Reasonable Advice on Timeshare Ownership

When thinking of reselling your timeshare, always remember that the same principles of selling a home or a commercial building also apply here. One of which is to ensure the timeshare is well furnished and properly taken care of. No one wants to be a ramshackle home or commercial building, let alone a ramshackle timeshare.

While timeshares are very good investment vehicles, this is not always the case. Many people have lost so much money attempting to use timeshares for investment. But if you are savvy enough about timeshares, you can make money buying, selling and renting them out.

Learn about the different types of timeshares available before going ahead to invest in any. For example, there are fixed weekly timeshares and there are point-based timeshares. Ask yourself which is better and which you should invest in, depending your peculiar situation.

Apart from the market forces and the economy, other factors that can help you sell your timeshare at a good price include how very well the timeshare looks. If you have a timeshare that looks very dilapidated, don’t expect to sell it for any good amount unless you take the time to make it look very attractive. .

If you have a timeshare, you can always rent it out and make money when not using the timeshare. A timeshare is a good investment just like any other real estate investment as you can always make money from it. You can always rent out your timeshare and make some cash when it is not in use.

Timeshare also enables you to swap your choice of week or location with other owners. Sometimes you may want to use your vacation on a home at a time you did not arrange for. Timeshare makes this possible by allowing you to swap. You can always find someone who is willing to exchange his or her timeshare for a particular week or location with you… if you know how to search.

The fact is that renting your timeshare unit via timeshare resort will cost you a great deal. Although the actual intention is not to make profit out of your timeshare, but using timeshare resorts will take your entire total spending on the timeshare. Hiring your timeshare via resorts companies is surely expensive, but worth it if you know exactly how to make profit from it.

Generally speaking, it is cheaper to advertise your timeshare on the internet than anywhere else. The web is the best place to cheaply get people to know about your timeshare. While advertising in magazines and television can cost you much, you only spend a few bucks to get your timeshare advertised on lots of websites.

Tags: Advertising, Investment, Lodging, Money, Real estate, Renting, timeshare, Travel and Tourism

How the Timeshare Concept Works

Timeshare and condominium units approximately have similar concept that these units are owned to a certain degree. However, timeshares are in a way different than condominiums as individual housing units are turned into weekly time slots. These weekly time slots are then bought and sold. In effect, timeshare units can have up to 52 owners, one for each week for its utilization for a specific week within the year on a per unit basis.

The allocation of weekly time slots on the timeshare varies widely and depends on the developer selling the timeshare units. Some timeshares have you buy a specific week in a specific unit within the vacation resort. Other timeshares offer floating time slots which simply assures you of an available unit in the building for a particular week. However, small these differences may seem, they can have enormous implications when trying to sell and trade your timeshare unit. As a result, it is imperative to understand exactly what you are purchasing if you decide to buy a timeshare unit.

Most of timeshare sales in the United States today are financed by taking a loan and cash purchases of timeshare are increasingly rare. As a result, buyers should consider the cost of the loan in addition to the associated cost of owning timeshare when considering the purchase of a timeshare. Relevant expenses in owning a timeshare include maintenance fees, special assessment fees and taxes on the property. When these figures are summed up to the timeshare’s cost, it normally indicates that the timeshare is not nearly as attractive as the amount it will save you as the timeshare salesperson makes it out to be.

The primary disadvantage of taking out a loan to finance the purchase of the timeshare is that most timeshare units don’t qualify for a standard housing loan. Consequently, interest costs on financing for timeshares are exorbitant, sometimes reaching as high as 20%, or even more. Most banks and financial institutions do not normally finance timeshares so the developer sometimes acts as the financier of the loan. When you add the finance charges into the other costs of the timeshare unit, the inexpensive vacation unit becomes a lot less appealing as a way to save money. At the end of the day, the timeshare will end up costing you a lot of money if you choose to finance the purchase of a timeshare.

There are three important factors to consider when investing in real estate: location, location and location. This saying is applicable with timeshare units as it is to regular real estate properties. Location of the timeshare does not only apply to the location of the vacation property, but also applies to the date of your weekly time slot.

