Free weeks, zero closing costs, in Colorado

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

Judy, Yes, I am on the board, and we are trying very hard to avoid any future assessments because the entire board is against them. The reason we had any assessments is we had too low maintenance fees for too long. They never increased for the ten years before the assessment and were only $368 for a three bedroom unit. The former president said there was pressure from several people to keep fees down, and I do believe it, but we aren't going to be able to keep the fees that low anymore.

We did an owners' survey and the results are very interesting. One couple owns two weeks and said, "replace this, replace that, do this, do that, fix this, fix that, and don't raise my maintenance fees." Another couple said they wanted nothing changed or improved, they just want to make sure we know that the assessment was temporary and was not meant to be spent willy-nilly by the board.

It's funny that some people think that nothing should go up in price for their timeshare week, when they themselves are paying 50% more for heating, electric, trash removal, phone service, etc., for their houses. People are nuts!

We have owned at Twin Rivers for almost 27 years, so we have a fondness for the place. The units are basic on the interiors, but I want to make our interiors as nice as any upper-end resort. We already have nice cabinets and solid surface countertops, but we need to gut the bathrooms and start from scratch. We have money in place for replacements of carpets and tiling already.

The fees will go down by at least $80 per week in 2010. that is just a rough guess on my part, but I am against reducing the fees to $386 again, and no amount of bullying by owners will work on us.

[In the Pink Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close In the Pink]

Shopgirl, what do the unit designations PE2, BA1, CO4, PT1, etc. mean?

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

Judy, Yes, I am on the board, and we are trying very hard to avoid any future assessments because the entire board is against them. ....

Cindy, thanks very much for the info! I agree that the MFs sound excessively low in the past.

Judy, off topic but that party is over - the 'usual' quality restrictions are back in place.
PM me for more information.

Oh, very interesting! Look for a PM from me!

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

Shopgirl, what do the unit designations PE2, BA1, CO4, PT1, etc. mean?

The names of the buildings. Perry, Bancroft, Colorado, Ptarmigan, and there is also Byers, Nystrom, and a few others. Most buildings have 8 units, with 1-4 being 2 bedrooms and 5-8 being upper-level three bedrooms. But there are a few buildings with odd numbers. Ptarmigan has six units, 3 two's and 3 three's. We own in Ptarmigan 4, which is a 3 bedroom.

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

Cindy,

Do you remember which buildings back up to the creek? In my opinion, those units are far superior to the others, which are closer to the railroad tracks. I doubt that makes any difference as far as trading power goes--but if you plan on using the place, it would make all the difference in the world!

It sounds like some nice changes are being made to Twin Rivers. When I stayed there a year ago, some of the updates had been made, but not all. I liked the new kitchen and the large deck, but that paneling in the dining area really needs to go! I hear they are putting sleep number beds in all of the units? That sounds like a great improvement! I remember that there was a lot that still needs updating (bathrooms, carpet, furnishings, etc). Have they stained the exterior recently? It seemed like it was in real need. I'm glad the place is getting fixed up.

I'm trying to convince my wife to go for this offer since it seems like an inexpensive first-time acquisition. Do you think it would trade into a California summer beach week?

Keith

[In the Pink Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close In the Pink]

Thanks for the response about the building designations. Bugzapper asks a good question though..... I'm also interested in the answer to that question.

Also, I'm trying to decide which time would be best for us. We normally travel either in the spring or fall, when the kiddos are all in school, but we're not skiers (although snow boarding or snow mobiling would be fun) so I'm wondering if spring wouldn't be too "busy" there for us? How cool is it there in September? Or since we would sometimes use for ourselves but often trade/rent, would summer really be better? What's the weather like there in summer? Are there lots of kids? Any info about the different seasons would be very helpful. Thanks!

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

Cindy,

I'm trying to convince my wife to go for this offer since it seems like an inexpensive first-time acquisition. Do you think it would trade into a California summer beach week?

Keith

I am not Cindy BUT that trade is extremely difficult, it would be unfair to ask Cindy to 'suppose' that would happen.

She has said it is a moderately good trader - so with realistic expectations, it should be fine for a first FREE timeshare. And having a 3BR versus a 2BR would also give trade power a big boost with II.

Check our classified section, there are some well priced TSs available that would be a better fit for summer CA beach trades.

