Discussion Zone For Rv Park Owners Or Operators Options

[kcmoedoe]

I apologize for bringing the discussion off subject. I have a question that I couldnt find an answer to anywhere else and think that the owners of campgrounds can help me out. I was wondering what all is involved in purchasing a old campground ( expectations/requirements ) if I do not plan to operate as a campground? In short, to buy a campground and just live there as if it were a small house with lots of property. There is a small campground by me with no rv spots or cabins, and has only one small building which I think could be retrofitted to a nice little home. Is this something possible or am I just crazy? Also, would the campground still sell for the asking price now or will it for some reason increase/decrease due to me not wanting to operate as a campground? Im sorry if this isnt the right forum to post. Thank you very much for your responses.

Nothing wrong with buying a piece of property because you like it. It happens all the time. People buy an old farm with no intention of getting pigs or goats. As for the price, it will sell for whatever the property is worth. There is nothing about a campground that can be taken with the seller or sold seperately to reduce the price. How you plan on using it will have no effect on the price. If it is an inactive park, with little or no business, it really doesn't have too much value over the value of the land and buildings. If you do buy it, be aware if you do not operate it as a campground, you may lose the ability to restart it in the future if it has been grandfathered in a zoning action. You also should probably check to be sure it is legal to build a home on it if it is commercial property. Finally, it may be very difficult to get a loan for the purchase. It would be considered a raw land loan by most lenders and those carry high interest rates and high down payment requirements. You won't get a 30 year mortgage at 3% interest with 3% down. If those issues are not a problem, all you need to do is reach an agreement with the seller.

[JohnTucson]

I've been following this thread with keen interest. Like most folks who have been full-timing for a number of years now, I'm very much interested in the issues facing RV park owners. It's good to see this type of discussion here.

So I have a question I'd like to pose to you all. I hope it's appropriate for me to be asking ... if not, by all means please do let me know.

I'm a retired software developer. I'm in the process of writing a custom RV Park Management package for a park where I've stayed several times, and I'd like to pick your brains regarding features you like to see in your park management software.

Are there special features you particularly like? What are some things I should avoid? What things do you like/dislike about the package you use?

I should also say that it's my intention, if this first package works out well, to offer it to other parks where I stay, perhaps bartering it for space rental (since that's what I'd be spending the money on anyway!). Thanks a million for your input.

[kcmoedoe]

I've been following this thread with keen interest. Like most folks who have been full-timing for a number of years now, I'm very much interested in the issues facing RV park owners. It's good to see this type of discussion here.

So I have a question I'd like to pose to you all. I hope it's appropriate for me to be asking ... if not, by all means please do let me know.

I'm a retired software developer. I'm in the process of writing a custom RV Park Management package for a park where I've stayed several times, and I'd like to pick your brains regarding features you like to see in your park management software.

Are there special features you particularly like? What are some things I should avoid? What things do you like/dislike about the package you use?

I should also say that it's my intention, if this first package works out well, to offer it to other parks where I stay, perhaps bartering it for space rental (since that's what I'd be spending the money on anyway!). Thanks a million for your input.

You could check out Campground Master software's free demo. You can locate it on line. Curious as too what you are finding is missing from the software systems that are currently available?

[Just Jack]

I read 90% of this tread and came across one thing that was not mentioned at all, costumer service. I own a small park, nothing fancy, but we have great costumer service and the park is clean. And we get nothing but great rating on this site. We have the highest rates among 6 other parks in the immediate area that may have more amenities but they have no customer service skills and the parks are full of full timers and a mess. If you are going to have full timers make it a mobile home park so RV'ers don't have to see the mess. Most park owners don't know the first thing about costumer service.
After several years in the hotel business in a very competitive market place and a border line product to sell we ran at 100% occupancy because of customer service and a clean property.
We RV 1/2 the year and stay in best rated parks only. Many of the parks are not fancy but I see how they get the ratings, customer service and they are clean and neat. There is no excuse for a park not being clean.
Just a comment about electric. I have calculated the cost of electric for 3 years now, as a cost per occupied space per night. It has gone from $2.97 per night to almost $4 a night. We don't meter the spaces but owner should know what it costs. The rigs get bigger with more and more things to run.
Well all for now...

[RLM]

I am not a park owner, but as a frequent customer I'd like to provide a suggestion for those that are. When looking for a nice park to stay at, all to often, I find that the website does not list GPS coordinates for the campground and rarely does one have a Google Map insert. Occasionally, I even have to go hunting for the address; which, I would think should always be on the home page.

The use of GPS devices and smartphone that have that app is common place now days. Please make it easy to do use them and find your location.