If I had it to do all over again....

[VacationPro Member Find all posts View Profile Close VacationPro]

Hi all,

I am relatively new to timesharing. After reading through the introduction sticky, I was wondering if the experienced owners would be interested in a thread that they would post some of the lessons they learned the hard way and experience they've gained through use and exchanges that might be useful to us newbies.

For example, if you take a look at your TS portfolio, which units wouldn't you buy again, which would you buy more of, would you trade differently.

I realize this is a very broad topic, but at this time of year when many of us look forward and back, it might be kind of fun and could be informative.

I'm thinking of things like:
If I had it to do over again, I wouldn't have bought from a developer.
If I had it to do over again, I would have only purchased fixed holiday weeks, or platinum floating weeks. or off season weeks, etc.
I would only purchase units that are part of a large developer or hotel management network.
I would only purchase units that are part of a small group or are independent

A reason would also be helpful. Is there any value to this other than my amusement?

[BocaBum99 Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close BocaBum99]

If I had to do it all over again, I would have started in timesharing 20 years earlier.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

If I had to do it all over again, I would have started in timesharing 20 years earlier.

I agree but I would not have bought so many weeks and I should not have bought units that I have to trade.

[tonyg Goomba & Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close tonyg]

I would avoid most large supply areas and own one week less than I could use.

[Glitter Brunello Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close Glitter Brunello]

I would avoid most large supply areas and own one week less than I could use.

I should probably own 4 less weeks than I can use. So many bonus weeks/EV opps/Getaways out there!!!

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

I wouldn't have bought directly from the developer. I probably wouldn't have bought where I bought. And, in at least one case, I wouldn't have bought the type of unit, that I bought.

Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

I wouldn't have bought directly from the developer. I probably wouldn't have bought where I bought. And, in at least one case, I wouldn't have bought the type of unit, that I bought.

Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.

Was there anything left to change?

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

Was there anything left to change?

I guess that I would have changed just about eveything.

I'm not sorry that I got into timesharing, tho. Just wish that I had found this forum, before I bought.

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

I wouldn't have bought directly from the developer. I probably wouldn't have bought where I bought. And, in at least one case, I wouldn't have bought the type of unit, that I bought.

Other than that, I wouldn't change a thing.

Was there anything left to change?

I guess that I would have changed just about eveything.

I'm not sorry that I got into timesharing, tho. Just wish that I had found this forum, before I bought.

But Angela, we wouldn't have the exchange opps you provide if you hadn't done what you did! Thanks.

[Sydney Contributor - Bronze Find all posts View Profile Close Sydney]

Thought about it, and decided it would be hard to give up any of our timeshares even though the five weeks worth is one more than we can use.

Just glad there are exchange companies and ebay so that when we don't use one, we can always bank it or rent it out.

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

We would not have bought when we did the first or second time, which was a long time ago. Unlike Boca, we have owned timeshare now for over 25 years! There were no such things as resales that I know of and timeshare was just starting to get popular.

We paid WAAAAAYYY too much for our first two weeks, both bought from developers. We thought timesharing was the greatest idea we had ever seen. We could have bought a brand new Mazda 626 or Toyota Camry for what we paid for our first timeshare and we needed the car way more than that stupid week.

Hatrack told me to stop fretting over what we paid back then. I have a hard time letting go of my frustration with myself for listening to the sales sleazes. I really have learned a lot now, but the price was very high.

[Jya-Ning Silver Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close Jya-Ning]

If I start 20 years ago, there will be no tug, and internet just start among university. So, I will still bought from developer. And I was still student, so I will paying 15% loan. And probably has my credit ruined.

Thanks god I bought it 7 years ago instead when I was more financial stable. The 1st mistake at that time I made is I look at the ask price of some pricy resell agent's list, and think it is close to the final price like other real estate. The potential mistake is I did not really study enough about the product I choiced, on the other hand, I probably still pick this. I did pay the developer cash. I don't know if it is good or bad, since if I did not buy into TS, I very likely will put the money to some .com company in 2000, and probably have the same effect.

I probably should try harder to explore how to max. the use of my points early. On the other hand, I probably will take too many vacations if I do and spending too much and not be able to save enough downpay for my current house, so that may not be a big mistake.

I probably should be more patient when I start purchase resell, instead I just take the offer when it reaches 1/2 of the asking price. Although frankly, I will be very satisfied with the asking price. But if I willing to wait till the end of year, I will easily beat that price using eBay. That is my 2nd mistake.

I should displine myself more and pay the difference of resell purchase and retail purchase to my investment plan on-time. Seems like I never really pay it on-time, sometime default it. But I am getting there. And I should not take the investment return for otherthing than my MF. That is my 3rd mistake. But that probably is not any big mistake. I am still paying, since it is very hard not to buy something when you start to joint all those forums and suddenly see all the values of these weeks.

I am still learning, but so far I like the product I purchased. I am pretty sure I will make more mistakes when I done. But since I could not see the future, I believe I will made the same mistakes again even if I get 2nd chance.

Jya-Ning

[taffy19 Gold Contributor Find all posts View Profile Close taffy19]

I guess that I would have changed just about eveything.

I'm not sorry that I got into timesharing, tho. Just wish that I had found this forum, before I bought.

Angela, I cannot agree with you more but try to make the best of it and enjoy what you have. Enjoy the sun and enjoy your ski week too.

We bought timeshares in 1983 from the developers and they are the units we still enjoy the most so got our monies worth and some.

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

Lack of Internet would have slowed you down

If I had to do it all over again, I would have started in timesharing 20 years earlier.

I'm sure that there were resale deals and loopholes to take advantage of 20 years ago, but the Internet has allowed all of us to dramatically collapse time. No way could you have built what you have today in two years without the Internet. However, still would have been a great hobby!

[lawren2 Malibu Beach Barbie & A Super Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close lawren2]

I DEFINATELY would NOT have bought my first week. Even though it costs us relatively nothing and we have gotten excellent trades with it over the 10 years we have owned it. My project for 2007 is to see if the HOA is amenable to a lo-cost switch in season.

The middle week can stay.

The third I would buy again in a heartbeat.