Pros and Cons of Timeshares

by Lisa S.
(USA)

If you’ve visited Florida in the past or planning on visiting in the future, you are bound to encounter the timeshare sales pitches that our state is rife with.

From Daytona to the Panhandle, Fort Lauderdale Florida to Orlando, you’re probably going to face a timeshare salesperson at some point.

And if you’re already familiar with the “free tickets for 90 minutes of your time” spiel, as more than 3 million Americans annually are, then you’ve probably walked out more confused and more annoyed than when you walked in.

My goal as The Timeshare Crusader is to educate consumers and tell the truth about this confusing product.

The major problem that I have with Florida time share companies is the fact that you are always asked to buy right then and there. This can cause some people to make very expensive mistakes and other to miss out on a great product.

In order to put and end to some of the confusion out there and to make certain that you are making wise purchasing or non-purchasing decisions, here are 5 things you need to know about timeshares:

5 THINGS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT TIMESHARES

•The average price of a 2-bedroom timeshare last year was $16,000. If the resort is asking for anything substantially more or less than that, you should be asking, “WHY?”

•There is no such thing as the “best” timeshare. Different people have different needs. You need to know what your vacation likes and dislikes are. Do you like to plan ahead, or are you more spontaneous?

•Stay away from anyone, particularly a timeshare salesperson who uses one or more of these words: “FREE”, “PERFECT”, “ALWAYS” and/or “NEVER.” Free and perfect simply don’t exist and always and never are very, very long times.

•Almost everything is negotiable…if you don’t ask, you don’t get. That goes from the price, the membership dues and especially the financing rates.

•Although the vast majority of timeshare sold in the United States is based in real estate, do NOT think of it as a traditional real-estate investment. It is NOT going to go up in value. But then again, what is happening to the value of your hotel receipts?

Timeshare has come a long way from the day when sleazy developers were selling unknowing consumers swampland. Today there are more than 5,800 resorts worldwide and the number of brand names, such as Disney, Marriott and Hilton bring new choices for owners and go a long way to legitimize the entire industry.

Taking timeshare presentations in Florida can sometimes give you a warped view of timeshares. Large blocks of buildings full of condos near golf courses, beaches or attractions. And yes, while the timeshare world is full of those types of accommodations, there are also thatched roofed cottages in Belize, golf resorts in China, country clubs in England and garden villas in Italy!

While timeshare developers want us all to believe that the only way to buy a timeshare is to sit through a lengthy presentation at the resort, consumers have more choices than ever. Of course, you can take advantage of the ubiquitous discount offers that are out there and listen to the sales pitch. You are also free to walk into any timeshare resort and ask to see the property and the price.

It’s a great way to see what the resort offers especially if you plan on using your home resort more than exchanging it for other places. Resale timeshare can be huge cost savings; prices are typically 60% LESS than buying from the developer. However, buying resale warrants far more knowledge than buying from the developer. Just because the timeshare is being sold for $2,000 doesn’t make it a good deal!

Just as most people hire a real estate agent to guide them through the pitfalls and advantages of a Florida beach real estate purchase, I believe that savvy consumers should hire a professional, experienced timeshare consultant to guide them through the murky timeshare waters.

Lisa Ann Schreier may be contacted at lisa@timeshareinsights.com. She is the founder of Timeshare Insights (www.timeshareinsights.com) a consumer consulting service. She is also the author of both “Surviving A Timeshare Presentation….

Confessions From The Sales Table” and “Timeshare Vacations For Dummies” both of which are available at bookstores or at her website. Lisa also is a sought after speaker to consumer groups around the country.

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