset that can be liquidised to give you more cash. Or, you may decide that your current caravan has outlived its usefulness to you – in terms of luxury or size – and you want to go for an upgrade to something bigger and better. In any and all of these circumstances you can get in touch with us to give you a quote.

How to prepare for sale

You will almost certainly have looked after your static very well. You’ll have kept right on top of its cleanliness and any necessary maintenance it has required. The condition of it is definitely going to affect the price you will be offered, so you should look at things like wiping down surfaces to get rid of any condensation, and installing damp absorbers. Also make sure the roof is watertight and that door and window seals have integrity. Check that the heating system (if there is one) is working, and that any extra fixtures and fittings are in good working order too.

The three step process to selling your static

To start with, there is a little bit of form filling. Just a smidgeon, really, as our quick and easy valuation form contains no more than a few questions about your caravan. It should take you no more than a few minutes and it’ll ensure we know enough to make you an offer. The valuation we make will be guaranteed for seven days (meaning you have a little bit of time to think about our offer). The second step is that we will call you to arrange an appointment, and the third step (provided you’ve accepted our offer) is a discussion about payment options with you, plus, the organisation of the safe disconnection and collection of your static caravan. The whole thing is completely hassle free.

As we mentioned at the start of this blog, we buy any static and we have a vast number of years of experience in the buying and selling of static caravans. In the field of static caravan traders, we have become experts at all aspects, and can offer you lots of advice – as well as the best possible deal. So when you are thinking “will you buy my static caravan?” the answer is likely to be “yes, Daly will”! If you’re actually buying, not selling, then you can browse our website to see what we currently have on offer.