28 October 2025
Article from Kelsey Media The Residential Parks Guide 2025
We talk to Phil and Vicki Dinham, who researched their potential park and preferred manufacturer remotely, with a fantastic end result!
Bella Brodie reports
For many buyers, knowing where to start with a potential park home move can be a bit tricky, but when you carry out your research thoroughly, it can point you in a sound direction, as Phil and Vicki discovered.
Before retirement, Phil was a senior manager both in the UK and New Zealand, working in the Youth Justice System. In the 2004 New Years Honours List he was awarded the OBE for services to youth and community justice, while Vicki worked in the probation service and Barnardos in the UK before volunteering at a Women’s Centre after moving to New Zealand.
Phil explained, “We were moving back from New Zealand to the UK to live when I retired, and we wanted somewhere peaceful, low maintenance and something that suited us to lock up and leave, because we intended on travelling quite a bit. We found Caerwnon Park online, and we used technology to check it out a bit.
Vicki continues, “Phil’s brother and his wife went to have a look at the park itself, and his brother got quite friendly with one of the residents there, which helped a lot. He was researching what life on the park was like remotely for us. They gave us the thumbs up, and it was all go from there really. Modern technology really helped. We had already a good look on Google Earth and Street Maps at the park and area, and researched what the park residents were saying about it on places like Facebook pages. The price looked about right for us, too. We then contacted the park manager Kerri, who was amazing. She took photos for us, gave us lots of information, and basically sent us as much as she could to help us get a feel for it. It was a bit of a leap of faith as Builth Wells wasn’t somewhere that we had spent a lot of time.”
Phil said, “We lived in South Wales for a while, but we had only passed through mid-Wales quickly on our way somewhere else. So, it was a pleasant surprise when we found how accessible it was for places like Brecon, Hereford and Worcester, Shrewsbury, you know, lots of lovely places. It’s like a central crossroads in Wales, really.” It seems it was really well located for visiting family members, too. Vicki added, “It’s about an hour and a quarter to my family in Coventry and about the same to Phil’s family in South Wales, so we’re handy for family, but not living in their pockets.
Talking about the park home prospect, Phil said, “We’d never been in one before. The home we bought was from Omar, whom we had heard was among the leading manufacturers, and we liked the look of their website. The first decision was what kind of home we wanted if we came back to the UK. We were looking around at comparable houses in comparable locations, and they were double the price, significantly more than a park home. Houses in New Zealand tend to be single story and timber-framed due to earthquake risk, so the wooden construction didn’t put us off. So, then we researched the pros and cons of park home living, and then thought about what we wanted. Vicky wanted a big square kitchen, and I wanted a study, and we wanted at least two bedrooms so we could have guests to stay. So, we looked at the layout of park home options, checked out Omar’s reputation and reviews and settled on the Elveden Cottage. “ Phil says, “A new park home comes with a ten year guarantee plus is future proofed against the day when stairs and home maintenance could become an issue.
The couple also left a review of their experience on Google saying; “Our initial visit to the show home at their Brandon headquarters reassured us of the quality of workmanship and fittings. We were able to adjust the layout of our chosen model, to suit our needs. We were then guided through an extensive list of options for each room with helpful hints and advice. It truly felt like a bespoke rather than “off the peg “home. Two and a half years later, the home has not disappointed and visitors who have never been in a park home before are impressed, even those sceptical about mobile homes. What’s been even more pleasing has been Omar’s after-sales service. We’ve had very few issues, but when we’ve approached Omar, the response was exceptional, both from customer service and the workers who attended to sort out the issue – efficient and friendly. They are proud of their company and clearly keen to ensure customers are happy. Given that many customers are elderly or retired, attention is important in a world where, too often, once a purchase is made and the money is in the bank, after-sales service can be nonexistent. Well done to Omar and their staff!”
Having never seen the home or the park before the day they moved in, they put all their trust in the Berkeleyparks and Omar teams to ensure their park home move was everything they wanted, backed up by their own thorough research with a little help from family, and they have been living a happy, relaxed life on Caerwnon Park for a couple of years now.
Phil adds; “For me, it’s a different pace of life. I’m home and not travelling so much. We love the atmosphere on the park too. Although Vicki would happily spend the day not talking to anyone, my work has always been about interacting and talking to people, so it’s lovely here because you’re out in the garden or you’re outside, everybody stops to have a chat while walking the dogs or similar. I got to know the names of the dogs before I knew the names of the other park home owners here, but it was just such a friendly atmosphere. There is a social club and an informative residents’ Facebook page so there’s a real sense of community. Life feels like a lot more relaxed – exactly what I wanted in retirement!”
When we asked if there was anything that surprised them about the park home lifestyle, good or bad, once they had settled in, despite all of their research, Philip said; “There really weren’t any ‘bad’ surprises. It was vital that we had chosen the ‘right park for us, which if we had gotten it wrong then that could have been classed as a bad surprise. Our advice would be to think every aspect through before making the commitment. Part of the attraction of retirement parks is that living alongside folk at a similar age and stage has lots of advantages! That ‘like-minded’ aspect was a pleasant surprise – it makes for a pleasant, peaceful environment.”
We’re thrilled to hear what a great experience they have had, and they chose two great businesses to work with in Berkeleyparks and the Omar Group, so their research paid off, and so did the leap of faith they then made! Having settled in for some time, they have also been able to tell how good the aftercare sales and support has been, which can be a key point of difference between manufacturers!
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
Berkeleyparks
T: 01935 862 079
E: sales@berkeleyparks.co.uk
W: berkeleyparks.co.uk