Timeshare resort units in the best locations and dates can be absolutely arranged with other timeshare units around the world. However, timeshares that are located in an off-peak vacation time slot will find it difficult, if not impossible, to trade for other timeshares. However, purchasing a timeshare resort unit in a great location in high season generally costs more than timeshares in off-peak dates. As a result, you should avoid buying timeshare units in off-peak dates even if they are less expensive than peak timeshare units.

Tags: Canada, Economy of the United States, Mortgage, Politics of the United States, Real estate, Taxation in the United States, timeshare, United States

Tips When Choosing Between Wet And Dry Suits

Dry suits are the key to diver comfort in cold waters and extreme situations, so when choosing one, you’ll want to research the different options before you get to the dive shop.

The last thing you want is to walk away with a $3,000 suit you’ll never use or a membrane suit that will leave you trapped underwater and freezing.

Wet suits are great for warmer water dives because the neoprene material allows water in and traps it against the body, which then heats up to your temperature and insulates the body. The general rule of thumb for wet suits is: the tighter the fit, the better.

Otherwise water will just keep entering and exiting the suit, without time to heat up against your body. You can choose from 2 - 9mm thicknesses and from shorts or full-length styles.

Shipwreck or cave divers are best off purchasing full-length diving suits with toughtex neoprene, which provides an extra layer that’s snag-proof. You’ll want your suit to hold up in the tightest squeezes and off the sharpest coral.

However, for diving in water less than 60 degrees Fahrenheit, dry suits are the only sensible choice.

Dry suits can be made out of several different kinds of material: neoprene, membrane or
a hybrid of the two. Neoprene is made out of synthetic rubber and is the most rigid type of suit and though difficult to get on, will keep you the warmest.

Another advantage to neoprene is that it’s less susceptible to rips or tears and will maintain functionality and buoyancy if a rip were to occur, making it perfect for those cold water wreck or cave diving expeditions.

Membrane shelled suits are generally the most comfortable — made of thinner nylon or vulcanized rubber material, waterproof and breathable — and are recommended for divers who will spend a lot of time out of the water on the boat.

Because the material is thinner, divers will need to wear an under layer made of polyester or another tight-fitting material. The latest models are hybrids with a rigid, overall-style neoprene bottom that supports proper kicking and a looser-fitting membrane top to allow easy arm maneuverability.

Your local scuba dive shop will be able to assist you in purchasing dry suits. If you’re shocked at the $1500 - $3000 price tag and don’t foresee yourself ever diving enough to warrant that kind of investment, then you’ll be happy to know most places will rent them to you for around $40-$50 per day.

Tags: Cave diving, Diving suit, Outdoors, Publications, Recreation, Scuba diving, United States, Wetsuit

Tips When Selecting TimeShare Properties

Before you choose anything in this world, you need to know what type of benefits it offers you. The first and foremost would be the question of whether or not it offers you the best value for your money. This is something that has to be not only satisfactory but also within the budget you have set for this vacation.

The time share properties you are looking for are only a search away if you use the internet. A timeshare that is listed on the internet shows that the owner has taken the trouble to showcase it for the public. This simplifies the task for you as you can see and visualize all that is offered in the vacation package.

The rule that is applicable here, as with everything else of quality, is that if you want the best you need to (1) be focused on the type of time share property you need, (2) be patient while searching, (3) always have a contingency plan. There is nothing wrong with being thorough while seeking timeshare resorts for your vacation, more so when the happiness of your family depends upon that one decision. There are two ways to find the best of time shares: (1) search the internet for properties, (2) seek
to find out offline who would be interested in selling or sharing their property.

Other very important parameters that you need to pay attention to when choosing your dream vacation location are the license of time share properties, popularity of the location and the prices that are quoted. Make use of their presentation to understand what they say about each aspect of their property, including the cost quoted for the timeshare, and other added benefits.

Whether you are choosing it for your timeshare vacation, or for any other purpose, you should be comfortable with what you see. If you are on the internet, then ensure that you run the name of the hotel along with the words ‘fraud’ or ’scam’ and watch what comes out of it.

Overall, what you should see when you are looking for the best possible time share properties available are: spacious rooms, greenery and scenic beauty, excellent location, unmatched service and an incredible price tag. When you get these features, you will know that you have found what you were seeking.

Your vacation condo should be more self-sufficient than any luxury hotel in that location or in the world. Your family will rally around you out of immense joy.

