by Tatya H.P.
Many prospective buyers are stuck when it comes to deciding what important factors that one should consider when buying a timeshare. The buyers today are much more informed than the buyers of few years back. They are more knowledgeable about what they are buying and have done their homework before taking a major step. But still many buyers get confused when asked if they have a checklist of things to consider before buying a timeshare. The following paragraphs provide you with a checklist to make sure that you are not missing the important criterions that should be weighed against the timeshare you are buying.
If you are buying timeshare through a broker make sure that he is licensed. Also find out his reputation in handling timeshares and the success rate. And do not hesitate to ask any questions related to your timeshare. Some of the good questions to ask are:
* What is the maintenance fee of the resort and do they keep raising it every year, if yes how much?
* What are the chances of getting a best timeshare like in a desired week?
* By what date you should make the reservation at the earliest?
* Are there any extra benefits accompanying your timeshare?
* Do the timeshare company has bonus week program?
* Can you exchange or trade your timeshare without joining an exchange company?
Also try to enquire from the broker about the point system. Some reputable firms sell the timeshares for more if they have points system. Ask him if this is reasonable or you are better of buying a resale. Also the factors that determine the cost of timeshare units are demand for a particular week may be high so the price may be high, also demand for a particular location may be high. The size of the unit also affects the price, the bigger units are easy to trade in and exchange hence they are in more demand. Also the reputation of the firm owning the timeshare resort is an important factor.
See the unit before you buy, in many cases the descriptions provided by the timeshare company or the re-seller turns out to be misleading like the location, size of the unit etc. If you cannot see it, if your family members or friends lives near the location tell them to go and see the unit. Also try to get references. When you go and see the unit ask the neighbors what they think of the amenities and the management. You can also enquire from them:
* What they think of the resort?
* Time since they have been vacationing in this resort?
* Are dates easy get without much problems?
* Is the management company good and are they satisfied?
* How about the maintenance fees and other fees? Do they have a good record or they raise it too frequently?
* Is it easy to make reservations and exchanges?
* Are developers planning on improving the property in near future?
Do your homework to find out the prices in the area you are buying. Internet can come handy for checking the prices for example auction sites such as eBay and bidshare.com.
Keep in mid that if you are buying a resale timeshare unit it should be as cheap as half the price of the new timeshare unit that developers sell. If you are buying a new timeshare through a timeshare company read everything carefully in fine print before signing any contracts. While buying a resale timeshare ask the seller why they are selling it because there can be an underlying problem in their reason to sell like problems with management company or inconvenience. You can get a feel of the potential problems that you may also have to face and can decide whether you may be able to handle it or not. Also make sure that there are no past dues on maintenance fees and property taxes, it will add up to your cost. If you take care of all these important factors you should be able to make a smarter decision in buying a timeshare.
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Buying Timeshares on Auction Websites
by Tatya H.P.
While many people still go through traditional method of buying timeshares i.e. through timeshare brokers or real estate companies the trend of buying timeshares through internet auctions is catching up. We hear many horror stories about people being scammed into buying timeshares which do not exist or sometimes are not up to the quality that they were promised or in wrong location. And these stories cannot be ignored because the number of people that have been cheated is unusually high and increasing by the day. And imagine yourself sitting in a presentation given by timeshare companies to prospective buyers. It is a traumatic experience as you will be subjected to sit for many hours and pressure selling techniques of the timeshare companies. They wouldn’t let you go unless and until you give some of commitment or sign some papers.
All these happenings lead to the emergence of internet auction sites for timeshares. Now the buyers have the freedom from those unscrupulous sellers who adopt illegal techniques to sell their timeshares. Popular auction sites like eBay.com and bidshares.com allows users to buy and sell timeshares through their website. Although there are many other websites for timeshare auctions eBay.com and bidshares.com are the most reliable and safe websites to conduct timeshare auctions. These sites charge absolutely no upfront fee either to put your timeshare on sale or to bid on timeshare sales. They only charge after the bid is successful.
