For many people considering buying timesharing resales, the first question they ask is “what don’t you get” with a resale? That is a fair question as some timeshare developers do not allow the transfer of certain benefits when the timeshare interval is resold.
Westin Kierland Villas is located in Scottsdale, Arizona and offers one and two bedroom villas and is an absolutely beautiful golf course resort.
One of the most important things “you don’t get” with the purchase of a Westin Kierland timeshare resale is high maintenance fees! Westin Kierland Villas has the lowest maintenance fees of any timeshare resort of its caliber and has the lowest annual fees of any ‘Mandatory’ Starwood vacation ownership resort.
Following you will find an explanation of what the difference is between purchasing a Westin Kierland Villas timeshare from the developer and one on the resale market.
NOTE: Star Options and Star Points are different. Star Options entitle you to a timeshare vacation at Starwood Vacation Villas. Star Points relates to converting your Villas to Star Points which can then be used to stay in Starwood hotels, make airline reservations, purchase merchandise and make car rentals.
1. You can reserve up to twelve months in advance at your home resort with the view type and in the size unit you own. All reservations are date and time stamped. Unit assignments are based on when the reservation was made.
DEVELOPER AND RESALE OWNERS ARE TREATED EXACTLY THE SAME
2. If you own a two bedroom lock-off unit, you have the option of splitting it into a one bedroom premium and a studio premium villa.
DEVELOPER AND RESALE OWNERS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME
3. You have Star Option benefits which entitles you to make reservations at any Starwood Vacation Villa, up to eight months in advance. Reservations are taken on a first- come, first -served basis.
DEVELOPER AND RESALE OWNERS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME
4. Beginning ninety days prior to the arrival date an Owner can make reservations in daily increments at any Starwood Vacation ownership Resort.
DEVELOPER AND RESALE OWNERS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME
5. Interval International membership and all Interval International benefits.
DEVELOPER AND RESALE OWNERS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME
6. Starwood Preferred Guest (SPG) program – Gives you the option to convert into Star Points, every other year of usage. Example: If you own an annual, you can convert it every other year; if you own an every other year, you can convert it every fourth year.
Conversion rights to Star Points are not available to a resale purchaser. Unless the resale buyer purchases a unit from the developer subsequently (certain minimum price requirements will apply) and notify Starwood in advance that you would like the resale unit “Retroed”. This will then give you SPG.
EXAMPLE: The conversion of a two bedroom lock-off during Platinum season, at either of the Westin Ka’anapali timeshares on Maui in Hawaii, will give you 80,000 Star Points. It takes more than 80,000 Star Points to stay just a week in a hotel room at the Westin Maui. Would you want to give up a two bedroom Villa at either of the Westin timeshare resorts for less than a week in a hotel room at the Westin Maui?
DEVELOPER AND RESALE OWNERS ARE EXACTLY THE SAME
7. As of November, 2011 you can now rollover Star options within Starwood for up to 24 months. This benefit is available to retail and resale owners. EXAMPLE: You can bank your 2012 Star options by July 1, 2012 and you will have until December 31, 2014 to use it. There is a $99 rollover fee.
Remember, the developer incurs marketing costs to advertise their resort in order to attract buyers and those costs are then passed on to the consumer. It is much less expensive to purchase a timeshare on the resale market.
Most importantly, a timeshare should be purchased for enjoyment. It is an investment in a lifetime of future vacations.
Advantage Vacation is a member of the American Resort Development Association (ARDA) and offers the best buys on the timeshare re sales market today. We never charge an upfront fee for clients who want to sell a timeshare and only receive a commission, paid from escrow, when the transaction is closed.
We have been in the timeshare industry for over 30 years and are Accredited Members of the BBB with an A+ Rating.
Advantage Vacation is using Twitter and Facebook to help educate people on the changes in the timeshare industry along with current timeshare tips, up to date timeshare news and timeshare FAQ’s.
We hope you will follow us and our blog, Timeshare Blogging by Advantage Vacation and make your voice heard – what questions do you have?
At Advantage Vacation you can be assured you are working with professionals who believe that honesty and integrity are the most important aspects of the business they are in – timeshare resales. Our business has been built on relationships and we pride ourselves on providing excellent service to our clients.
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