Tags: Canada, fractional ownership, Geothermal heating, Ottawa River, Renting, Resort Condominiums International, timeshare, United States

3 Easy Steps To Pack Right For Your Timeshare Vacation

Because there are 2 Kinds of Luggage: Lost and Carry-On

Few things can ruin your timeshare vacation faster than losing your luggage. And as a recent U.S. Transportation department report finds, losing your suitcase is not a rare occurrence. In fact, the odds are greater than 1 in 200 that your bag will be lost or misdirected on any given flight. And that percentage increases on international flights.

The solution? Carry-on for your condo & timeshare trip.

The Advantages of Carry-On Luggage
Doug Dyment, called “the go-light guru” by Time Magazine, cites three reasons on his site www.onebag.com for taking only carry-on luggage: 1) security; 2) mobility; and 3) economy. The episode with my husband illustrates the benefits of the first reason. The benefits of the mobility advantage are many.

o You can bypass long lines at the counter (getting your boarding ticket from either a kiosk or presenting an e-boarding pass) and proceed directly to security, which means you don’t need to arrive as early to the airport as passengers who check their luggage.

o Missed connections become less of a hassle because your luggage is with you at all times.

o Once arriving at your destination, you leave quickly while others spend another 45 minutes (or more) in baggage claim.

And while Doug’s economical advantages include money otherwise pocketed by porters, as well as savings resulting from renting a smaller car (or going with public transportation rather than taxis), taking only carry-on also gives you a greater savings opportunity. It allows you to easily volunteer to be bumped from a flight (translation: free ticket for next year’s timeshare week!) without the worry of having your luggage traveling on before you and waiting unclaimed at your destination.

Plus, traveling light just seems to create good “vacation karma”. Without being bogged down by multiple bags you simply have a more relaxed attitude. And after all, isn’t that why you bought the timeshare in the first place?

“Sure”, you’re thinking, “the advantages of taking carry-on are compelling. But how can I possibly fit everything I want to take in one 14W” x 22L” x 9H” suitcase?” It’s easy, once you change your thinking from “everything I want to take” to “everything I need to take.” And here’s how.

Step 1: Go Light.
Most people pack for the worst case scenario, or for events that aren’t likely to happen.

“In case it gets cold I’ll bring a sweatshirt.”

“In case it rains, I’ll bring a raincoat.”

“In case we decide to go out to a fancy restaurant, I’ll bring one nice outfit (which also requires a nice—and another—pair of shoes).

“In case I want to drink my coffee out on the deck reading the paper in the morning, I’ll bring my robe.”

These all fall into the “want” to bring category. Our focus here is on the “need” to bring items. And that starts with the basics.

Underwear. Bring enough for four days. After that, your condo unit will likely have a washer/dryer on hand. Do a load of laundry. You’re going to a timeshare, not the Australian outback. So use them.

Socks. Bring enough for 3 days (we’ll tell you how to pack them in Step 2).

Bathing Suit. Just bring one. It’s okay (and preferred even) if women bring a 2-piece tankini.

Sleepwear. We already got rid of the robe above (many timeshare units have them for you in the closet anyway). And you can forget the PJs too. A long t-shirt works fine. Plus it doubles nicely as a cover-up when going to the pool or beach.

Ensembles for day and evening wear. This is the bulk of your clothing. Learning how to pear it down is the key to your success. Take these following tips from seasoned timeshare travelers and you’ll have room to spare in your bag (well, at least you’ll be able to get it closed).

o Select plain clothes that mix and match to get a variety of outfits with just a few pieces of clothing.

o Dress in layers for warmth rather than bringing bulky sweaters, sweatshirts or heavy jackets (if you need a coat, wear it on the plane).

o Choose dark colors (great for hiding stains and wrinkles) and accessorize with scarves, ties, or jewelry—these don’t take up a lot of room in your carry-on and give your wardrobe a dash of pizzazz.

Outerwear. If you must have a raincoat, wear it on the plane. Otherwise, pack a nylon zip-up hooded jacket and you’re covered.

Want some more tips? Here you go: different colored tank tops with a neutral colored cardigan give you lots of different looks. Zip-off pants offer great versatility in climates that go from hot days to cool in evenings. And a word about shoes: limit yourself to two pairs—a dress pair and one for casual activities. Pack your light pair, and wear the heavier ones.

