Need Advice on Selling Bluegreen Timeshare

[Scotty Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scotty]

I am brand new to this site and have browsed all over looking for a thread that I am sure already exists, but cannot find it.

Here is my question, I am trying to help my retired parents sell their timeshare. They are on a fixed income and really need the money now, late in their retirement years. I really don't want them to get taken by some silver-toung sales person.

They have already listed it with a company called SaleMyTimeshare, but have had no luck, even though it is listed for a very low price.

Now, another timeshare sales company, called Timeshare Solution, has contacted them and claim to be able to sell their timeshare in 3 to 6 months for twice as much as it has been listed for for the past 6 months.

Does anyone know anything about the legitimacy of these companies, how much one can reasonably expect to sell a timeshare for, and how long one would expect to sell a timeshare in these hard times? Their timeshare includes 1200 points, which I'm told is enough for two weeks per year.

Timeshare Solution claims they can expect to sell for a minimum of $2/share. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[glypnirsgirl Member Find all posts View Profile Close glypnirsgirl]

Hi scotty - welcome. I am a relative newbie also. The one thing that I know for sure is DO NOT PAY ANYONE ANYTHING UPFRONT. NO PREPAID CLOSING FEES. NO PREPAID BROKERAGE FEES. NOTHING! If they are asking for money, they are getting ready to take your money and do little or nothing for it.

elaine

[aliikai2 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close aliikai2]

You posted this under Blue Green

So I will assume that they have a Blue Green points membership that you are trying to help them get rid of.

The value of these is almost nothing. You said it was 1200 points, It is probably 12,000 with an annual fee of about $620.00.

These sell every day on Ebay for about .01 per point, so anyone telling you they can get you more than that is simply trying to take your money in listing/advertising/promotion/closing/title search/ etc fees and they will never find a buyer, Period.

There are a couple of things they can do to rid themselves of the ongoing annual costs.

1) Place a free ad on this site, then Bidshares,the bargain board on Timeshare Users Group - The first and largest online community of timeshare owners providing timeshare resort reviews, timeshare ratings, FREE timeshare advice and FREE Timeshare Classified ads!

2) Call Bluegreen and see if they would accept this membership back.

3) Find a family member to take over the ownership. Could be the best way, as BG is a pretty good program.

4) Make up a flyer and post it at church, and anywhere you can find a bulletin board.

5) Craigislist , but be aware there are many spammers working there, so don't fall prey to any other assorted scams.

Best of luck,

Greg

I am brand new to this site and have browsed all over looking for a thread that I am sure already exists, but cannot find it.

Here is my question, I am trying to help my retired parents sell their timeshare. They are on a fixed income and really need the money now, late in their retirement years. I really don't want them to get taken by some silver-toung sales person.

They have already listed it with a company called SaleMyTimeshare, but have had no luck, even though it is listed for a very low price.

Now, another timeshare sales company, called Timeshare Solution, has contacted them and claim to be able to sell their timeshare in 3 to 6 months for twice as much as it has been listed for for the past 6 months.

Does anyone know anything about the legitimacy of these companies, how much one can reasonably expect to sell a timeshare for, and how long one would expect to sell a timeshare in these hard times? Their timeshare includes 1200 points, which I'm told is enough for two weeks per year.

Timeshare Solution claims they can expect to sell for a minimum of $2/share. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

[Scotty Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scotty]

You are correct, the actual points are 12,000 (typo in original). Yes, they want them to pay $900 up front to pay for their presentation costs (for the marketing ploy to offer free 3-day vacation to listen to their sales spin). My concern was whether they are just trying to get their $900 and then never sell the timeshare. He told my folks that he would be able to sell it for a minimum of $24,000 and up to $30,000 in about 3 months, but no more than 6 months. But what you are saying, is that they would be lucky to sell it for $120??? Wow, that is pretty much nothing. Why would that be so low? nobody wants them now? Basically, they are worth less than the annual fee to maintain it.

[Scotty Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scotty]

I went out to Ebay and saw what you were talking about. Most of them were bianual memberships, but even the annual memberships were really low. How this guy represented their company was as though they were selling these just as new memberships. But still, if all of those people on Ebay thought they could sell their memberships through this kind of company, they certainly would.

I found the exact same membership my parents have, for Myrtle Beach, 12,000 points per year, at a buy-now price of $3,995 and a starting bid of $2,495. Not one bid.

So, it appears as thought their initial investment is totally shot. They'd be lucky just to get out of the $650 annual maintenance fee.

[akparsa Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close akparsa]

Scotty, Do you have any desire to use the Bluegreen ownership?