When bidding on a timeshare few points have to be kept in mind. Try to establish communication with the seller as soon as possible and know whether the seller is responding well to your queries or not, if yes how soon and whether he is giving you the complete information or not. Internet auctions are also not fool proof against scammers and frauds, so beware of them. The above practice would eliminate few of the possibilities of you being trapped in some kind of scam. But it doesn’t mean at the same time that if the seller is not responding he may not be a genuine seller. Some people are not good at written communication; in that case making a phone call to enquire about the timeshare unit is not a bad idea.
One more important point to remember while bidding on a timeshare is to do your homework in advance by finding out complete information about the property. The details would include name and location of the property, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, Exchange Company’s name that seller’s resort deal with, the date by which the property is ready to use, annual maintenance fee of the resort, and sizes of bedrooms and is there any assessment this year. Also do research about the selling price of similar units sold recently in that location. Do not hurry whether you lose or hurry, there may be a better property in waiting for you. Also it is not a bad idea if you determine the mode of payment before hand by contacting the owner. Although there are many methods of payment available a seller may have a specific preference. Also be watchful if the owner is not responding to this question. Also the auction websites provides seller ratings, feedbacks and transaction history. This very important to you as you may not want go to a seller with bad ratings or feedbacks. Also if you miss a bid by a whisker say $10, don’t be discouraged you may contact the seller that you are ready to buy the unit just in case if the winner retracts his bid. Even if it doesn’t happen you may get another unit if seller has multiple units. But never agree to pay over your bid price which defeats the purpose of an auction which provides an open platform for fair and reasonable bargaining but within the jurisdiction of the system adhering to the rules and regulations.
While many people still go through traditional method of buying timeshares i.e. through timeshare brokers or real estate companies the trend of buying timeshares through internet auctions is catching up. We hear many horror stories about people being scammed into buying timeshares which do not exist or sometimes are not up to the quality that they were promised or in wrong location. And these stories cannot be ignored because the number of people that have been cheated is unusually high and increasing by the day. And imagine yourself sitting in a presentation given by timeshare companies to prospective buyers. It is a traumatic experience as you will be subjected to sit for many hours and pressure selling techniques of the timeshare companies. They wouldn’t let you go unless and until you give some of commitment or sign some papers.
All these happenings lead to the emergence of internet auction sites for timeshares. Now the buyers have the freedom from those unscrupulous sellers who adopt illegal techniques to sell their timeshares. Popular auction sites like eBay.com and bidshares.com allows users to buy and sell timeshares through their website. Although there are many other websites for timeshare auctions eBay.com and bidshares.com are the most reliable and safe websites to conduct timeshare auctions. These sites charge absolutely no upfront fee either to put your timeshare on sale or to bid on timeshare sales. They only charge after the bid is successful.
When bidding on a timeshare few points have to be kept in mind. Try to establish communication with the seller as soon as possible and know whether the seller is responding well to your queries or not, if yes how soon and whether he is giving you the complete information or not. Internet auctions are also not fool proof against scammers and frauds, so beware of them. The above practice would eliminate few of the possibilities of you being trapped in some kind of scam. But it doesn’t mean at the same time that if the seller is not responding he may not be a genuine seller. Some people are not good at written communication; in that case making a phone call to enquire about the timeshare unit is not a bad idea.
One more important point to remember while bidding on a timeshare is to do your homework in advance by finding out complete information about the property. The details would include name and location of the property, number of bedrooms, number of bathrooms, Exchange Company’s name that seller’s resort deal with, the date by which the property is ready to use, annual maintenance fee of the resort, and sizes of bedrooms and is there any assessment this year. Also do research about the selling price of similar units sold recently in that location. Do not hurry whether you lose or hurry, there may be a better property in waiting for you. Also it is not a bad idea if you determine the mode of payment before hand by contacting the owner. Although there are many methods of payment available a seller may have a specific preference. Also be watchful if the owner is not responding to this question. Also the auction websites provides seller ratings, feedbacks and transaction history. This very important to you as you may not want go to a seller with bad ratings or feedbacks. Also if you miss a bid by a whisker say $10, don’t be discouraged you may contact the seller that you are ready to buy the unit just in case if the winner retracts his bid. Even if it doesn’t happen you may get another unit if seller has multiple units. But never agree to pay over your bid price which defeats the purpose of an auction which provides an open platform for fair and reasonable bargaining but within the jurisdiction of the system adhering to the rules and regulations.