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

Thanks for the response about the building designations. Bugzapper asks a good question though..... I'm also interested in the answer to that question.

Also, I'm trying to decide which time would be best for us. We normally travel either in the spring or fall, when the kiddos are all in school, but we're not skiers (although snow boarding or snow mobiling would be fun) so I'm wondering if spring wouldn't be too "busy" there for us? How cool is it there in September? Or since we would sometimes use for ourselves but often trade/rent, would summer really be better? What's the weather like there in summer? Are there lots of kids? Any info about the different seasons would be very helpful. Thanks!

Summer would be better to own unless u know u always want to go week 37 or week 20 - summer weeks 24-34 would be the most desireable.

[In the Pink Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close In the Pink]

Summer would be better to own unless u know u always want to go week 37 or week 20 - summer weeks 24-34 would be the most desireable.

Thanks, but better for what? Staying there or trading?

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

Thanks, but better for what? Staying there or trading?

For staying, renting, trading.
I went to South Lake Tahoe last year week 37 - mid-Sept - it was in the high 60's and one day we had snow - great weather BUT ....
So I imagine that sticking in the 23-36 range would be good for visting trade/rent....and it is a good suggestion to find out the building location if u r going to use the unit as having an enjoyable view is important.

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

In mid-September 06, I was in central Colorado and had a snow storm hit while there. The temperatures at night in the low to mid 20s for the 4 nights I was there. The best time in Colorado for "summer" activities is July and August. After Labor Day, you may experience "winter" weather.

[In the Pink Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close In the Pink]

Thank you both for the clarification!

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

Cindy,

Do you remember which buildings back up to the creek? In my opinion, those units are far superior to the others, which are closer to the railroad tracks. I doubt that makes any difference as far as trading power goes--but if you plan on using the place, it would make all the difference in the world!

It sounds like some nice changes are being made to Twin Rivers. When I stayed there a year ago, some of the updates had been made, but not all. I liked the new kitchen and the large deck, but that paneling in the dining area really needs to go! I hear they are putting sleep number beds in all of the units? That sounds like a great improvement! I remember that there was a lot that still needs updating (bathrooms, carpet, furnishings, etc). Have they stained the exterior recently? It seemed like it was in real need. I'm glad the place is getting fixed up.

I'm trying to convince my wife to go for this offer since it seems like an inexpensive first-time acquisition. Do you think it would trade into a California summer beach week?

Keith

The king-sized Sleep Number beds, the same beds the Hyatts purchased, are the beds that we put in all 26 units. The master bedrooms are the smaller bedrooms, but I want to change that and put the big bed in the bigger bedrooms and replace the twins of the second bedroom to a queen (which will now be in the smaller bedroom). That is something I am going to lobby the other board members for.

The paneling is going to go, no doubt about it. All of us agreed that it would be best to paint those walls and remove the paneling. Bancroft 7 was already done, and we hear it looks great. I also want to replace wood furniture, especially the dated 80's dining sets, but the other board members keep saying they are sturdy, so we shouldn't replace them.

The exteriors of the buildings look good now, with a new green-colored stain. The decks are fabulous, the kitchens need upgrades on the appliances (I am for that), we need better lighting in the kitchen, and of course the bathrooms............

I don't know about trading into summer beach weeks in California because I have never done it, except at the last minute, many years ago.

There are beautiful new drapes in the bedrooms and living/ dining areas, and the bedspreads were beautiful. I was very impressed when we saw Bancroft 3 on Easter. Hated every stick of furniture in the place, except the bed. Love the fireplace, the decks, the kitchen cabinets/ counters.

Bancroft, Perry, and I think Byers, are views of the creek. You can ask Sean. We owned at NY5 week 25 for 25 years and loved watching the trains across the highway at night. The bedrooms are on the back of the units, away from the trains, and you cannot really hear them. We used to leave our window open at night to hear the Fraser river. It was wonderful "white noise" and that river lulled us right to sleep. It runs fast and hard during that late June time of year.

Free makes it very inexpensive, but we want maintenance fees in advance if the week you want it ahead of us. One board member insisted that we charge the filing fees of $11.00, but I don't know if we are collecting it because I think that is minor.

The summer 3 bedrooms are going fast and may be all gone by now. Sean McNamara is having a hard time keeping up with the changes on the website. You might want to call and ask.

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

Thanks, Cindy!