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Hope it works out for u both.

Ive often fancied working on/ running a site since we took up camping but never had the oppurtunity and at present both working in other ares, but maybe something to do when retire from main job, couple of years.

I have seen a few up for sale and cost a fortune!

So good luck. Which area do u live, or do u fancy a change of area too

Hello

We 'converted' 10 years ago from being campers and caravanners to campsite owners, at first on an existing site..... couple of things we feel is critical along the way are as follows:

1. you need to like people, and I mean really like people..... you are in the main dealing with the general public and they can put demands on you that you may not even anticipate..... you need to be happy with saying the same things time after time, happy with 'running after people' and happy with cleaning up after them ( some can be extremely messy!

2. You are it - the book stops with you as an owner for everything, literally everything and at all times of the day and night.  If you feel ill, in the main customers don't care - they still want their holiday, if you have family problems the customers don't care they still want their holiday, if you have an arguement with you OH about the washing up they don't care they still want their holiday.  One incidence that prompted us to seek wardens was easter hols 2009 - we were just gearing up to be extremely busy many people booking in and needing advice/question etc, my OH ate his breakfast as he normally does and about 11am started feeling decidedly unwell.   He had a real good dose of food poisoning and basically couldn't move out of bed/the toilet.... so it was down to me ( we didn't have help at the time ) seeing folks in, making sure they were on right pitches, cleaning the loos, laundry, wash up, juggling enquiries for wifi, things to do in the local area etc etc Whilst at the same time popping back home to double check he was ok........... THEN the electrics decided to play up and short out - no electricians on a Bank hol weekend - and no surprise when customers got 'shirty' with us as " they have paid for electric" eventually a regular customers husbands father came to my rescue and sorted it out phew I was rescued, but from that day forward I said "never again"  I think I managed approx 2 hours sleep all that week, with running the park and OH being ill it was some pressure! 

3. You need to get on with one another - again it's completely different when you are out at work and come back to the same house for evening and weekends - you really need to get on and know the ins and outs of one another - it was one of the most difficult things to get used to.  Your OH is the person you choose to be with, but working alongside them can be a challenge..........

4. It's all about money money - EVERYTHING done onsite costs and that is literally EVERYTHING, so from the roadways the customer drives in on, to the cleaning products you use, to when the customers flush the loo, to putting a cheque in the bank or the bank sending a statement, the pitches they pitch on and the waste they dispose of, literally EVERYTHING costs, depending on the location of the site this is coverable but it may be the case as in our case you don't draw an actual wage.  Our income covers the costs of running then park ( not the developments as it simply doesn't earn enough - the bank has paid for those!), but we don't draw a wage as they park doesn't take enough for running it - it does however pay, in part, our living expenses so some of our oil,electric,counciltax is paid for by the park but not all.

5.  It is a lifestyle - in every sense of the word, you do live and breath it even when closed, there is always something to do - at the moment its a change of playpark for us, then the big clean to begin the season, weeding pitches, grass cutting the first cut, cutting back hedges, getting the electrics tested etc etc  It can be a good lifestyle as you are 'at home' and thus like in our case it does allow you to explore a hobby ( subject to money!), it does allow and if set up right for you to spend periods of time with family, and it does allow for you to be your own boss - no one telling you what to do - well other than the customers!!, and many many customers are nice and appresiate the efforts gone to for their benefit and enjoyment. 

If you want to chat then don't hesitate to find our details and give us a call, I would recommend wardenning first as it does give you an insite into it.

All the best

Liz