Step 2: Pack It Right
You have a three-fold goal in packing your carry-on: reduce space, reduce wrinkles, and offer easy access.

This last goal is often overlooked, but what good is having all your stuff with you if you have to dishevel it all (spilling your underwear all over the floor) to retrieve your MP3 player? Pack It Light, Pack It Right subscribes to the yin-yang principle of packing: everything at your side and any one thing at your fingertips.

But let’s begin with ironing out those wrinkles (without using an iron). Simply roll clothes instead of folding them before you pack. In addition to eliminating the wrinkles, this technique allows you to save space by tucking rolled up clothes into every corner of your carry-on.

Now to help with organization, try the zip-lock-and-sit method (it’s also great for eliminating wrinkles and saving space). Fold (not roll) a few articles and put them in a 2-1/2 gallon zip-loc bag. Put the bag on the chair, sit on the bag to push out the excess air, and zip it up. Viola! You have a neat, compressed pouch, that in addition to keeping your clothes wrinkle-free, offers a neat way to organize your carry-on for instant access to just about anything you need.

Shoes, Jewelry, Toiletries, Oh My!
A good technique with shoes is to roll socks around the pair so that the heels do not “dig in” to your other clothes. Also, it’s always a good idea to put shoes in a shoe bag, which will help keep the rest of your clothes clean.

For medications and jewelry, try film canisters, which can be inserted into your shoes before wrapping the socks around. Using see-through canisters makes it easy to tell what each one holds. Otherwise, put tape around the canister and label its contents.

For toiletries, simply use another zip-lock bag. This protects your clothes in the event of a leaky bottle. Speaking of toiletries, there is a great site (www.minimus.biz) dedicated to travel sizes for laundry products and personal care items.

This amazing little site also offers timeshare travelers a great alternative to buying huge bottles of mayonnaise, ketchup, soy sauce, hot sauce, etc. (which you end up throwing out at the end of your week). Here you’ll find all your favorite condiments in individualized-sized serving packages. So stock up, put them in a zip-lock, and you’re good to go!

Need More Room? You Got It.
Okay, because you’ve gotten this far into the article, you must be a bit optimistic about getting by with a carry-on. But if you’re still not sure it’s for you, here’s the clincher.

In addition to your one 14″W x 22″L x 9″H carry-on bag (which are the dimensions for United—U.S. Airways gives you more room with 16″W x 24″L x 10″H) you are also allowed to carry on a personal item.

This personal item is defined as a purse, briefcase, laptop, camera case, small backpack, or… DIAPER BAG, the holy grail of the carry-on set! I mean it—have you seen the sizes of diaper bags lately? And all those cute little Velcro™ and zipper compartments!

Even if you don’t have a baby, you’ve got to get a diaper bag. However, there is a catch—the personal item cannot exceed total overall dimensions of 36 inches, and both items (your carry-on and personal item) cannot exceed a total combined weight of 40 pounds (U.S. Airway’s language).

But, no worries! With synthetic fabrics and your zip-lock-and-sit method you can fit another week’s worth of clothing in that diaper bag (or a backpack if you are adverse to diaper bags). And you’ll still have room to throw in your purse, while reserving ample space for carting home souvenirs.

So here’s the drill: stow the carry-on in the overhead and throw the diaper bag under the seat in front of you. Just make sure you don’t get a bulkhead seat, because then you won’t have a seat in front of you to throw your diaper bag under.

Step 3: Be Realistic
Love to Carry-On, But Just Can’t? Let’s be honest. If you are traveling with children or are carrying a bunch of presents , the carry-on idea probably is not going to work for you. After all, it’s more important to arrive with all of your kids than all of your bags. So go ahead, check the baggage. And carry on the kids.

When you do check baggage, here’s a helpful tip that can go a long way (literally) in keeping your bags from getting lost: know the three-letter code of your destination airport (LAX, JFK, LHR, etc) and verify that it’s the one on your luggage tag before your bags are whisked away.

Here’s why: gate agent error is the most common cause of mis-routed bags.

Bottom line? Traveling is stressful enough. Don’t let a lost bag ruin your entire timeshare trip – pack light & pack right!

Happy Timesharing!

Tags: Bag, Betting, Clothing, Luggage, Suitcase, Travel, United, United States