THINKING ABOUT A TIMESHARE PURCHASE – then you're not thinking

THINKING ABOUT A TIMESHARE PURCHASE – then you're not thinking

07/05/2011

I am a licensed Florida real estate agent. I have worked for or with all of the major timeshares – yes, that one too. There isn't one of them out there not pushing the purchase to secure your commitment to pay your HOA fees ad infinitum.(These photos are of RIU - NOT A TIMESHARE!

Somewhere in the early 1980s someone developed an idea that would support owners/developers of resort property, as well as their children, until death they do part. That epiphany is known as timeshare.

Instantly the cities and states endorsed the Frankenstein because it would fill their coffers with tourist and tax revenues, so in states such as Florida it was designated “real estate,” just like all condos have that label. Prior to condominiums real estate translated as all the land within those surveyed boundaries, from below the owners feet through the sky. When speaking about condo or timeshare ownership this definition fails. (see http://hubpages.com/hub/TO-CONDO-OR-NOT-TO-CONDO-House-or-condo)

Just like condo ownership, the timeshare owner is told by the sales rep that they own a piece of the resort. What the rep negates to tell the prospective owner is what that means. It means the same thing it does in a condo community; the owner has all the responsibilities of maintenance. This includes, but is not limited to landscape upkeep and restoration, trash disposal, repair to the building(s) itself, repair to all amenities, pay to any and all employees, etc. Likewise to the condo owner, the timeshare owner owns space; but unlike the condo owner, the timeshare owner is purchasing time as well!

Congratulations Frank and Sue, you just purchased time and space that will drain all of that money you were told that you would save, into the pocket of the developer.

The Pitch (see 3rd photo)

A pitch is the term used in sales to reference the the way the product is presented. In all timeshare location this is known as “the pencil pitch.” It depicts a casual posture of a sales rep picking up a pencil, flipping over a fallacious survey, and using the back to draw 4 sections.

“There are 5ways to vacations,” the rep explains; as if you're interested. “The first 2 are camping and staying with friends and family; but both of those get old real fast.” The rep will ominously cross them off your menu and move right into the sacred 4 sections.

The first section depicts to the prospect the 3^rd method of vacationing; the dream home/2^nd home. This engages the potential purchaser in the conversation by asking, “Where would you like to build your vacation dream home?” Naturally the prospect can't wait to disclose this secret and helps the rep in building their dream vacation home through description. (FYI; it's usually Hawaii) Unfortunately in the end the poor participants has an empty home 50 weeks out of 52 with maintenance and tax bills all year round.

The 4^th way to Vacation: Now comes the 2^nd section that provides the hotel room with its contents as well as its “issues” of space and comfort. “Now what if you could add to your hotel room Mr. & Mrs? What would you include?

Naturally the prospects are once again drawn into the artistry and add the jacuzzi, more space, an extra bedroom and a kitchen. (I don't know why. When I vacation I don't cook; that's because it's a vacation.) Now it's time to bring the pain; the dollar amounts of what one spends staying in a hotel, which always pans out to $700 for 7 days. Then the food costs are added and interest. “That money Mr. & Mrs. Vacationer is just receipts. You have nothing to show for your purchase.”

By the time the prospects are brought into the 3^rd frame their curiosity is peeked, and the rep presents the 5^th method of vacationing Timeshare Ownership. This permits the prospects to keep their dream home and EXCHANGE it to WHEREVER THEY WANT TO GO! (Maybe.) “And although you still have to pay maintenance and tax it's only_____ dollars each year. (Right now these annual HOA fees run anywhere between $800 and $3500 per year.) The tax bill is figured first by the county, and then by the developers. Need I say more?

The final frame of the pencil pitch is the horse laugh/pie in the face. “So Mr. & Mrs, you've been vacationing all these years, and what have you got to show for it? Would you rather rent or own? Do you own a house? Then why are you renting your vacation?”

This is the point in the presentation that the prospects SHOULD gather together their belongings and walk out, and pick-up their free gift, because they were just insulted.

But the truth is, there isn't a vacation out there that isn't cheaper than owning the the right to forever HOA fees and taxes. Timeshares are huge white elephants that require constant attention, and with the way people vacation, devoid of respect for property, the resort is always injured.

I have worked for them all. There isn't one out there that's a deal, even though the day you bought it seemed like a deal. Currently the resorts, as much as they're touting extraordinary sales, they have a tremendous return of deeds from people that just got sick of paying for nothing. This leave the developer responsible for unpaid HOA fees and where do you suppose that cost is planted?

“NOTHING? Don't I have a deed?”

Yes, but not all deeds are alike. Some are deeds to points and some are deeded week(s). However, all are deeds to the agreement to pay for the upkeep, that is: the wages of the employees, upkeep of the property (not your room) as well as parts and pieces.

Example: In Hollywood FL many timeshares lost their roofs as well as other parts in a hurricane. The owners were responsible for rebuilding the catastrophe and to continue to pay HOA.

Some resorts will claim that they're fully insured. They are – you're not.

POINTS

“But I bought points! The sales rep showed me that I could go anywhere, anytime because there are no more week restrictions with points. I converted my week to points!”

You basically purchased a yearly renewal of green stamps when you converted to points and in most cases, relinquished your ownership to deeded property. If you have enough green stamps/points, then yes you can go to Tahiti. (IF THERE ARE THE UNITS TO ACCOMMODATE YOU!)

I am a licensed Florida real estate agent. I have worked for or with all of the major timeshares – yes, that one too. There isn't one of them out there not pushing the purchase to secure your commitment to pay your HOA fees ad infinitum.

I'm here if you need me. And if you REALLY aren't convinced and REALLY want a timeshare, you might want to check out Craigslist and ebay first. They are selling for pocket change. There's a reason and I just provided the reason. Oh yes, and there are no resale companies that are actually successful in moving timeshare; but they'll charge you to put it on craigslist.com!

Peace Baby

IF YOU ENJOYED MY HUBPAGE ARTICLE THEN GO TO THIS ARTIST'S NOVELS AT AMAZON http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss_i_0_15?url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&field-keywords=celia+andriello&sprefix=celia+andriello

LET GO & FREE FALL INTO NEW BEGINNINGS

For further timeshare edification please take advantage of the following:

http://hubpages.com/hub/THINKING-ABOUT-A-TIMESHARE-PURCHASE-then-youre-not-thinking

http://hubpages.com/hub/Psst-Wanna-hear-a-Timeshare-Joke

http://hubpages.com/hub/Finding-God-via-Little-House

http://hubpages.com/hub/TIMESHARE-RESALES-the-final-kick-in-the-ass

http://hubpages.com/hub/AND-THE-LIE-WILL-SET-YEA-FREE

this link might help

http://www.resortbailout.com/about.html