You are exactly right that they'll be lucky to get out of the MF. If they can't use it anymore, you might consider whether you or another family member might be interested in using it.

You can get a lot of good out of 12,000 points a year. That might sound paradoxical since it isn't worth anything on the resale market but Bluegreen has some nice resorts in good locations. It is a well run company that keeps expenses relatively low and doesn't nickel and dime you. You'll find that here and on the Bluegreen Yahoo group, there are many happy Bluegreen owners. You can learn the ins and outs of the system from reading both forums.

The main way to maximize usage of a Bluegreen ownership is to plan and book early, 11 months before you want to travel if possible.

Just something to consider.

[vacation_family99 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close vacation_family99]

At which resort are the points deeded? That might encourage someone to take them off of your hands.

The best advice is do not pay anyone UPFRONT that says they will sell your timeshare. Your money will walk and you will still have your timeshare.

[brucecz Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close brucecz]

I went out to Ebay and saw what you were talking about. Most of them were bianual memberships, but even the annual memberships were really low. How this guy represented their company was as though they were selling these just as new memberships. But still, if all of those people on Ebay thought they could sell their memberships through this kind of company, they certainly would.

I found the exact same membership my parents have, for Myrtle Beach, 12,000 points per year, at a buy-now price of $3,995 and a starting bid of $2,495. Not one bid.

So, it appears as thought their initial investment is totally shot. They'd be lucky just to get out of the $650 annual maintenance fee.

Bluegreen can be a good value for vacations if you learn how to use the ownership. You can get money saving vacations in condo units that have full kitchens instead of staying in cramped motel or hotel units.

IMHO if you spend 10 hours learning about how to use that ownership you might learn to make lemonade out of that appears to be a costly lemon..

One way to start is post the area were you live and that type of vacation experiances do you want and in what areas. Also ask about how some here would use the amount of points you have. Are you or the owners tied to the school calender?

Welcome and good luck.

Bruce

[T/S Guy Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close T/S Guy]

Don't spend $ with any resale company

Scotty, Never list your timeshare and pay upfront money with any timeshare reseller.

Boca Bum is very knowledgeable regarding Bluegreen and is a trusted reseller. He is the moderator of the Bluegreen Forum. Contact him before you do anything.

[Scotty Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scotty]

Are you or the owners tied to the school calender?
Bruce

Hi Bruce,
No, there is no restriction on time of use. From what I understand, it is just a matter of scheduling far enough in advance to get what you want. I had been trying to help my parents sell it, but from what I've heard, it may be better for me to just look at using the timeshare and pay their annual fees for them. Maybe in the future, if the value goes up, they can look at selling it.

[Scotty Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scotty]

Scotty, Never list your timeshare and pay upfront money with any timeshare reseller.

Boca Bum is very knowledgeable regarding Bluegreen and is a trusted reseller. He is the moderator of the Bluegreen Forum. Contact him before you do anything.

Thanks for the reference. I'll definately check with Boca Bum.

[brucecz Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close brucecz]

Hi Bruce,
No, there is no restriction on time of use. From what I understand, it is just a matter of scheduling far enough in advance to get what you want. I had been trying to help my parents sell it, but from what I've heard, it may be better for me to just look at using the timeshare and pay their annual fees for them. Maybe in the future, if the value goes up, they can look at selling it.

Scotty, I fully understand there is no restriction on time of use by Bluegreen (except for high red and regular red on rolled over saved points). But is our own personal time tied to the school calendar if you have children in school.

I do not think for a few years the value will go up. I think the value when it does might be in the range of 5% to 10%. That is why I am suggesting that you take some time to learn how to best use the system.

Bruce

[Timeshare junkie Member Find all posts View Profile Close Timeshare junkie]

Just to reiterate - never pay upfront for somebody to take your timeshare.

That guy you spoke to, telling you $20-30 grand in 3-6 months, is NO different to the Kenyan scamsters wanting to wire you $30,000,000.

Why don't you use it. They have some great resorts, and are now starting to offer more options in different parts of the country.

Also, when did your parents buy and do they have Travelers plus. If they do, you can use their points for hotel stays at 3-5 star hotels in many major cities. The hotels are part of Worldhotels.com. Go to their website to see the full list. In NYC, you can stay at 5-6 midtown locations. 12K pts will get 2-3 nights in NYC, which is worth about $1000. If they don't have Travelers Plus, call BG, and see if they can re-enrol. I think it is about $100/year.

Good luck!

[Scotty Junior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Scotty]

Why don't you use it. They have some great resorts, and are now starting to offer more options in different parts of the country.

This seems to be the best option. I've never looked into using it myself. I do have young children in school, but it looks like there are lots of options out there.