Buying Timeshare Resale Vs Buying from Timeshare Resort
by Tatya H.P.
It can be confusing for a starter to decide from where to buy his first timeshare from resale market or directly from timeshare resort or developer. It can be a hard decision to make with both having its own advantages and disadvantages. Buying timeshares in the resale market like auction websites or advertising through classifieds is a recent concept compared to buying from developers which has been there since its inception. Internet has brought everything to the doorsteps of the people and thus benefiting the timeshare market also. Websites such as eBay.com, bidshare.com and redweek.com provide prospective buyers with more information on the property and also wide variety of buying options.
The scenario was totally different a decade ago when the buyers used to buy timeshares through timeshare presentations hosted by timeshare developers. The decisions taken to buy timeshares were mostly based on one’s impulse rather than research and analysis. But with the advent of internet auction sites a user has more powerful tools to research the prices in advance even if he is going to a presentation. The buyer can make a more informed choice today than earlier. Buyers can also avoid the trauma of sitting through a timeshare presentation by buying through resale market. The presentations sometimes take ninety minutes and can go even longer. At the end of the presentation the buyers who were brought in on the pretext of a free gift are subjected to high pressure selling techniques, and this yield to sign a paper and buy a timeshare.
Now talking about the cost comparison, a developer’s timeshare offer includes the cost of advertisement, presentation, free gifts etc. which is whopping 40% of the cost of the timeshare and sometimes this exceeds the cost of the timeshare resale. On the other hand if one buys a timeshare through a resale market one can buy the timeshare 30% to 50% cheaper. Also buying through a resale market offers you more choice and freedom to select your desired unit. You know that you are getting the best price. It is definitely worth saving thousands of dollars by buying a resale.
But there are good reasons to buy from a developer. There are many reputed companies that have ventured into timeshare business like Marriot, Disney, and Hilton etc. When you are buying through a resale market there is a margin of doubt whether your investment is secured or not and the trust factor is low. Where as the timeshare developers spend fortunes in the development of timeshares and have great reputation and thus can be easily trusted. They give you the best and the latest amenities which you can never get from a resale unless it’s a relatively new unit. Another high point of buying through a developer is that they offer many incentives and benefits to their customers in the form of bonus weeks, discounts on attraction tickets, car rentals and much more. On the other hand these benefits may not be available to you if you bought your timeshare through resale market as many developers does not allow timeshare resale units with same amenities compared to those who bought directly from them. Also the developers usually offer many financing options that you may not get if you buy from a resale market.
It can be confusing for a starter to decide from where to buy his first timeshare from resale market or directly from timeshare resort or developer. It can be a hard decision to make with both having its own advantages and disadvantages. Buying timeshares in the resale market like auction websites or advertising through classifieds is a recent concept compared to buying from developers which has been there since its inception. Internet has brought everything to the doorsteps of the people and thus benefiting the timeshare market also. Websites such as eBay.com, bidshare.com and redweek.com provide prospective buyers with more information on the property and also wide variety of buying options.
The scenario was totally different a decade ago when the buyers used to buy timeshares through timeshare presentations hosted by timeshare developers. The decisions taken to buy timeshares were mostly based on one’s impulse rather than research and analysis. But with the advent of internet auction sites a user has more powerful tools to research the prices in advance even if he is going to a presentation. The buyer can make a more informed choice today than earlier. Buyers can also avoid the trauma of sitting through a timeshare presentation by buying through resale market. The presentations sometimes take ninety minutes and can go even longer. At the end of the presentation the buyers who were brought in on the pretext of a free gift are subjected to high pressure selling techniques, and this yield to sign a paper and buy a timeshare.
