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Purchasing thru Redweek or other resale companies (by Kathi L.):
ann286 wrote:jack428 wrote:ken1193 wrote:ann286 wrote:=================================================llhayden wrote:Hi All:I have been a lurker on Redweek for many years - never, though, have I taken advantage of either renting a timeshare or buying one. I did, however, have my sister rent through Redweek, and she said it was a great experience.
My question is this, as I am a novice timeshare person. I already know that there is a ton of overhead costs if you purchase a timeshare directly from the facility (Marriott, Sheraton, etc.), so using a website like Redweek to purchase is best. But, how do you know whether these timeshares for sale on this site are in the "old" or "new" section of the resort?
Also, 2 questions regarding "floating" weeks- how easy is it to get a reservation at a resort outside of your home resort when your week says "floating"? In other words, if your home resort is in Orlando and you want to RCI elsewhere, is it just as easy with a floating week than with a set week to get a reservation elsewhere? ****Does having a floating week help or hurt you when you want to make a reservation at your resort - since there's no set week, do you have to call many months in advance to get the week you want?
Thanks for your help! I'd like to purchase something, but am a little hesitant due to the floating week thing!
Marriott has first right of refusal on all weeks being resold. With that being said, Marriott picks up most units that are being offered below current Market value. Therefore, you can begin a purchase and once it goes across the Marriott desk to be signed off on, you risk the chance of not getting it.
Alway purchase thru Marriott as this entitles you to the point program and Marriott will resell it for you down the road and service your account. Buying externally opens you up for disappointments down the road. This does not hold true for off brand timeshares but with Marriott, the point program is what makes us!
Call us today as we can help you with any Marriott location, both new and resale at some great pricing and incentives!
(sales contact info deleted here)
Please take your advertising to a more appropriate venue. These forums are for discussion, not for thinly veiled commercial advertising.........
You can save a lot of money buying Marriott resale (probably >$10000). If staying/having the option for marriott points is important to you than pay cash for the hotel stay and rent out your timeshare or bank it with II. You can purchase points from Marriott every year I believe 50,000 for you and if married 50,000 for a spouse which is probably a better deal than turning in your Marriott Unit.
Look into Hilton they have a great program as well and they do not penalize resale owners (you can use there hotel program unlike Marriott and Starwood).
This also helps resale if you decide to sale in the future. Timeshare User Group is a good resource go to that site as well.
Obviously you do not know how to use the points! There are no black out dates! The program has changed. Why would you buy Disney...when Disney is an amusement company not a hotel company. One buys Disney when they want to see the mouse and go back each year. If you are staying in fairfield hotels and residence inns...then you are not using the points the way the program is to be used!
We do trade in weeks. Again, cepending upon your location, you will determine a resale value. Obviously ocean front property has a better value than properties that are inland such as Orlando, Branson or not waterfront properties. It is a real estate purchase. Location, location, location!
My answer is to the first question asked re floating weeks vs. a specific week. I own three weeks at a Marriott Resort in Hilton Head, a fairly new resort, and yes, it's right on the beach. My weeks are 'floating' weeks - I own in a specific season, so I can make reservations for any week in that season. As a multiple week owner, I can reserve at my home resort 13 months before I want to travel if I am booking either 2 or 3 consequtive weeks, or if I want to use at least two of my weeks at the same time. If I want to book only a single week at my home resort, or I own only one week, I can make that reservation only 12 months in advance of when I want to travel. Or I can call at the last minute and if they have the week open, I can go then. I've owned these weeks for about 7 years, and I have to say I have had no trouble at all getting reservations at my home resort for the weeks I want. My resort seems to have fairly high trading power, so I've been somewhat succesful in trading to go to other Marriott properties, and one RCI 'gold crown' resort. (FYI - I have to say that the Marriott resorts beat that RCI resort hands down!) Something which hasn't really been mentioned which you should consider carefully when buying a timeshare is the costs you'll have once you've actually paid for the week(s) you bought. This part is something that isn't mentioned in great detail during sales presentations! Not only will you have the annual maintenance fees, (mine have increased a bit each year), but if you want to go anywhere except your home resort, you have to belong to an exchange company. We belong to Interval, so what I'm saying here applies only to Interval - I'm not familiar with RCI's policies. It costs $s to belong to these exchange companies - I think Interval is about $85. a year now. When I want to go somewhere other than my home resort, I have to reserve a week at my home resort first. Then I have the option to either deposit the week with Interval first, (once it is deposited, I lose the opportunity to use it). This is known as 'deposit first'. I can then make at request to trade into another resort. If I can't get what I'm requesting immediately, or I don't want to travel immediately, I can use my 'deposited week' to travel to another resort up to three years after the date of my deposit. When I make a request, I have to pay Interval when the request is made. I think it's now $125. for resorts in the continental US, and considerably more to request a resort outside the US. If Interval can't get what you request, you get that money back. Or I can request an exchange (to a specific resort or locale) first, (and pay Interval at that time) and only deposit my week once I have gotten confirmation of the exchange I requested. So, when you buy the timeshare week or weeks, the sales person talks about paying for your future vacations, but in reality that first purchase is just the beginning of what you pay. I also understand from talking with other timeshare owners, and reading some of these forums, that some resorts make all sorts of assessments besides the annual maintenance fees. I love my timeshare weeks, and I am happy I bought them, but I'm just trying to say - be aware that the initial purchase is not the end of what you'll pay!
To give my two cents worth on one of your other questions, I frankly think 'floating' weeks are preferable to fixed weeks. Look at it this way - your 'fixed' week is June 1 -7. That's fine this year, but next year your brother decides to get married that week. And the following year, your nephew graduates from college that week. So what do you do with your 'fixed' week? If you own floating weeks, you can go any time in a certain season - a much more flexible plan from my standpoint.
One other point. I think buying a timeshare is only a good idea if you want to exchange and go to other locations. For what I paid for my three weeks, I could have put a very substantial down payment on a beach house which would have been mine all year, every year. I could have made some of my mortgage payments by renting weeks in 'high' season, and used the house myself, or let my children use it, when it wasm't rented or I wasn't using it. I bought timeshare weeks because although we like Hilton Head, I did want to go to other locales, and the opportunity to 'trade' appealed to me. But if you're going to buy a timeshare, buy at a good resort, one affiliated with a good company. Marriott is that, and I imagine Hilton and Westin are too. Stay away from the small Mom and Pop resorts unless you love the area and always want to go there. And good luck with whatever you decide to do! Kathi