Now I am nervous - renting out my week

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

I have a Redweek ad up for my fixed summer week at a FL panhandle resort. I did this last year and did get many emails expressing interest. We, in the end, decided to use the week ourselves.

This year I HAVE to rent the week as we'll be on another TS vacation at that time. So up goes the Redweek ad just a few weeks ago.

A few days ago I got an email, thru Redweek, from what turns out to be a timeshare rental guy. Apparently they find rentals for interested people that don't want to do the searching themselves, and they get paid a finder's fee. Guy says my asking price is really high and what is my minimum. Rather than giving him a smart mouth answer I give him my minimum amount. Several days go by and tonight I get an email from him (again thru Redweek's site) saying that the interested party is willing to pay my price "net to me". Knowing what this probably means, I still ask for clarification. Guy immediately emails back that I get my price, no commission paid by me to him. Perfect. I say ok on price (after all it was my minimum price) and that interested party needs to Paypal me $X for non-refundable deposit with balance due upon resort confirming reservation.

Here's the kicker... the guy immediately emails me back and says good news, the renters are now will to pay $300 more for the week. And if I feel like it, paying him a finder's fee after "all is said and done" would be "nice". And should he give me the contact info or have them contact me. I emaild back and said "both".

Can this be legit?? Why would he come back immediately with a higher rental offer than what I had already accepted?? More importantly, how can I be ripped off going forward? If the renters do contact me (and I realize they may not), and I send them a Paypal invoice, how can I be scammed? Should I only accept a credit card payment or only a direct transfer from a bank? Or some other method to protect myself? I can also work it that I talk to the renters on the phone ... I know that helps establish a good feel... or not.

The funny thing is that if he had not come back with the higher rental offer, especially so fast, I would not have become nervous!

I am sorry this is so long but wanted to provide as much info as I could so you experts can advise me. Thanks!

[bigfrank Administrator Find all posts View Profile Close bigfrank]

First off because this is fishy ask for payment only in a Postal money order. This is the best way to make sure payment can not be reversed. Once you go to the post office to cash it then you can send him something for his fee.

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

Sounds fishy to me. Who is this "timeshare rental guy" and is he with any company in particular. Maybe Frank's suggestion for payment is better than paypal which has many scams associated with it. Since the rental is only 5 months out, you should also ask for full payment in this suspicious case.

[arlene22 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close arlene22]

I would ask for full payment up front, and insist that the renters pay him separately-- absolutely no sending him money from you. There is no 100% way to know you aren't being scammed. Even money orders can bounce. If you get 100% up front, 5 months in advance, and don't rebate any money to this guy, then I would do it. Also have them sign a rental agreement. Keep your redweek ad up in the meantime. Don't take it down until you are sure you have been paid and no funny business.

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

I received an email this morning from the timeshare guy - WORLDWIDE TIMESHARE RESALE Website. Sell Timeshare, Buy Timeshare, or Rent Timeshare - Worldwide Timeshare Resales - with the email info and phone numbers for the prospective renter. I just directly emailed the person and asked what time would be best to call her so we can "meet" and work out the details. I can quiz her on what role the timeshare guy is playing as well as hopefully get a feel for whether she's legit or not.

This is the stuff that make renting out "work". I am used to it though as we own a rental house and I have to go thru all of this every time we need a new renter. Thinking about it, I should be more relaxed (not my personality though) with a TS as my exposure for loss is so much less. I guess it's the lack of face to face contact that throws me.

I appreciate all your help and suggestions on this!

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

It does sound fishy, but I'm not sure how this scam would work, if it is indeed a scam. As others have said, 5 months is plenty of time for payment to clear.

I get tons of emails from my Disney's Boardwalk ad on Redweek. (Unfortunately, 98% don't contact me far enough in advance to get a reservation. You can't book New Year's Eve at the DVC one month out!) So far, none of these emails sound like scams, although I do get a lot of "tire kickers" wasting my time. I do get scam emails when I list on other sites, especially TUG.

