julie1985 wrote:I did call the resort and ask about the Non-transferable label at the top of the reservation confirmation. I asked if that meant I couldn't use it for another week, and he responded "no; it means the unit can't be used by anyone else." Expressing surprise, I said "you mean that I can't gift it to my son as a wedding present, for example?" And the reservations guy said that I couldn't do that (or anything else) without notifying the resort that I was granting access/use to another and gave the name of the person(s) who would occupy my unit. So, I feel comfortable proceeding with renting my floating week, and once it is fully paid for by the renter, I'll send the resort a note giving the name of the occupant(s). I wonder if this is a new scare tactic to get people to only rent through the resort rather than a place like Redweek.com... Any thoughts/experience?
The resort has given you a reasonable and credible explanation; it has nothing to do with a "scare tactic". What NO resort EVER wants to encounter is someone just showing up to check-in, reservation confirmation document in hand --- but with the name on the confirmation and the name of the person standing before them being entirely different --- and the resort having no idea why that is... NO resort wants to have to deal with any of that at busy check-in time.
Whenever I have rented out a week I own, I have simply sent a letter to the resort providing the full name and address of the renter(s) using my week (dollar amounts are none of the resort's business --- just the IDENTITY of the occupant(s). I also provide a copy of that same letter to the renter, along with a copy of the reservation confirmation (this is all AFTER non-refundable payment in full has been received, of course). I clearly advise the renter to call the resort a few weeks in advance of the use week to confirm FOR THEMSELVES that the reservation is now in THEIR name and to contact me IF (and only if) there is any problem. I further advise the renter that the resort (not me) will require presentation of a credit card at check-in (as security deposit measure only, shredded without charge after a no damage check-out) and that the name on the credit card MUST be the name of the renter. Finally, I clearly advise the renter, in writing, that there will be NO refunds in the event of a last minute cancellation on their part, so I advise the renter to consider purchasing travel insurance to protect themselves in the event they cannot travel due to some last minute situation.
Using the above measures, over the course of several decades I've never had a problem with a resort OR a renter; you might want to consider using these same measures. Then again, I own my weeks to use them (not to rent them out) so my "rentals" are relatively infrequent.
P.S. Personally, I refuse to rent to college students on Spring Break (or to ANYONE under the age of 25 at ANY time, for that matter) but that's just my personal policy (and my right). I've seen far too much unnecessary property damage over the years caused by thoughtless drunken college-age kids (...who are supposedly "young adults"...) to EVER assume that risk. Always remember that YOU as the owner are ultimately responsible for any damages to YOUR reserved unit / week. If incurred damages exceed the renter's credit card authorization amount, the resort is going to come after YOU (NOT the renter), no matter WHAT your rental agreement with that renter might say. In such a development, it will become YOUR responsibility to pay for the damages, and then YOUR responsibility (NOT the resort's) to attempt to recover any excessive damage costs from the renter. It's all doable, but it's much easier said than done, since you may have to take the renter to court (an unwelcome expenditure of your time, effort and money --- and also logistically difficult when several different states are involved).
Anyway, that's MY two (...or three) cents' worth. Good luck.
