Lisa Ann Schreier, the Timeshare Crusader, presented some great information on how to rent a timeshare on a webinar hosted by RedWeek.com last month. Lisa Ann’s intent was to help allay the fears of any of you “newbies” to the process, which is really quite simple – and safe as long as you follow some suggested guidelines (see Part 1). Here in Part 2 is a bit of the Q&A session from the webinar.
Q&As
Q: When I rent a timeshare am I obligated to attend the resort’s timeshare sales presentation?
A: No. You absolutely do not have to attend a sales presentation. They will ask, bribe, cajole , but you are free to say yes, and free to say no. It is Not mandatory. You are renting, you are there to enjoy your vacation, you are not there to take a sales presentation, unless you choose to.
Q: Who is responsible for damage to the unit?
A: If you are renting out your timeshare make sure there is a clause in the contract that the renter is held responsible for any damage. You should also contact the resort and confirm that their policy is that whoever is occupying the unit is the responsible party.
For you renters – don’t take offense when this is in the contract. The renter is simply protecting their personal property, just as you would want to do.
Q: What if I only want to rent 2 or 3 days instead of the entire week?
A: That would be something you could negotiate with the owner. Do understand, however, that the owner owns a week, and can’t break it up, so the owner might need to charge you for the full week. If the owner’s timeshare is on the point system, then it’s easier to break up the time, and give you 2 or 3 days now and take the rest of the time later for themselves.
Q: Do I need to be a timeshare owner to rent a timeshare?
A: Absolutely not. Many members of RedWeek do not own timeshares themselves. Renting a timeshare is a great way to experience vacationing with a timeshare and see first-hand what it’s all about. This is a way of enjoying timeshare vacations without ever having to own one. Or, you might find out that this is the way you want to continue vacationing. Besides rentals, RedWeek members also list many timeshare resales, which are astonishingly cheaper than buying from a developer.
And remember, many people tend to think of timeshare resorts in far-flung exotic locations, but don’t overlook resorts within a 2 or 3 hour drive of where you live. With 6,000 timeshare resorts around the world there’s sure to be one near you. Renting a timeshare close by gives you the opportunity of exploring places closer to home, and you don’t have to incur the expense of airline tickets or car rentals to have a really great vacation at a timeshare resort.