Camping Sites For Sale - What To Check Before You Buy

Owning your own campsite can be a dream come true for entrepreneurs who love the outdoors. In fact, looking for camping sites for sale near you and transforming them into glamping sites is the new big trend as it allows you to take a tired camping site and turn it into a revenue-generating machine. However, before you buy a camping site, there are some things you need to check out. In this article, I discuss what you need to look for when buying campgrounds for sale by owner, how to make sure it's the perfect fit for your lifestyle business dreams and how to make it more profitable. So, if you're thinking about buying a camping site, and especially if you are interested in transforming an existing campsite into a glamping site, then keep reading!

Are you looking for camping sites for sale?

Some of the most important factors to consider when purchasing a camping site can often go unexplored and unnoticed and this can lead to a failed purchase or a new business that stalls because certain inspections were not done at the beginning of the purchase process. This is especially important if you are looking for campgrounds for sale by owner, because they will not be doing the checking for you as all they want to do is sell their property. So, if you are ready to buy your own campground or camping site there are a few things you need to take into account before you do.

Here are the most important factors to consider when purchasing land for a campsite or an already existing camping site for sale: 

The location of the camping site for sale

Although it is not essential to have a captive audience near the campsite, as your guest will travel for the right type of experience, it does help. Checking local businesses in the area will help you understand the local competition and how big the customer base already is. There are some interesting checks you can do by completing a vacation rental market intelligence report, which we undertake for clients depending on where in the world they are planning to set up their business

Size of the property

Make sure you have enough space to accommodate your camping business needs. It is also wise to consider how you would want to develop the campsite in the future and understand if you have all the facilities you might need for this. For example, if you are going to offer more glamping services in the future to raise the income potential of the site, knowing you have enough buildings and utilities on the site to develop your new service is helpful as it will help you with permits and zoning, which can be a difficult and lengthy process.

Availability of water and electricity

Always check if these are available on the property before you consider purchasing a camping site for sale. Utilities can be the most expensive elements to add to a site so having these already, and in good condition, are key to staying within your overall project budget.

Facilities on the site

Believe it or not, some campsites only have certain facilities on their site as it helps them obtain higher star ratings with regulators. This means you might have unused facilities your guests will not want, such as 20 mini tennis tables for example. While it’s good to understand how you can increase your quality grading, it is also important to know all the assets included in the sale, how much they cost to maintain and any implications of getting rid of them.

The surrounding area

Your guest will want to stay at your campsite because of the places to visit and the experiences they can have in your area. So if you are considering buying a camping site for sale, you need to be confident the surrounding area includes enough to keep your customers entertained

Proximity to attractions

If you're looking for a centrally located site, make sure it's close to popular tourist destinations as your guests will want to spend their holiday time doing fun things. However, there is a strategy to getting this right for your particular type of guest and your facilities. We include more on this in our glamping business course in the academy.

Zoning restrictions, permits, licences and regulations

There may be specific zoning laws that restrict how you use the land and campsite you are considering buying, so make sure to do your research beforehand. I have heard horror stories when someone has put all their hard-earned money into a camping site for sale only to discover that the site didn't have the right permissions in place to continue operating. Including these checks in your due diligence processes can help you avoid this camping site business nightmare.

Investigate if the campsites are profitable

As with any business, understanding the profitability of its operations before you buy is an important part of your due diligence process. While you can improve the revenue generation of a site this doesn't necessarily increase its profitability so giving this the right amount of attention from the start is a key step in the purchase decision. In this case, checking the cash flow, maintenance costs and future longevity of the business is the least you should do if you are considering buying a camping site for sale

Know what's included in the sale price

Doing an audit of all the assets included in the sale will help you understand if you are achieving a good value. In this audit, factors such as the age of the asset and condition are important for you to get a handle on its value. It is also worth noting that some buildings on a campsite can be occupied by others who have purchased a lease or pay rent to use the equipment so be sure to include this in your asset review.

Is there an experienced campsite owner or manager who will do a handover with you?

Finally, having this tied into a purchase agreement can help you navigate a smooth transition in the sale and is worth its weight in gold so if possible tie this into the sale contract and if possible do the work with them before the sale has been completed.

How to use glamping to make your campsite business more profitable?

Purchasing land for a campsite can be an exciting prospect and you will definitely enjoy the process, especially if you are transitioning from a salaried job to this style of a lifestyle business. However, it is important to take into account all of the necessary factors highlighted above (and more) before making your purchase official.

The size of the property, availability of water and electricity, and proximity to conveniences like grocery stores and gas stations are all important considerations. If you want a successful business make sure the right amenities are available on-site or nearby. And if camping isn't your thing, don't worry as glamping is the new trend that’s really taking off! This means a camping site can be easily transformed into a glamping site with the right approach and with your entrepreneurial business eye firmly set on your IRR or ROI.

We can help you turn your campsite into a luxurious glamping destination that will help increase your business revenue and growth. This will help you turn a failing campsite business that you are thinking of buying into a successful glamping business that will keep your guests coming back for more. Click here to take part in the Glamping Business Course to find out more.

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