It can be confusing for a starter buying his or her first timeshare – should it be from the resale market or directly from the timeshare resort or developer? It can be a hard decision to make as both markets have their own advantages and disadvantages. Buying timeshares in the resale market like auction websites or advertising through classifieds is a recent concept compared to buying from developers which has been there since its inception. The Internet has brought everything to the people’s doorsteps and has thus benefited the timeshare market too. Websites such as eBay.com, bidshare.com and redweek.com provide prospective buyers with more information on the property and also a wide variety of buying options.
The scenario was totally different a decade ago when buyers used to buy timeshares through timeshare presentations hosted by timeshare developers. The decisions taken to buy timeshares were mostly based on one’s impulse rather than research and analysis. But with the advent of Internet auction sites a user has more powerful tools to research the prices in advance even if he is going to a presentation. The buyer can make a more informed choice today than earlier. Buyers can also avoid the trauma of sitting through a timeshare presentation by buying through the resale market. The presentations sometimes take ninety minutes and can go on even longer. At the end of the presentation the buyers who were brought in on the pretext of a free gift are subjected to high pressure selling techniques, and this yield to signing a paper and buying a timeshare.
Now talking about the cost comparison, a developer’s timeshare offer includes the cost of advertisement, presentation, free gifts etc. which is a whopping 40% of the cost of the timeshare and sometimes this exceeds the cost of the timeshare resale. On the other hand if one buys a timeshare through a resale market one can buy the timeshare at 30% to 50% cheaper. Also buying through a resale market offers you more choice and freedom to select your desired unit. You know that you are getting the best price. It is definitely worth saving thousands of dollars by buying a resale.
But there are also good reasons to buy from a developer. There are many reputable companies that have ventured into the timeshare business like Marriot, Disney, and Hilton etc. When you are buying through a resale market there is a margin of doubt as to whether your investment is secure or not and the trust factor is low. Whereas these timeshare developers spend fortunes in the development of timeshares and have great reputations and therefore can be easily trusted. They give you the best and the latest amenities which you can never get from a resale unless it’s a relatively new unit. Another important point regarding buying through a developer is that they offer many incentives and benefits to their customers in the form of bonus weeks, discounts on attraction tickets, car rentals and much more. On the other hand these benefits may not be available to you if you bought your timeshare through the resale market as many developers do not allow timeshare resale units to use the same amenities as those who bought directly from them. Also the developers usually offer many financing options that you may not get if you buy from the resale market.