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Re: Lack of response very annoying

Lance, while we have rented from Redweek listings for many years and purchased weeks 1 & 2 in Aruba last year, it is not the only place you can go to find deals. As example, after staying at different timeshares in Aruba, for us, we preferred the Divi Phoenix over all others. There were a number of studio listings we quickly found that were priced at $7,000 to $12,000. We considered that price range to high for us when compared to renting without any maintenance fees...... When we made offers in our price range of $4,000 for a studio unit to some of the owners that had listed, those that responded seemed quite offended. Rather than negotiating or considering coming down on the price, we were told we were "crazy" for making such a "low-ball offer". We were often told they paid four or five times our offer amount from the timeshare. Needless to say, through patience and dillegently searching over time, we purchased two "distressed sales" from individual owners in the Divi Phoenix tower, both just renovated. Both were Studio units on the 8th and 13th floor with magnificent views. One was listed that we purchased for $3,000 with 22 weeks left (not on Redweek). The other was on Redweek, purchased for $4,000 with 32 weeks left. Both well worth the price we paid, even having to pay annual maintenance fees - when compared to paying annual rent and uncertainty of obtaining a unit with the view we wanted on the week we wanted. Point is owners that don't get responses, either renting or selling, need to adjust their price down. Google all the timeshare rental and sales websites..... There are many that show the price they recently have rented or sold for a like unit at your resort on the week you are listing. This gives you a price range to work with. If selling, forget the price you paid for the unit originally from the resort. You will be lucky to get half back, even if in a prime location. Bring your price below what you see others rented at for your week number to be sure you get responses. Many people do not want to negotiate and will not even bother to respond if your unit is over priced..... either to rent or buy. If you can take the stress of waiting for your price, taking a chance on higher airline flights etc, then you usually will find the lowest rental price 6 weeks or less, prior to the week of your trip..... (at a prime location resort). There are those that find they can't make it at the last minute..... These go very cheaply. We have rented like this for $100 above an owner's maintenance fee many times. We would still like to add a week 3 to our other 2 weeks ownership at the Divi Phoenix. With nothing all this year listed in our price range to purchase for the week we want, we decided to rent week 3 a couple of weeks ago, as we just found a great unit, priced right and we caught it the day it was listed. I still check the listings every couple of weeks for a unit to purchase. There are often divorces and estates that want a quick sale and will price low. They are out there, but not for long, so it pays to keep looking for what you want and can afford. If your listing is attractive to a renter / buyer, it can go quickly if your location / week is an actual known week and not a "floating week". Most renters / buyers know the week they need to vacation on and won't take the uncertainty of a floating week as the resort may not have availability on the vacation week they need.