Turning Dirt: A Step-By-Step Guide For Turning Dreams Of Campground Ownership Into Reality

Owning a campground is unlike owning any other business, but it's not rocket surgery. If you've been thinking campground ownership is something you want to take on but don't know how to get started, Turning Dirt--divided into three major sections--begins by stressing the importance of knowing why you want to do this and of realistically assessing what skills and resources you bring to the table. It then walks you through various decisions that should be made before you even begin looking at properties, including location, size and type of campground, and highlights some of the pitfalls and hazards that must be avoided. Once you're ready to conduct an active search, the second section describes various ways to identify potential acquisitions, the critical importance of having reliable financials in hand before deciding on a site visit, and the red flags to look for in an initial visit. On finding a hot prospect, this section explores the ins and outs of a purchase agreement, walks you through the various elements of a comprehensive inspection and describes some of the factors that may prompt you to pull the plug. Assuming everything is up to snuff, this section also details how to get to closing and related subjects, such as owner financing. Three appendices related to this section include a sample offer letter, a due diligence checklist and an outline of the major elements of a purchase agreement.Finally, the third section gets into the nitty gritty of the many operational aspects of running a campground that won't get covered by general "how to" business books. Included are extended discussions about employees, the various kinds of campers (and which kinds you may or may not want), the many ways to structure rates, and the importance of having clearly defined policies from the outset. Subjects of special interest to campground operators that are touched on include pets, golf cars, extra guests, bed bugs and electric vehicles.Turning Dirt is written by Andy Zipser, whose family owned a campground in the Shenandoah Valley for eight years. His blog may be seen at www.renting-dirt.com.

• | Author: Andrew Zipser
• | Publisher: Andrew Zipser DBA Mint Spring Publishing
• | Publication Date: Jun 21, 2022
• | Number of Pages: 158 pages
• | Language: English
• | Binding: Paperback
• | ISBN-10: 1737775026
• | ISBN-13: 9781737775027