Things to be mindful of when buying a cabin

At Cabin Connect, we list cabins for sale, and we’re here to give you a few tips to help that buying experience run smoothly. 

Buying a cabin is buying an asset. In many cases, there is no stamp duty payable, and the majority of the time, owners exchange funds and go on their merry way. However, there are a few things that you should consider and check before handing over your hard-earned cash. Below are 10 tips to be wary of: 

1. Ensure you enter into a Sale Of Asset Agreement. This is a legally binding document that stipulates the agreement between the two parties in regards to the price, deposit, inclusions, and settlement date. 
2. If buying in a caravan park for holidaying purposes, thoroughly read over your occupation agreement and be clear on how many days you are allowed to occupy your cabin and all the associated fees and rules for that park. 
3. If you are buying a cabin in a caravan park or lifestyle village, ensure you have your solicitor read over your residential tenancy agreement. This is a must! If you plan to live in your cabin, you can not do this on a casual occupation agreement. 
4. Get pest inspection complete. Just like a house, cabins can be exposed to termites that cause serious damage. 
5. Ensure the cabin has a compliance plate fixed to it. This compliance plate should tell you the name of the manufacturer,  the engineer who signed off on the design, and the date of manufacture. This is often needed for council applications or inspections. 
6. Ensure that the cabin has a hardwired smoke alarm, not just a battery-operated alarm. This is often a requirement of councils. 
7. Ensure your cabin has been installed on adequate footings and tied town in accordance with the manufacturer’s guidelines. 
8. Ensure your cabin meets all separation distance requirements from neighbors. For example, in NSW, all cabins must have a 2.5m clearance between them to be deemed council compliant. 
9. Check that all appliances and electrical equipment that is included in the sale are safe and functioning, you don’t want to be sold a dud fridge or shonky air conditioner! 
10. Ask the park or village management if they have any plans for development and if they foresee your site being under threat of redevelopment. You don’t want to find yourself having to relocate in the future. 

As always, these tips are things you should be wary of and not scared of. Owning a cabin in a park or lifestyle village is a great experience, but you must be fully informed and know your responsibilities.