When you sell a timeshare, you'll probably take a loss from the original purchase price. You shouldn't have to pay an upfront fee on top of the loss in order to make the sale. Stick to these simple steps to avoid scams and make the sale yourself.
Study the laws governing timeshare sales in the state or country where your timeshare is located. These laws will list requirements for the sale such as information you must disclose to your prospective buyers, the time frame in which buyers can cancel the sale without penalty and the amount of time buyers must keep the timeshare before they are allowed to resell it. If you don't follow these laws, the sale of your timeshare could be voided.
Decide on a realistic price for your timeshare. If you purchased the property new from a developer, you're unlikely to get as much as you originally paid. Most timeshares are sold at a substantial loss. Research the price of similar timeshares on eBay and the Timeshare Users Group.
Advertise your timeshare on popular, reasonably-priced sites. Even though you are avoiding upfront fees, you have to spend a little on ads in order to attract buyers. Legitimate sites include My Resort Network, Redweek and the Timeshare Users Group. Newspaper classified ads are another low-cost option. Place ads in your local area as well as the town where your timeshare is located.
Call anyone who responds to your ads within a day or less. Buyers may shop around and call multiple sellers, so don't lose out on a potential sale by being too slow. Be ready to give potential buyers information such as the dates they can use the unit, average yearly maintenance costs and the feasibility of exchanging the timeshare for other locations.
Reject any offers to get linked up with a buyer for a fee. These calls are almost always a scam.
Negotiate with buyers who make a low offer. Come back with a reasonable counter offer, and continue to bargain. You may not be successful, but this is part of the sales process.
Use a timeshare closing firm or attorney to complete your timeshare sale. It's a good idea to spend a little money to ensure a smooth closing. Some states even require you to use a lawyer. Find someone who works for a flat fee or a specified percent of the timeshare sales price.
