Whether it’s a compact little vehicle for you and your partner, the luxury of a top of the range Burstner or a seven-berth motorhome for a sizeable family, the feelings are the same.
You’ve just got the keys, the new motorhome is all yours, holidays, experiences, and the freedom of the open road await.
Here are 10 things most people think as they step inside their new home from home.
It looks so beautiful. Polished, sparkling, with its subtle lines glistening in the sunshine (we’ve assumed you’re buying your motorhome in the summer!)
And you make a vow; it’s always going to look this good. After every trip you’ll ensure it gets a thorough valet, every weekend you’ll lovingly clean it and bask in the jealous glances of passers by.
Midweek, you’ll give it a quick once over, maybe a little polish here, a buffing up of the bonnet there.
The way you look right now; that’s how you’ll always look (except perhaps in the middle of that holiday we’re planning to the Lake District in February).
This is a common one. You think of all the places you want to travel in your motorhome. The only problem is how to fit them all in.
Then you get the motorhome and your mind goes blank. Suddenly you can’t decide where to go, it all feels a bit overwhelming.
Why not make that first trip in a new motorhome an easy one. Maybe go to a favourite location you’ve visited before, or keep it fairly local as you get used to your new best friend for life.
It doesn’t have to be Steve, but we’ve all got one. At least one. That neighbour who will really appreciate one of the features of your new motorhome.
And it’s not even one of the features anyone would normally consider key. It’s not the fuel economy, or the comfortable driving position, or the entertainment system. It’s the sound the door makes when it’s shut, or the design of the fridge, or the 360 degree spin you can do in the chairs.
Oh yes, Steve’s going to love this.
One for the introverts amongst us. We can drive just fine, after a few seconds the nerves will have gone.
The test drive was fine too, we know this is a great motorhome to drive, it’s not just OK, it’s a pleasure – and that’s important when you’re going to be spending a few days driving it down through Europe.
But this first bit of the drive, just getting it rolling, out the gates and onto the road home. Please, just stop watching OK, you’ll make me stall.
Rest assured – this feeling passes after a few seconds, and at Emm Bee we’ll let you quietly leave without a big fanfare if that’s your thing!
Many motorhomes have it, a bit of storage that isn’t secret as such, it’s just a great use of space. It might be a neat area in the floor, or pull out areas near the beds; maybe there’s a space when you pull the seats forward.
The modern motorhome is so well designed that little space is wasted, yet they don’t feel like things are crammed in.
And that little space you’ve found, maybe nobody else will even know it’s there. You can keep the luxury biscuits only you know about in there. You’re the main driver, you deserve a few perks.
Got kids? If you have, you’ll know that if they get their hands on the radio presets you’re going to be flicking between 30 channels of noise.
Best to get in their first, add a few stations perfect for those long journeys.
Better still of course, make sure it’s your device connected to the entertainment system so you have complete control over the playlist (easy Bluetooth connectivity of course in your new home). The kids? They’ve got their own tablets anyway, they can listen to them.
Modern motorhomes are great vehicles; they are a genuine pleasure to drive, they have levels of luxury often comparable with a hotel and they give you a freedom to explore which just isn’t possible otherwise.
But, sometimes there is a slight downside to having so many features. You might ponder this as you wonder just how to work the entertainment system, or how to turn the ice cube maker on. Admittedly these aren’t the biggest concerns – especially compared to those of our package holiday brethren… hmm, I seem to have 500 ants in my hotel room…
What you’ve just taken ownership looks great, but nothing about it is personal to you yet.
Time to add those little touches; it might be a mascot on the dashboard, family photos on display, fun furnishings or a few of your favourite nibbles on the table.
Adding a few little touches quickly makes your motorhome feel more welcoming, more a space which is personal to you and your family.
Whether you’ve just upgraded or taken ownership of your first motorhome, this one’s a certainty.
You’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. Sure, there were financial reasons, and the old vehicle was fine, and you didn’t have the time to do the research.
But now it’s yours you’ll step inside and think maybe you should have taken the plunge a bit sooner.
Still, if you had bought it earlier, it wouldn’t smell quite so new now, would it?
We could sell the house, live in our motorhome and travel the world.
Couldn’t we?
Have we missed anything? What goes through your mind when you get the keys to your beautiful new motorhome? Tell us on our Facebook page
