The Vacation Property Guide

Even when a timeshare company or individual seller classifies a property’s sale price as “firm,” there is almost always room to negotiate a lower price. In fact, you might be pleasantly surprised by how much a timeshare company will reduce its initial offer. Want to finagle the best deal? Read on for tips on negotiating your timeshare purchase.

Know the Market

Timeshare sellers like buyers who haven’t done their research– and who don’t know the market. You don’t need to be liked. Instead, learn the timeshare market before you begin shopping, and use that knowledge to negotiate the best price.

Many buyers, for example, may not realize that 50% of the final sale price of a timeshare is simply marketing costs– after all, somebody has to pay for all the “free perks” these companies offer. And while this allows plenty of room for negotiation with timeshare companies and developers, it’s also key to negotiating with individual resellers. Many resellers try to sell at (or close to) developer price. But as they don’t offer the same perks as a developer, there’s no reason for you to pay inflated developer prices.

Set your Budget in Stone

Know the market and ready to start shopping? Before meeting with a timeshare seller or attending a presentation, research the average sale prices, maintenance fees, etc., of a particular timeshare. This will help you have a clear idea of a fair price– and the maximum you’re willing to spend. Call this your “Cut-off Price,” and mentally set it in stone.

Negotiate with Persistence

When negotiating a timeshare sale price, make your first offer a bit lower than your Cut-off Price– this allows the seller to feel part of a winnable negotiation.

Then expect your initial offer to be rejected, laughed at, or even insulted– and expect this to happen often. But keep trying; you may have to speak to several sellers before finding one willing to negotiate around your offer price.

When you do find a seller ready to negotiate, stick like glue to your budget—make offers closer to your Cut-off Price but never surpass it. With a bit of luck and a lot of persistence, you should be able to shave quite a slice off of the original asking price.

This post is tagged negotiation, timeshare