How 2 Sell Your Timeshare
FORWARD
For over 10 years, I have commiserated with timeshare owners as they told me about the huge sums of money they paid out to an average of 3 Listing Agencies to sell their timeshares – all without results. Then one day, I finally had had enough. This book is an effort to tell timeshare owners just what they need to know to sell their timeshare -- and how to successfully make it through the timeshare maze without being ripped off.
If you are reading this foreword, you have taken the first important step to selling your timeshare -- effectively and economically!
For the first 17 years of my timeshare and real estate career, I served as a Vice President and General Manager with Fairfield Resorts at the flagship property, Fairfield Bay in Arkansas. This group of resorts was the spearhead for Wyndham Vacation Resorts, part of Wyndham Vacation Ownership, the world‘s largest timeshare company, serving over 900,000 owners. I was also at the beautiful Fripp Island Golf and Beach Resort in South Carolina and served with the prestigious Mariner Group in Sanibel Island, Florida.
I was trained by Hyatt in the early years and for the last 19 years I have owned a highly successful timeshare resale company (www.resort-property.com).
From an extensive background in this industry, I can tell you truthfully that without the correct guidance, selling your timeshare can be very difficult -- and costly. Over the years I have seen both sides of the timeshare industry maze -- the developer (or seller's) side and the owner (or reseller's) side. I have read many books on reselling timeshare and most are either manipulative and self-serving, unknowledgeable, or both.
Mike‘s ebook has nothing to do with such unscrupulous, deceptive and impolite practices.
To the contrary, this book is a one-of-a-kind guide that is essential for most owners. It will get the job done with minimum effort and frustration.
The unfortunate confusion in the timeshare resale market has been created primarily through two issues. The first item is a result of how the developer typically works in order to sell a timeshare. The second is a result of what many resellers don‘t understand (or may not wish to understand) because of their financial goals and how they approach selling their timeshare.
For example, as some resellers would incorrectly have you believe, the same resale approach does not fit all timeshare owners. This is because every owner‘s situation and every resort are unique, not only in relation to individual needs but also as to the particular attraction and other characteristics of the resort.
The solution for this often confusing situation in timeshare resales can be supplied by competent resellers and also through Michael‘s book.
Michael Dosh is a veteran in the industry and has done a masterful job in this book. He not only provides owners with the correct alternatives for reselling their timeshare; he provides a very specific path based upon on the owners personal circumstances. He helps owners find that path to selling their timeshare quickly. (As a result, owners do not have to read the whole book in order to achieve their goals.)
In addition, by having the knowledge in Michael's book, you don‘t waste valuable time and money as, unfortunately, so many owners have done -- and will continue to do without proper guidance.
The fact is that most owners bought their timeshare from the developer knowing very little about timeshare -- and most owners still don‘t know the important information that is necessary to sell their timeshare as quickly and effectively as possible.
You were simply at the resort and had a great vacation. But, you were also placed with an expert salesman who knew exactly how and precisely where, to apply the right pressure (or persuasion) through easy financing and a literal maze of misinformation.
Generally, first time buyers only find out about the product they purchased later through joining timeshare groups, magazines and clubs -- well after the money has been spent.
But make no mistake -- a timeshare is not a car, a house or something everyone is familiar with. It is simply a promise of future use for a great vacation at some fantastic resorts.
But it‘s also often a vacation ownership that comes with some complex rules and potentially thorny regulations. This isn‘t a problem for the informed consumer. For example, both Michael and I have thousands of satisfied clients who weren‘t misled by timeshare intricacies -- because we supplied the correct information needed for their purchase or resale. As a result everything worked out as it should. However, for the uninformed consumer, selling a timeshare is another matter entirely; the lack of proper information can become a nightmare.
Regardless, a timeshare ownership is a product that, for a variety of reasons, an owner may later decide to sell. So, let‘s say that now is the time you wish to sell your timeshare.
Since it was so easy to buy, it must be easy to sell, right? Again, to the contrary. Many owners will happily contact the first reseller they can find who will tell them exactly what they want to hear about ease of sale and resale values.
At this point, the same mistakes begin all over again -- and they can financially be very costly. Unfortunately, such mistakes can be expensive in other ways as well. All this can place an undesirable light on timeshare as a whole. It can even reduce market value, despite the fact that timeshare ownership is truly a wonderful and economical way to vacation.
Regrettably, once a timeshare owner contacts the wrong kind of reseller (and these are becoming the majority, or are the majority), the maze of mistakes are now just beginning. And they will be assisted by the unscrupulous influence of a reseller similar to when you first bought your timeshare from the developer‘s salesman.
Years ago I put together a resale broker‘s co-broker group, of which Michael is a member. This unique organization is comprised of about 80 professional resellers who fully commit themselves to following personal and professional ethical guidelines in resales, including those of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and Real Estate law. It is important to know that Michael's book adopts these guidelines.
Michael has designed his guide like an iceberg. The tip is all you need to direct you to "your personal strategy" for selling your timeshare. But in addition, there is a wealth of information right below the surface, just in case it's needed.
This is a book that I can recommend wholeheartedly for owners who wish to sell their timeshare. I can recommend it with or without a competent and ethical broker (e.g., one who does not charge large ?up front? fees), or "in tandem" with Michael's book, the latter of which I would highly recommend. (Incidentally, trustworthy brokers are also expressly supplied in this book.)
It is important to note that many brokers who do not charge large ?up front? fees do not require exclusive listing agreements. Such agreements prevent an owner from selling their units for long periods (as in general real estate). By employing a broker who does not charge large ?up front? fees and does not require such an agreement, owners allow themselves the ability to sell their units on their own.
Given the price of this book, owners should purchase it and use it to its fullest extent! I talk to people every day that have spent thousands of dollars trying to sell their timeshare through futile methods -- only to discover that sometimes their timeshare may not be worth what they paid for it. This is especially true, considering the potentially high cost of unsuccessful sales‘ attempts, plus the cost of an owner‘s time, as well as the maintenance and other fees that owners pay during their sales efforts.
Now you can do it right!
-- Jeff Fudge, President, Resort Property Marketing International Realty