Now talking about the cost comparison, a developer’s timeshare offer includes the cost of advertisement, presentation, free gifts etc. which is whopping 40% of the cost of the timeshare and sometimes this exceeds the cost of the timeshare resale. On the other hand if one buys a timeshare through a resale market one can buy the timeshare 30% to 50% cheaper. Also buying through a resale market offers you more choice and freedom to select your desired unit. You know that you are getting the best price. It is definitely worth saving thousands of dollars by buying a resale.
But there are good reasons to buy from a developer. There are many reputed companies that have ventured into timeshare business like Marriot, Disney, and Hilton etc. When you are buying through a resale market there is a margin of doubt whether your investment is secured or not and the trust factor is low. Where as the timeshare developers spend fortunes in the development of timeshares and have great reputation and thus can be easily trusted. They give you the best and the latest amenities which you can never get from a resale unless it’s a relatively new unit. Another high point of buying through a developer is that they offer many incentives and benefits to their customers in the form of bonus weeks, discounts on attraction tickets, car rentals and much more. On the other hand these benefits may not be available to you if you bought your timeshare through resale market as many developers does not allow timeshare resale units with same amenities compared to those who bought directly from them. Also the developers usually offer many financing options that you may not get if you buy from a resale market.
Buying Guide for Timeshare Resale
by Tatya H.P.
Are you on a hunt for timeshares? Are you tired of listening to the lengthy presentations of timeshare companies? Here is the solution, go buy a timeshare resale. Almost non-existent a decade ago timeshare resale industry is waking up to the call and catching up slowly and steadily. Timeshare resale takes place through classifieds, auction sites and also many reputed firms have joined this emerging market. The reason why anybody should look at buying timeshare resale is that they cost 30%-50% less than the new timeshare. The reason why new timeshares are expensive is the timeshare companies spend a lot on advertising. Sometimes the cost of advertising is higher than the value of resale. That is why timeshare resale is much cheaper option than new timeshare. But one should remember certain things while buying timeshare resale.
Do not believe on word of mouth if the seller tells you that the timeshare is in a great location. It is advisable to see the timeshare yourself or at least tell your friend or family member if they live close to the location to go and see it. Timeshare is indeed a great investment in your life provided you know you are buying a right one. And also consider things like whether the timeshare is in a high demand area and in close proximity to grocery stores, malls, restaurants and other amenities. And also find out whether there are any major attractions nearby. Also buy your timeshare in a prime season which gives you more options for exchange later on.
Also do not ignore the floor plan. Some units are converted from motels into timeshare units, while some may be outstanding but some may turn out to be very bad. Look for well designed and well planned unit. And also see if the units are well maintained. If it’s clean and free from dust, structural damages and squeaking doors it speaks a lot about the management. Well maintained and well kept units represent a good management. This also adds to the value of the unit.
The low prices of timeshare resale overshadow the underlying cost sometimes such as maintenance fees, property taxes and if there is any special assessment this year. Clearly ask the seller if all these have been paid up to date otherwise the price of owning a timeshare resale increases and makes no sense in buying. Also buy a timeshare resale unit in a timeshare resort which has low maintenance fee, as this is an annual fee it keeps on adding if you pay any extra money.
If you are buying through a broker, do not fall into the trap of buying through an unlicensed broker. The timeshare industry has witnessed many scams and frauds related to timeshare resale. So always go to a licensed broker because they have much at stake compared to a non-licensed broker. Also put the money in an escrow account until the time you get the timeshare unit.
The foremost important criterion is the price, so do your homework and research the prices of timeshare units in the area you are interested in buying. A timeshare is an investment for a better life. Keep in mind that the prices of timeshare resale units are as low as 30% to almost half the price of the new units. You can do the research on internet auction sites like eBay and bidshare.com. If you are buying through a broker you can ask the broker to show a comparative analysis of prices.
