Author: Ian Greenhalgh

Setting up, operating, and maintaining your own business can be hard work and stressful at times. Although there are several benefits that go alongside this, starting up your own company from scratch is incredibly difficult. In fact, some statistics have revealed that more than half of UK start-ups fail within five years.

However, you can still have that level of independence and responsibility of running your own business, but with the support of an established and reputable company, by owning a franchise. With uncertainty around Brexit, an unstable economic future, and other contributing factors, there are numerous benefits to opening a franchise, rather than negotiating the risk of your own start-up.

We’ve outlined some of the main advantages of owning a franchise to help you make an informed decision.

Independence

One of the main reasons some people hold back from owning a franchise, and open their own business instead, is because of the fear of the lack of independence. But working with a recognised brand can provide you with business security, as well as giving you the freedom to make your own decisions. Whichever company you choose to franchise through, knowing that you have the backing and support of that business, gives you more independence to make bigger and more exciting decisions.

Support

Support is a huge factor when it comes to investing in a franchise. You are buying into a brand that is already succeeding and wants to prolong that success, so you can be sure that you’ll receive the right support from the brand. Being commercially minded and knowing the ins and outs of running a business doesn’t always come naturally, so it’s great to have the expertise and knowledge of a company to guide you along the way. See what one of our franchisees has to say about the support we provide:

Reputation

Your reputation is important and so is that of the brand you’re franchising for. When you choose a franchise to open, you can enjoy the benefit of an established reputation from that brand, as well as marketing teams and legal departments who are keen to offer support wherever possible to ensure that brand name remains reputable.

Reduced risk

As mentioned previously, starting a business from the ground up is difficult, expensive, and incredibly demanding; if you’re prepared to work hard, but work smart, then buying a franchise is often a much more beneficial idea. Seeing success stories of other franchise owners and knowing the business model from the get-go, allows you to gain a lot of insight into the running of the company and how this will fit around your own life. Check out what one of our own successful franchisees has to say about what attracted him to Cloudy2Clear:

Experience

We have the knowledge and expertise to guide you through the franchise process, to ensure your journey is as successful as it can be. Our level of experience ensures you have the business opportunities that you require, as well as fulfilling your own career aspirations.

You can also see what our Operations Manager, Kirk Williams, has to say about being part of the Cloudy2Clear family in a recent Which? Trusted Traders article. Visit our dedicated franchise website.

The UK has numerous locations, perfect for your static caravan to reside. If you’re looking for a change of scenery from your current site or are thinking about buying a static caravan and need some location ideas, check out our 5 top choices of the best places to set up camp.

Tenby, Wales

Wales is well known for being a popular location for UK holiday-goers, with miles of beautiful coastline and plenty of castles and history to explore. One of our favourite areas is Tenby, Pembrokeshire. There are various caravan sites to choose from, all within a good distance from the town centre and in close proximity of Saundersfoot, another beautiful coastal resort.

Tenby is steeped in history, notably for being a 13th century medieval walled town. From discovering and learning about the old town, to delving into its current array of shops and restaurants, it’s no wonder so many people choose Tenby as their UK holiday destination. Why not even take a short boat trip over to Caldey Island for more exploring?

Brecon Beacons, Wales

We couldn’t fit all our favourite Welsh destinations on this list, so we had to settle for just two. Brecon Beacons, South Wales is a stunning location for your static caravan or park home. With views of the incredible mountain range, it’s a much different setting than the usual seaside towns.

Events in this location include motorbike weekends, county shows, and the famous Green Man Festival (which you still have chance to see this August!).

Isle of Wight

Well known for its mild climate, the Isle of Wight is and has always been a huge attraction for UK caravan owners. With an array of sight-seeing activities from Carisbrooke Castle to Osborne House, and stunning beaches and coastline, there’s plenty of holiday frivolities to enjoy. And if you’re looking for something a little more exciting, why not visit the Isle of Wight Festival? It’s family friendly and full to the brim with music and entertainment.

There are also a number of fantastic caravan parks, each with their own benefits, from quite seclusion and countryside, to pools and great facilities for kids.

Cornwall

Another location which prides itself on warmer weather is Cornwall. Situated on the edge of the country, this sunny seaside county is a haven for surfing fanatics, water sports lovers, and families. There’s plenty to see and do, with a wealth of beautifully kept caravan parks for you to choose from.

Popular activities include visiting St Ives, St Michael’s Mount (a former monastery), nearby Newquay Zoo, and even reaching Land’s End.

Devon

Devon, closely linked to Cornwall, is another fantastic location for any static caravan owner. From the predictably good weather throughout the summer months to the plethora of activities and events on offer, understandably it attracts hundreds of UK families to choose a holiday park here.

The area boasts a range of activities for both young and old, from days out at any of the beautiful Devon beaches to visiting the vast range of museums or galleries, such as the Centre for Contemporary Art & the Natural World.

If you’re thinking of moving your static caravan’s location, ensure it looks the very best it can, as well as improving your energy efficiency, by replacing any broken or failed windows. If you have stiff hinges or broken locks, we can help improve the security of your caravan or park home too.

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Being a landlord can be a profitable, fulfilling, but difficult job. Tenants can sometimes be your best friend or your worst enemy, so it’s important to know exactly what your role entails when dealing with client issues.

One of the most common and often confusing topics for landlords and tenants is condensation and mould. Condensation is prolific throughout UK homes and can cause an undue amount of problems, from excess moisture to the presence of mould.

We’ve outlined our top pointers on how to deal with condensation and mould complaints as a landlord.

1. Always go and evaluate the problem

Whatever the complaint, it’s important to show your tenants respect by going and inspecting the issue. This allows you to take your own photos and document your investigation. Condensation and mould could be a sign of penetrating damp or rising damp, both of which are issues which you will need to correct.

2. Check ventilation

One of the main sources of condensation is bad ventilation. If you have already provided your tenants with the appropriate ventilation, such as extractor fans and windows, then think of other ways to help, such as providing them with a dehumidifier or improving insulation in the property. The more you can do to help, the less likely your property will become inhabitable, and the less likely the blame will fall on your shoulders.

3. Create a checklist for your tenants

Condensation can also be attributed to the behaviour and lifestyles of your tenants, for example, if they leave lids off pans when boiling, if they leave wet clothes and towels to dry without leaving windows open, or showering with doors and windows shut. Creating a checklist and advice booklet for your tenants can help prevent these problems occurring.

4. Dealing with rising or penetrating damp

Penetrating damp can happen because of cracks in walls, wooden window frames going rotten, or leaking pipes. If water can enter your property from the outside, then this should be repaired by the yourself, and not your tenant.

Rising damp is an issue for landlords with properties on the ground floor or basement flats. As the name suggests, moisture rises up through the ground and is absorbed into the walls of your property. To prevent this kind of problem occurring, ensure you have a proper damp proof course installed.

The best approach is to inform the tenant and fix the problem as soon as possible, so there are no health risks to the occupants and your property remains safe.

5. Replace any failed double glazing

Your main aim as a landlord is to make sure your tenants have comfortable and acceptable living conditions. Simply by replacing any failed double glazing helps prevent the presence of condensation in the home and enhances the look of your property for any potential tenants.

Cloudy2Clear can replace just the glass pane, not the entire frame and unit. This saves customers time and money – we know how busy landlords can be, especially if you have more than one property. Contact your local branch today for more information and a free, no obligation quotation.

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