Nearly 10 million households in the United States own a timeshare, but this doesn’t mean everyone plans on keeping theirs for the long haul. Whether they are experiencing changing family dynamics or don’t want to deal with ongoing maintenance costs, many timeshare owners want to sell and move on.
Unlike crypto or traditional stocks, owning a timeshare isn’t an investment. Timeshares aren’t a true real estate purchase, and as a result, your resale value will generally be much less than what you paid to buy in.
Despite this, owners can still maximize the value of their timeshare by understanding a few important factors. By pricing their timeshare resale competitively when advertising on a platform like SellMyTimeshareNow, owners can recoup more of their initial purchase price.
Location, Location, Location
The phrase “location, location, location” dates back decades, usually in reference to real estate. Essentially, the idea is that the geographic location of a home or business is the most important factor for determining its value and desirability. The right location can enable real estate sellers to command significantly higher prices, even if the property lacks certain features or is not in the best condition.
The same idea is also true when selling a timeshare. The more in-demand your timeshare location is, the higher the price you’ll be able to advertise on the resale market. Timeshares in popular locations like Hawaii or Orlando will usually see much higher prices than a timeshare off the beaten path.
Breaking things down even further, your resort’s location could become more desirable to potential buyers if it is near popular amenities like beaches or theme parks. There’s a big difference between resorts that require a twenty-minute drive to get to the beach and those that are right on it.
Each location is subject to its own market trends. Supply and demand can vary quite a bit over time, affecting the total number of resale timeshares on the market and the overall level of interest in those properties. Sellers should always look closely at current conditions in their area as they price to sell.
Timeshare Ownership Models Make a Difference
Your timeshare ownership model is another key factor in setting the value of your timeshare resale. Fixed week timeshares are the option that most people associate with timeshares, in which the owners have a set week that they use each year. These timeshare ownerships tend to have a lower value — unless you own a holiday or premium week — because they lack the flexibility that many travelers seek. Fixed week availability inherently eliminates many prospective buyers simply because of schedule conflicts.
On the other hand, floating week and points-based timeshares can command higher value on resale sites like SellMyTimeshareNow because of the added flexibility they offer. The ability to choose from a selection of weeks or to use points to book stays at different times or resorts can help buyers find options that work best for them.
As part of this, the seasonality associated with a timeshare resale will also play a large role in setting its value. If your fixed week or floating week timeframe occurs during the location’s peak travel season, it will be more attractive to buyers and command a higher selling price. Off-season stays will have lower prices.
Resort Amenities and Affiliations Matter
With all of the previous factors being equal, the final areas that will help you maximize the value of your timeshare are the resort’s amenities and affiliations. Timeshare resorts can vary quite a bit in terms of what they offer guests. Some resorts only offer the bare minimum in terms of amenities. Others can be quite luxurious, with on-site restaurants, golf courses, spas, and more. Advertising available amenities linked to your timeshare resort will make it much more attractive to potential buyers.
Resort affiliations can be a significant difference-maker when your timeshare is associated with a major vacation club, such as Marriott Vacation Club or Hilton Grand Vacations Club. Many of the larger vacation clubs have resorts across the country (and around the world), allowing timeshare owners to use their points to book stays at a variety of locations.
The benefits and resorts that fall under a particular vacation club can play a powerful role in making your advertisement more desirable. However, as part of this, timeshare sellers need to know how many points they currently have, as well as how selling/transferring points works. Some clubs place limitations on how resale points can be used.
When applicable, the number of points available and the level of freedom in how those points can be used to book vacation stays should be a central feature of your timeshare resale advertisement.
Maximizing Your Timeshare Resale Value
The timeshare resale market can be tricky to navigate, particularly in oversaturated markets or at resorts with high maintenance fees. For most sellers, the best way to gauge market value will be to look at currently advertised and previously sold ownerships in their area that are most similar to their own timeshare. Understanding your specific market is the key to selling quickly and at a competitive price.
However, by understanding the specific attributes of your timeshare property and knowing how to market them, you can price your advertisement appropriately on a platform like SellMyTimeshareNow so you can get a good value and sell as quickly as possible.