The bigger the unit, the better the value and chances of exchanging. Most people are happy if they buy big units as it also accommodates big families and friends and also big gatherings. Also do not forget to ask the seller the reason why they are selling their units. It can be due to some problems related to management or inconvenience. This information will be crucial to you as you might be able to gauge whether you can handle those issues later on or not.
Are you on a hunt for timeshares? Are you tired of listening to the lengthy presentations of timeshare companies? Here is the solution, go buy a timeshare resale. Almost non-existent a decade ago timeshare resale industry is waking up to the call and catching up slowly and steadily. Timeshare resale takes place through classifieds, auction sites and also many reputed firms have joined this emerging market. The reason why anybody should look at buying timeshare resale is that they cost 30%-50% less than the new timeshare. The reason why new timeshares are expensive is the timeshare companies spend a lot on advertising. Sometimes the cost of advertising is higher than the value of resale. That is why timeshare resale is much cheaper option than new timeshare. But one should remember certain things while buying timeshare resale.
Do not believe on word of mouth if the seller tells you that the timeshare is in a great location. It is advisable to see the timeshare yourself or at least tell your friend or family member if they live close to the location to go and see it. Timeshare is indeed a great investment in your life provided you know you are buying a right one. And also consider things like whether the timeshare is in a high demand area and in close proximity to grocery stores, malls, restaurants and other amenities. And also find out whether there are any major attractions nearby. Also buy your timeshare in a prime season which gives you more options for exchange later on.
Also do not ignore the floor plan. Some units are converted from motels into timeshare units, while some may be outstanding but some may turn out to be very bad. Look for well designed and well planned unit. And also see if the units are well maintained. If it’s clean and free from dust, structural damages and squeaking doors it speaks a lot about the management. Well maintained and well kept units represent a good management. This also adds to the value of the unit.
The low prices of timeshare resale overshadow the underlying cost sometimes such as maintenance fees, property taxes and if there is any special assessment this year. Clearly ask the seller if all these have been paid up to date otherwise the price of owning a timeshare resale increases and makes no sense in buying. Also buy a timeshare resale unit in a timeshare resort which has low maintenance fee, as this is an annual fee it keeps on adding if you pay any extra money.
If you are buying through a broker, do not fall into the trap of buying through an unlicensed broker. The timeshare industry has witnessed many scams and frauds related to timeshare resale. So always go to a licensed broker because they have much at stake compared to a non-licensed broker. Also put the money in an escrow account until the time you get the timeshare unit.
The foremost important criterion is the price, so do your homework and research the prices of timeshare units in the area you are interested in buying. A timeshare is an investment for a better life. Keep in mind that the prices of timeshare resale units are as low as 30% to almost half the price of the new units. You can do the research on internet auction sites like eBay and bidshare.com. If you are buying through a broker you can ask the broker to show a comparative analysis of prices.
The bigger the unit, the better the value and chances of exchanging. Most people are happy if they buy big units as it also accommodates big families and friends and also big gatherings. Also do not forget to ask the seller the reason why they are selling their units. It can be due to some problems related to management or inconvenience. This information will be crucial to you as you might be able to gauge whether you can handle those issues later on or not.
Alternatives to Timeshare
by Tatya H.P.
Over the period of decades the popularity of timeshares has grown by many folds so much so that over two million Americans have timeshare properties in country and out of country. But the rise of timeshare industry saw the rise in scams and frauds. More recently the timeshare industry has been plagued by unscrupulous activities of frauds and scammers. Notwithstanding these serious problems with timeshares a new breed of alternatives are emerging. One of the main reasons why people were attracted towards timeshares was that it will be an expensive affair for a big family to vacation every year at a hotel or a resort. Timeshares proved to be an economical solution to all that.
