You will first have to decide on the setting and environment you would prefer to site your lodge - on the shores of a lake, in the midst of beautiful countryside, maybe by the seaside or, perhaps, close to an historic town.

• How far do you reasonably want to travel on a regular basis to get to and from your lodge? For most families, a drive of two to two and a half hours from their home is more than enough.

• What facilities are available on, or close, to the lodge park? Are you looking for a bustling, busy resort with lots of activities for children and entertainment, or a 'get away from it all' retreat?

• Does a reputable company with a proven pedigree own the lodge park? Is it a member of the British Holiday & Home Parks Association/National Caravan Council Fair Trader Holiday Park Scheme?

• Do you want to invite guests to stay in your lodge? If it's a small 'away from it all’ lodge park, are visitors, including children, allowed to stay overnight? Does the lodge park operator charge for additional guests?

• Can you bring your pets onto the lodge park? If not, who is going to look after them whilst you're away?

• Are you looking to derive additional income by offering holiday lets? Is the park suitable for the sort of families you want to attract and does the park operator allow you to do this?

Wessex regularly visit sites with leisure lodges and log cabins for sale and can create a short list based on your required criteria.

• The beauty of Wessex luxury lodges is that they can be produced in a range of sizes and floor plan layouts. If you intend to have friends or family regularly staying over, you may prefer to consider a three bedroom layout. Each Wessex model also has a choice of verandah and decking options for superb outdoor living.

• Your new luxury leisure lodge will arrive ready for you to move into with fully co-ordinated fabrics and soft furnishings. If your circumstances won't allow you to splash out on a brand new leisure lodge, you could always consider buying one that has been previously owned. Wessex strongly advise you to seek the advice of a professional surveyor about the condition of any second hand leisure lodge or log cabin offered for sale before making a purchase.

First impressions count. Does the leisure park appear attractive and well maintained, with everything in good order? Are the advertised facilities open and available? Walk around by yourself and speak to existing leisure lodge owners. Ask them about how the leisure park is run and their relationships with the park management. Make sure the site licence (issued by the local authority) is clearly displayed and that the leisure park operator is meeting the conditions on it. In particular, check out those conditions relating to safety, fire precautions, spacing of plots and the provision of water and other services. The Licence will also clearly display the opening times of the leisure park. Many open for 10, 11 or 12 months, whilst others open seasonally, e.g. from 1st March-31st October. When you sit down with the leisure park operator ask about ongoing charges like site fees covering upkeep of shared areas and facilities, maintenance of roads, insurances and possibly water rates that must be allowed for. You will also have to budget for costs such as electricity and gas and other services like water and sewage. Ask who the utility providers are and who will be invoicing you. If these services are charged through the leisure park operator establish if there are any surcharges levied for this. You should also establish the park operator's policy on sub-letting. Some leisure parks allow this and will actually manage it for you, for a fee. Others do not permit it at all.

A Code of Practice for Selling and Siting Holiday Caravans is in place and provides all the information that helps both the holiday home owner and the leisure park operator understand and use the law relating to buying and living in a leisure lodge in a fair and equal manner. Developed by industry trade associations, it recognises that both the holiday home owner and park owner share a common aim - a well-run Holiday Park where the benefits of a holiday home can be enjoyed and the purchase of a holiday home is secure for the future. You can download a copy of the Code of Practice for Selling and Siting Holiday Caravans here.

Are you buying outright or will you need to arrange finance? If you are unable to fund the purchase of your home completely, some specialist finance companies can offer loans specifically for the purchase of leisure lodges.

Although we will help you to select and specify your leisure lodge, you will actually purchase your home from the Park Operator, not directly from Wessex. The turnkey price of your home can be substantially more than the manufacturer's ex works price. The actual cost will be dependent on the quality and geographical location of the park, the size and location of the plot and the costs of transportation and installation on site.

• Once you have chosen your leisure lodge and plot you will have to sign a written agreement with the leisure park operator, which will come into force when the purchase is completed. You should always see and carefully check through this document before you commit to the purchase. This written agreement is a legal contract between the purchaser and the leisure park operator. It sets out the rights and obligations of both the holiday park operator and the holiday home owner.

• It should specify the resident's fundamental rights including minimum length of tenure and the right to re-sell to a third party. Other terms agreed between the leisure park operator and the holiday home owner may cover such items as the duty of the owner to keep their home in good repair and a similar duty on the operator to maintain the infrastructure and facilities of the park in good condition.

• Be aware that in the event of you re-selling your leisure lodge and assigning the agreement the Park Operator will be entitled to a commission of up to 15% of the selling price.