[GrayFal Silver Contributor and supermoderator Find all posts View Profile Close GrayFal]

I received an email this morning from the timeshare guy - WORLDWIDE TIMESHARE RESALE Website. Sell Timeshare, Buy Timeshare, or Rent Timeshare - Worldwide Timeshare Resales - with the email info and phone numbers for the prospective renter. I just directly emailed the person and asked what time would be best to call her so we can "meet" and work out the details. I can quiz her on what role the timeshare guy is playing as well as hopefully get a feel for whether she's legit or not.

This is the stuff that make renting out "work". I am used to it though as we own a rental house and I have to go thru all of this every time we need a new renter. Thinking about it, I should be more relaxed (not my personality though) with a TS as my exposure for loss is so much less. I guess it's the lack of face to face contact that throws me.

I appreciate all your help and suggestions on this!

I wouldn't pay the guy a 'finders fee', that is between him and the renters.
You told him upfront that u would not be paying him - don't back down now.

[davhu1 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close davhu1]

A little fishy and could be a fake renter. If the info checkout, you may be okay.

When I rented, I asked for a copy of the drivers license and only the person on the drivers license can check in. I accepted personal check if time allows to clear. The name and address on the check needs to match that on the driver license. If not enough time, I would only accept money order from the US Postal Service only.

I don't know enough if you can be scammed with Paypal cash transfer.

If you do consider paying the finder's fee, do that 30 days after the renter checks out.

[T. R. Oglodyte Moderator Find all posts View Profile Close T. R. Oglodyte]

The reason he might have come back with the higher offer is because he's hoping to get more money out of the deal.

His fee from the renter could include a percentage based on the rental amount. So if you charge more money, he gets a higher commission. On top of that, he's hoping that you will "tip him" for brining in a renter for more than the minimum you quoted him.

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

Maybe the renter turned around and said they wanted to pay you and then that way, the guy only gets the commission he deserves instead of $300! If I was a renter I wouldn't want to be paying a finders fee of $300, I'd rather the owner of the unit kept it.

If you can work out a way of being paid without payment bouncing, this would work out well.

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

Update. I called and talked to the woman last night, for quite some time. She's either legit or so good at scamming that I wouldn't stand a chance anyway. Bottom line is she is willing to pay the $300 above my minimum (apparently the broker didn't share my minimum price info with her so she had no idea I'd go less), which is my asking price, by the way. So if she stumbles upon my ad directly, she'll just see that she's paying "retail". I simply got the impression thru my talking with her that she is just one of the zillion of people that don't research, price shop, or negotiate.

I required a $500 immediate deposit and sent her a Paypal request last night. If the $ is not in my account when I get back from the Keys Sunday night, then the deal is dead as far as I am concerned. The balance of the $ will be paid in equal installments over the next few weeks - all done by the middle of April. I clearly told her that by agreeing to stretch out the payments all payments received are non-refundable. My thinking is this - after the $500 I am whole as far as my MFs for the year go (ok, my MFs are $30 more but close enough). After that, if she bails, I can practically give me week away if I have to, and still make some $. There is enough lead time for funny money to be caught. I can't see where I can be hurt right now.

The broker. I flat out asked her about that. She said she was looking for Destin, came across his site and when he didn't have any available, he said he'd look for her and let her know. No fees discussed at all. Next thing she gets an email from him saying he found a unit (mine) and I am firm at $X, can the owner (me) contact her to work our details. She says yes and here we are. Very little contact or "work" on her behalf either. She said she'd contact him and find out what he's expecting from her. I said that was her business of course.

As for me, I am not considering paying this guy a dime until the rental is over in June. Then I may consider givng him a "tip". At this point in time I am thinking $100. Why? Because if this does turn out to be a quality rental I would not be opposed to him contacting me in the future with prospective renters. A little "grease" may pay off in the bigger picture more than an extra $100 in my pocket in June. Am I crazy to think this??

I'll keep this updated as things progress, or don't. Thanks again all! Off to the keys now

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

Well, that is that. Not really surprised. No $$ so called the lady tonight to follow up. She says that she really wants to take hre brother and SIL and their 2 kids along as well as herself and her 3 kids...so 8 total. Room max at my resort is 6.

Back to the drawing board!