But on the flip side of it, buying a timeshare requires large upfront fee and the timeshares typically range anywhere from ten thousand dollars to fifty thousand dollars also. On top of that the buyers have to pay the annual maintenance fee, property taxes, management fee etc. which could range from few hundreds to over a thousand also. People have begun realizing that why pay more money and still use the same property every year for only one week. And people get bored of going to the same place again and again. Although some timeshares offer exchange program which would allow owners to exchange their timeshare units across different resorts and locations but it is not that easy with exchange costing more bucks. And when the owner wants to sell a timeshare unit it is not that easy task. Timeshares are one of the most difficult properties to sell. Even when they sell they sell at 30%-50% lower than their original price.
Now a new era of concepts is taking vacation industry by storm. And this era is represented by concepts such as resort memberships and condo hotels. A resort membership is a one time investment i.e. you have to pay the membership fee only once and you can enjoy the benefits of the resort life long. And what more you are not required to pay any maintenance fee or taxes. Resort memberships can cost anywhere from few grand to few hundred grand. Some resort membership may also have yearly fee. But if you do a good research there are some resorts within the range of affordability. The best deal that one can get is may be a lifetime member ship for around three grand and a limited five year membership for two grand. And the members have access to not only the resort they have membership in but they can choose from hundreds of resorts worldwide available in resort company’s network. And there is no limit on number of times you want to go and at what time you want to go, your vacation is always assured.
Another concept that is getting popular is condo hotel which is a relatively new concept and only very few people own condos in hotels. But the concept is receiving good reviews and is gaining popularity with the time. The way it works is it allows people to buy condos in luxurious hotels and utilize the benefits of all the amenities available in the hotel. If the owner is not using the condo he can put his condo for rent and can receive percentage of the revenues it produces. A condo hotel in comparison to a timeshare offers more flexibility, is better furnished, and has better amenities, better services and many locations.
Over the period of decades the popularity of timeshares has grown by many folds so much so that over two million Americans have timeshare properties in country and out of country. But the rise of timeshare industry saw the rise in scams and frauds. More recently the timeshare industry has been plagued by unscrupulous activities of frauds and scammers. Notwithstanding these serious problems with timeshares a new breed of alternatives are emerging. One of the main reasons why people were attracted towards timeshares was that it will be an expensive affair for a big family to vacation every year at a hotel or a resort. Timeshares proved to be an economical solution to all that.
But on the flip side of it, buying a timeshare requires large upfront fee and the timeshares typically range anywhere from ten thousand dollars to fifty thousand dollars also. On top of that the buyers have to pay the annual maintenance fee, property taxes, management fee etc. which could range from few hundreds to over a thousand also. People have begun realizing that why pay more money and still use the same property every year for only one week. And people get bored of going to the same place again and again. Although some timeshares offer exchange program which would allow owners to exchange their timeshare units across different resorts and locations but it is not that easy with exchange costing more bucks. And when the owner wants to sell a timeshare unit it is not that easy task. Timeshares are one of the most difficult properties to sell. Even when they sell they sell at 30%-50% lower than their original price.
Now a new era of concepts is taking vacation industry by storm. And this era is represented by concepts such as resort memberships and condo hotels. A resort membership is a one time investment i.e. you have to pay the membership fee only once and you can enjoy the benefits of the resort life long. And what more you are not required to pay any maintenance fee or taxes. Resort memberships can cost anywhere from few grand to few hundred grand. Some resort membership may also have yearly fee. But if you do a good research there are some resorts within the range of affordability. The best deal that one can get is may be a lifetime member ship for around three grand and a limited five year membership for two grand. And the members have access to not only the resort they have membership in but they can choose from hundreds of resorts worldwide available in resort company’s network. And there is no limit on number of times you want to go and at what time you want to go, your vacation is always assured.
Another concept that is getting popular is condo hotel which is a relatively new concept and only very few people own condos in hotels. But the concept is receiving good reviews and is gaining popularity with the time. The way it works is it allows people to buy condos in luxurious hotels and utilize the benefits of all the amenities available in the hotel. If the owner is not using the condo he can put his condo for rent and can receive percentage of the revenues it produces. A condo hotel in comparison to a timeshare offers more flexibility, is better furnished, and has better amenities, better services and many locations.
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