BocaBum99 is not going to believe I am bringing this story here, but here goes anyway. This is for you, Boca!
Since Dad died two years ago, Mom has been trying to talk someone into buying her timeshare, a blue rotating week, both Spring and Fall rotations, at Rockridge I. These units are really nice, two stories with a loft, three total bedrooms, three bathrooms and even a jetted tub, I believe. She and Dad spent many happy years in their unit, plus they exchanged the week for Mexico, Vegas, Orlando, Lake Tahoe and I believe Branson. They had great luck with their exchanges, probably because the unit is large and pretty nice.
Anyway, she talks up the resort to everyone: friends, family and acquaintances. I believe they paid $3,800 for it back when the resort was new. Mom started receiving phone calls from upfront listing companies right after Dad died and I told her not to pay anyone to list her week. She was sure from talking to the timeshare salesmen over the phone that her week was worth at least double the price she paid. After all, the house they bought 30 years ago is worth ten times what they paid and the real estate in Breckenridge is very high and her week is deeded. Not a crazy conclusion.
She was having a difficult time getting someone interested, with many of her friends in their 70's and 80's, she is 79. So she called the resort to see if they would give her the address to the listing company that sells the units. The woman at Rockridge I told her to see if she can give it to relatives or rent it for the cost of her maintenance fees. But she would have none of that.
Not being internet savvy and loving the week, she set a price, just to get someone to take it, a person who would use the week and enjoy it as much as she did. Then she invited a young couple to join her for her week that ended ten days ago. She knows this couple, they are members of the Elks' Lodge (Dad was a member for about 33 years), and Mom still stays involved with the Elks' Ladies. Anyway, the couple loved the unit (they are not real young, about 35) and are buying it for her price of $4,500. I was sure she would not sell it at all, but I had no idea she wanted that much for it.
What do you think? On TUG it seems that some think that Mom ripped off this young couple. I believe that if you do not know the value because you lack information, the value is in the eye of the beholder. Do you agree? But some on TUG would say that Mom took advantage and that I am bragging about it. Not so. The naive taking advantage of the naive? I disagree with that completely. She has always believed that her timeshare would increase in value and has never had anyone tell her something different.
The way she bragged up the week and the trade power, I was sure she had a red week. I called the resort because I am doing a quitclaim deed for her and they told me they are selling blue weeks like hers for $546 and closing for free. The $546 is the maintenance fees for the year, which just went up from $480 and $440 from the year before that. So basically, if you agree to pay the maintenance fees, they will give you a week.
Here are my questions:
First, do you think she is guilty of taking advantage of these people?
Second, should I say something to her about the real value? (I know she will not believe me)
Be brutally honest with me. I can take it. Well, maybe not. I am already upset at a few comments over yonder. Spence and I are not at odds, though, so don't think it is him. Don't be brutally honest. I take it back. Be nice to me because I am almost always nice. I need a smilie with a halo, also a cheerleader smilie.
Since Dad died two years ago, Mom has been trying to talk someone into buying her timeshare, a blue rotating week, both Spring and Fall rotations, at Rockridge I. These units are really nice, two stories with a loft, three total bedrooms, three bathrooms and even a jetted tub, I believe. She and Dad spent many happy years in their unit, plus they exchanged the week for Mexico, Vegas, Orlando, Lake Tahoe and I believe Branson. They had great luck with their exchanges, probably because the unit is large and pretty nice.
Anyway, she talks up the resort to everyone: friends, family and acquaintances. I believe they paid $3,800 for it back when the resort was new. Mom started receiving phone calls from upfront listing companies right after Dad died and I told her not to pay anyone to list her week. She was sure from talking to the timeshare salesmen over the phone that her week was worth at least double the price she paid. After all, the house they bought 30 years ago is worth ten times what they paid and the real estate in Breckenridge is very high and her week is deeded. Not a crazy conclusion.
She was having a difficult time getting someone interested, with many of her friends in their 70's and 80's, she is 79. So she called the resort to see if they would give her the address to the listing company that sells the units. The woman at Rockridge I told her to see if she can give it to relatives or rent it for the cost of her maintenance fees. But she would have none of that.
Not being internet savvy and loving the week, she set a price, just to get someone to take it, a person who would use the week and enjoy it as much as she did. Then she invited a young couple to join her for her week that ended ten days ago. She knows this couple, they are members of the Elks' Lodge (Dad was a member for about 33 years), and Mom still stays involved with the Elks' Ladies. Anyway, the couple loved the unit (they are not real young, about 35) and are buying it for her price of $4,500. I was sure she would not sell it at all, but I had no idea she wanted that much for it.
What do you think? On TUG it seems that some think that Mom ripped off this young couple. I believe that if you do not know the value because you lack information, the value is in the eye of the beholder. Do you agree? But some on TUG would say that Mom took advantage and that I am bragging about it. Not so. The naive taking advantage of the naive? I disagree with that completely. She has always believed that her timeshare would increase in value and has never had anyone tell her something different.
The way she bragged up the week and the trade power, I was sure she had a red week. I called the resort because I am doing a quitclaim deed for her and they told me they are selling blue weeks like hers for $546 and closing for free. The $546 is the maintenance fees for the year, which just went up from $480 and $440 from the year before that. So basically, if you agree to pay the maintenance fees, they will give you a week.
Here are my questions:
First, do you think she is guilty of taking advantage of these people?
Second, should I say something to her about the real value? (I know she will not believe me)
Be brutally honest with me. I can take it. Well, maybe not. I am already upset at a few comments over yonder. Spence and I are not at odds, though, so don't think it is him. Don't be brutally honest. I take it back. Be nice to me because I am almost always nice. I need a smilie with a halo, also a cheerleader smilie.
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