Buyers Advice - Read this!

Timeshares can be a great bargain for smart buyers.

1. Buy only resales (unless it is a killer once in a lifetime developer deal)
2. Take your time
3. Buy a quality resort (Disney, Marriott, Hyatt, WorldMark, FF, etc)
4. Take your time (oops I already said that)
5. Use a closing service
6. Buy where you want to stay
7. Avoid financing, if you can't afford it, then rent
8. Join TUG
9. Take your time (I said that didn't I?)

Any more to add to this list?

3 more

Bill,

I would add #10 – DO NOT attend sales presentations for the free gifts

Unless you have as much will as the salesrep you can succumb to the falsehoods, incorrect assumptions, deceitful behavior, and just flat out lying. Too many folks just can’t resist the salesrep who can make $200k a year. He is a master at what he does.

I would also add #11 – DO NOT buy a timeshare solely, or predominantly, to exchange.

You cover part of that in #6, but unless the person has spent time here and elsewhere figuring out how to exchange, they will just be disappointed.

I would also add #12 – Renting is a very viable alternative to buying, perhaps rent first

Renting a timeshare can be much cheaper than owning it. Renting will allow the person to “use before buying”. Take advantage of RCI’s desire to own the cheap rental market. However, don’t consider a package rental from the developer as anything but #10 above.

PerryM said:

Too many folks just can’t resist the salesrep who can make $200k a year. He is a master at what he does.

Click to expand...

Wow...$200,000 per year....I am telling my kids to forget about studying medicine, law, or getting their MBA....time to go get their Timeshare Sales degree...they have degrees don't they?

3. Buy a quality resort (Disney, Marriott, Hyatt, WorldMark, FF, etc)
5. Use a closing service
6. Buy where you want to stay


In general those are great rules. I broke the three above, though, and am tickled with what I get out of my timeshare. I don't know if my resort is quality because I have never been there, but for folks who like quieter places, it would fit the bill.
If I bought into a 'quality' resort my expenses would be much higher than they are now. And I am a cheapskate. What the 'quality' resorts offer are not what I need now.
As far as a closing service, guess I just lucked out.
And I don't want to stay in the same place each year. Many people don't. So perhaps another point to add to your list is to investigate ALL of the exchange companies before deciding which to join. Since I am so cheap, and easy to please, I joined a free company (DAE).

As a buyer of TS to trade (as well as some to stay in) I hope I have got the mix right. I have bought RCI gold in tenerife to stay, 2 Bed (Wk 52) and some to trade, 1 bed (wk 45 & 46) and also some pure RCI points I figure I have broke half of above golden rules!!

I really would like to buy 2 weeks (29 - 33) in Disney in 3Bed Gold resort for my family but I am hoping I can trade into this!!

I think by the time I figure this out I will be too old to enjoy, to many options!!!