Are Timeshare Owners Dummies? Part 2, Making The Case For Buying Timeshare
Published
While neither myself, nor Help Timeshare, feel timeshare owners are dummies, there are numerous entities
growing more vocal daily
that feel just the opposite. In this installment, we’ll examine the case for timeshare, and why for many families it’s one of the
smartest purchases possible.
Savings
– There are always discounts available on hotel rooms, and if you are someone who can travel comfortably on less than $100 a night, then timeshare is probably not for you. If, however, you stay in mid-level hotels, spending between $150 and $200 per night, then buying timeshare could save you thousands! Consider the following scenario:A family paying $175 per night on hotel stays, and vacationing just one week per year, will pay over $27,000 renting hotels over the next 20 years – and that’s in the unlikely event there is 0% inflation*. That same family could buy a timeshare resale for $10,000, pay $500 per year in maintenance fees & taxes, and end up saving $7,000! Not a ton of money, but certainly not something to scoff at when interest rates are as low as they are now.
Plus, you’ll enjoy the additional space of a condo, with room for extra (possibly paying) guests, and a full-kitchen for meals.
The High-Pressure Myth
– Although many, if not most,
timeshare resorts no longer use strong-arm techniques to sell their product, there are some that do. Additionally, the climate at timeshare presentations is carefully constructed to elicit an emotional response, and lead to a sale. Some would have you believe that since timeshare is sold in a “high-pressure” environment, no one would buy it otherwise. The
remarkably high satisfaction rate timeshare currently enjoys would seem to negate this argument, but beyond that: So-called “high-pressure” environments are used to sell everything from cars and televisions, to homes and furniture, and
none of these items is assumed to be inherently worthless after the sale. It could even be suggested that people want a little “push” when making difficult buying decisions – and are grateful for it afterwards.
Investment
– Unlike years of hotel stays, timeshare ownership leaves one with something tangible (a Deed and/or Trust Certificate) which can be sold, passed-down, or even donated to a charity. While there are many factors that affect future value of a timeshare, like changes in maintenance fees, resort upkeep, and exchange viability, staying involved with your resort can minimize the risks –
and, much like the oft-advertised “gold,”
land has never been worth nothing
.
Continue
following this blog throughout the next weeks as we examine "the opposition" case in-depth.
*This figure includes average room-taxes of 11%