Have your home resorts kept up with the times?

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

Many of us have been owners for years, and our ts's are older, but are they wiser?

Have you seen improvements thru the years? Are you proud of your home resort?

[timeos2 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close timeos2]

Beyond what we hoped when we bought

Absolutely. At my two resorts where the owners hold the control there is no end to the continuous improvements underway. Both Boards have the philosophy that either things are being maintained and improved OR they are disintegrating. NOTHING remains as it is.

At one resort it is very seasonal and has small units due to the high cost of land/building in that area. They have done all they can to maximize the units, open them up OR close areas in as needed for privacy as well as update the colors, furnishings and more. They have also fought hard to get things in (silly things like toasters, microwaves even refrigerators) that were originally denied by the town fire codes. They have also improved on the shared amenities which as nearly all year-round type to make the off season a valuable time to visit for owners and guests. It has worked as the collections rates have held up despite the seasonal area and that helps all owners. They are a Silver Crown resort that actually gets Gold Crown numbers but without a full kitchen turn down that designation.

The other is a full featured, larger resort that has a nearly year round remand (lowest time is still 80% + occupancy) with large three bedroom units in a highly competitive area that is still seeing fancy new developments all the time. They have been aggressive in adding new features, improving the units, keeping the physical condition like new with frequent and complete renovations - it compares to any new resort BUT has a location the new resorts can never get.

So both have exceeded our hopes and we remain happy owners. Those would be the last we ever give up.

[1950bing Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close 1950bing]

When I was an owner things would need fixing so they would pass a SA and we all ended up paying ( through the nose ) for stuff that should have been fixed through reg. maint. fees. One big reason I got out. It was always hard to follow the money at that place.

[Ryne08 Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close Ryne08]

Absolutely. At my two resorts where the owners hold the control there is no end to the continuous improvements underway. Both Boards have the philosophy that either things are being maintained and improved OR they are disintegrating. NOTHING remains as it is.

At one resort it is very seasonal and has small units due to the high cost of land/building in that area. They have done all they can to maximize the units, open them up OR close areas in as needed for privacy as well as update the colors, furnishings and more. They have also fought hard to get things in (silly things like toasters, microwaves even refrigerators) that were originally denied by the town fire codes. They have also improved on the shared amenities which as nearly all year-round type to make the off season a valuable time to visit for owners and guests. It has worked as the collections rates have held up despite the seasonal area and that helps all owners. They are a Silver Crown resort that actually gets Gold Crown numbers but without a full kitchen turn down that designation.

The other is a full featured, larger resort that has a nearly year round remand (lowest time is still 80% + occupancy) with large three bedroom units in a highly competitive area that is still seeing fancy new developments all the time. They have been aggressive in adding new features, improving the units, keeping the physical condition like new with frequent and complete renovations - it compares to any new resort BUT has a location the new resorts can never get.

So both have exceeded our hopes and we remain happy owners. Those would be the last we ever give up.

Sounds like you are describing CYP I in Orlando, FL.

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

My resort on the OBX, with its homeowner controlled board and directly hired management (not management company) has kept up with the times, adding free WI-FI to the entire resort, installing flat panel LCD TV's which among other things creates more space, and moving to glasstop stoves in the kitchens. When VCR's came out, they were added to all units, and then later replaced with VCR/DVD comibinations, and now finally with simply DVD's. All interior furnishings were replaced about four years ago. The last time the resort had a special assessment was in 2001 and that was only about $100.

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

I've only been ts-ing for about 7 years so I'm a baby compared to most of you but I've only paid one special assessment in that time for $950 and that was due to a hurricane and also the resort was upgraded nicely so it's much nicer than when I bought it. Of course I bought that one for $200 so can't really complain too much. It's also gotten me some decent trades too.

I also own one that was probably built when the first timeshares were sold and I've never had a special assessment there although honestly it could use one but we have wi-fi and now nice plasma TV's in the living area which did create much more space without that TV armoire hogging the floor. The management does try to keep it nice but how much do you really need to be on the beach.

I have Vacation villages which they keep nice, I think since I've never been to my home resort but have been to others. No assessments yet.

DVC is nice but no wi-fi, only at Vero which sucks but they are changing the furnishings and I haven't been assessed yet. Hopefully won't be.

So far a happy camper. Sure beats paying hotel rates.