How to Get More Cash for Your Timeshare

Some people buy a timeshare as an investment, only to find they cannot recover the money to put in it. A few others managed to buy low and sell in a boom period, and make some money on their timeshare purchases. Whichever group you might find yourself in, there are things you can do get more cash for your timeshare. Here are some things you need to consider.

First, be realistic about the price. There's a good chance that you might have bought your timeshare after having been pressured into buying. There's also a decent chance that you bought when there was more of a demand than there is today; it was the "in" thing to do. Because things have changed, today you might not get as much cash for your timeshare. In some fact, some research indicates that the majority of people get only 50 percent of the money they spent to buy the timeshare property.

However, you could increase your percentage by keeping the timeshare well maintained and clean. The truth is, most people when they sell their timeshares sell something that is more a shambles than when they were first paid money for it. The temptation is there, when you're finished using the place for a vacation, to push off cleaning or maintenance chores on the next person. Don't--or you'll just hurt your own chances of selling at a decent price.

Also, most of the statistics that have been compiled about timeshare sales were compiled before the Internet was a major force in the industry. Today, timeshare deals are promoted as much online as through real estate agencies. What this means is that you're more likely to get a seller at your price by advertising on the Internet than if you just go through the conventional routes of real estate listings and brokers. To further increase the amount of cash for your timeshare, don't just pick an isolated spot online and advertise there. Rather, look around and find as many places as you possibly can to list it: auction sites, classified ads, travel forums, etc.

Finally, remember that you won't get as much for a deeded timeshare as you will for a floating ownership agreement. On the other hand, the deeded timeshare will often sell at a higher rate than a right-of-use timeshare. So plan accordingly.

You may or may not make a profit on your timeshare. However, if you plan well and market your property aggressively, you should get more cash for your timeshare--perhaps dramatically more. Just have patience and perseverance.