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Re: How can I rent a timeshare? (by Marie M.):

marty8084 wrote:

kimyn wrote:

Please confirm: To make sure that the reservation is from the resort and not an exchange from RCI or Interval International, we need to call the resort to confirm that the person I am trying to rent a unit from is indeed the owner of that unit?

Hi Kimy,

Yes, it's a very good idea to call the resort to make sure everything is good to go.

Thanks, Marty

____________________________________________ Some resorts, however, will not disclose any information about who owns the unit, whether the maintenance fees are paid up to date, etc... due to "privacy issues."

It is best to ask the owner to provide you with proof of the above. Usually the annual maintenance fee bill is sufficient proof of ownership. If it is a "floating week" the owner should supply the confirmation slip showing which week has been reserved. Obviously you want it to show the week you are interested in renting.

Speaking with the owner by telephone during this phase is highly recommended. You should ask enough questions to make you feel comfortable that the person is honest and knows how to handle the deal without using an escrow service (which adds about $100. to the cost, usually paid 50/50 by each party--renter and owner). If you have any doubts, ask if they have rented the unit before. If so, can they provide contact info for you to obtain a reference from a former renter.

When I rent any of our weeks, I tell the potential renter that I require them to send me a check for 50% of the agreed upon price. I also tell them to feel free to post-date the check for about 2 weeks and I promise not to cash it until they are satisfied that everything is in order. Once I receive the check, which assures me of their serious intent to rent our unit, I obtain a confirmation from our resort with the renters' names on it. I then send the confirmation to them by fax, regular mail or as an Email attachement,--their choice. Only after they acknowledge receiving the confirmation do I deposit their check. At that point it becomes non-refundable.

Not every owner wants to go through all this but I choose to do so because it establishes trust between all parties. This is assuming that the check-in date is many weeks or months off.

I require the other 50% of the payment to be received 30 days before the check in date.

I have had some "too trusting" renters and others who started out very suspicious or nervous. But it has always worked out well for all of us.