can you please help us we have made an impulse buy of the above caravan,the price seemed to good to be true,4000reduced from 5000,year 2001 no awning but a mover on,the inside carpet and cupboards were well worn,although the cushions and fixed bed matress looked good,our present caravan has damp issues hence we are changing it,the dealer has said it has no damp issues,the carpet near the oven was cream but looked almost black could this be an indication of a damp floor,we have paid a deposit and it has to be serviced and checked,cleaned before we pick it up and pay the rest,we are worryin g that we may jumped in and got ourselves another damp van,thanksx
Are you getting signed proof that it has no damp? if not I would ask for one, don't let them just fob you off with 'oh it's fine'.
I 'm not an expert in prices but I would say, I don't think it's a bargain at £4000 if it's as bad inside as you say, it's probably what it's worth.
I would say if your instincts say don't have it then don't. Not sure if you would get your deposit back and depends what you put on it but might be worth the loss in the long run.
There are a lot of vans for sale if you are prepared to travel. Have you looked on here
Ask the dealer to prove that the caravan is not damp by allowing you to watch as he goes around with a damp meter. If damp is found afer dealers' assurance that it is dry then you would be entitled to your deposit back.
If the van is being serviced and checked before you collect it then, if that is in an approved workshop, there should be a damp check undertaken. Further, in such a workshop each service comes with a checklist, in writing, confirming just what has been done. So you should get a written copy of the damp check. If not then ask for it. On the specifics ask the dealer just why the carpet is black and can he provide a clean carpet. You should be able to buy new carpets off the net anyway.
Following the dealer with a damp meter can also put your mind at rest, if you know how a damp meter works and understand the readings. If you don't, and it registers damp then you are agreeing to buy a damp van. Better to rely on a written report from the dealer if you need to take issue with that dealer at a later date, particulalry when you need actual proof of what was said etc..
Try standing on the floor near the oven and just rock backwards and forwards on your feet to see if the floor feels spongey. If it feels like that then there could be damp which has delaminated the layers making up the floor.
It could just be that a sloppy cook used to own the van!!
Phil
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Phil,
agree but it may not be an approved workshop, there are a lot of small used caravan sales places that aren't.
Just another thing, if you do buy it and they give you a years warranty, get it serviced, (somewhere else) just before the year is up, that way if there is anything amiss it will get picked up and you can get it done under warranty.
Good luck hope everything goes o.k and let us know what you decide.
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Topic: advice on our elddis avante 534
