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Probably stupid questions... [New WSJ owner - questions]

T

tammymacb

TUG Member
Joined
Aug 27, 2008
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Location
Mount Pleasant, SC
I did try to search this, but nothing came up. I am, however, sure I'm not so unique that these have not been asked before. Sorry.

I just bought a 2 bedroom villa at Westin St John. It's a resale, hillside villa. Week 29. If it matters, I bought through Om Villas.

Should I expect some information from the Westin in the mail? A welcome packet or something?

I don't even know how to call or anything. I know my week is set, (and thought I'm not quite sure why) it's pretty inflexible. That's fine. I picked that week for a reason so that's good. I have to do anything to reserve the unit? Or will that week in that villa just be in my name every year.

Is there any other info you want to pass on the a brand new, green owner.

I'd appreciate them.

Thanks.
 
Have you received a deed in your name?
Has SVO Title gotten this new deed?
The Title company used should have sent the new Deed to SVO Title.

As mentioned - at this point - your week and checkin day are fixed.
 
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You will get a "welcome" form letter from Starwood - that's it. It could be as much as a month after they receive the new deed - it seems like them may send them out monthly, or on a schedule, rather than as soon as they receive it.

You can expedite this by sending the RECORDED deed to Starwood yourself, assuming that your closing company has sent the recorded deed to you. See the Starwood Owner Resources Sticky for info. about that. Look under Buying, Selling, Renting > Title Department.

For lots of info. about how Starwood works - start with the stickies at the top of the forum.
 
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Once the unit has been transferred into your name, there is a number for Owner Services that you should call to confirm that week 29 is booked in your name for 2015. (The number will be included in your Welcome letter.)

You should also visit MyStarCentral.com and register. I believe you'll need the contract number that will be listed on your Welcome letter.
 
tammymacb said:
I have not received my deed yet.

I did make it part of my contract that 2015 would be reserved in my name.
Click to expand...

Your closing company will send the deed to be recorded to whatever entity does this in the USVI - I am sure it's slow. Then after they get a STAMPED copy back, they will send you a copy of the recorded and stamped. Until it's recorded with the local records office, and Starwood, you can't do anything.

But you don't need to wait for the welcome letter: if you send the deed to Starwood yourself, so you know they have it, you can call Owner Services and get things started, as soon as Starwood registers the deed in your name.
 
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tammymacb said:
I have not received my deed yet.

I did make it part of my contract that 2015 would be reserved in my name.
Click to expand...

As mentioned - SVO Title needs to get the new deed. I would follow-up with the Title Company and make sure it has been sent. If the reservation has been put in your name - and you can get the confirmation number - you can call Owner Servives and confirm (if you are unsure).
 
Per the OP, she just bought this in July, so it's very unlikely that the deed has been recorded yet. It has to go to the recording office in the USVI, and then back to the closing company, before it can go to Starwood - the closing company will also send her a recorded and stamped copy at that time. But since it's only been a mo. or less, it's unlikely to have been recorded yet.
 
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Correct, I just bought the unit. I've been dealing with Om and they've been helpful. I specifically asked about 2015, I didn't want the unit somehow "given away" when the change in ownership happened. I was assured that would be taken care of and the unit would be reserved in my name.

I guess I just wait and hope it happened as promised (and per my contract) and go from there.

Thanks!
 
Regardless (or irregardless - LOL) - when I bought my WSJ villas it did not take too (too) long - and me being me... I followed up with the Title Company used (or attorney used for 2nd one) and SVO Title as the process went forward.
 
Absolutely - it doesn't hurt to stay on the closing companies tail, but I wouldn't expect for it to be recorded yet.
 
tammymacb said:
Correct, I just bought the unit. I've been dealing with Om and they've been helpful. I specifically asked about 2015, I didn't want the unit somehow "given away" when the change in ownership happened. I was assured that would be taken care of and the unit would be reserved in my name.

I guess I just wait and hope it happened as promised (and per my contract) and go from there.

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Ask Om - that once the reservation is in your name (it sounds like it should already be in your name) - have Owner Services email the reservation to you. This is a simple process - I do it for rentals when I add the renters' name to the reservation.
 
Trading WSJ by myself...

I'm a brand new Westin St John Hillside owner and I'm coming up with all kinds of questions..

I bought WSJ because I love it there. I plan on staying there most years and using it myself.

But, my oldest DD and I have been loosely discussing a trip to Hawaii for a couple weeks at some point. (This will not be this summer or next).

I'm thinking, I could maybe (on my own) trade someone for a week at their Hawaii TS 2 bedroom summertime and they could use my 2 bedroom WSJ unit.

As I've already said, this is just something I'm thinking as a possibility so I'm not looking for specifics yet. But, if I decided to try this, where would I start and is this a decent trade? (I know my MFs are high, and I won't trade often but if I'm going to Hawaii for two weeks, a week in a TS will save me some $$ on lodging). Also, what timeshares would be comparable as a fair trade? I think when we go, we're going to visit Oahu for a week and maybe Maui for a week.
 
I tried this exchange - our 2Bd WSJ villa for only a 1Bd OF at WKORV/N - and did not get a single hit.
One issue is that the WSJ week is fixed (as you know) and therefore hard to find someone to fit that exact week.
Good luck.
 
DavidnRobin said:
I tried this exchange - our 2Bd WSJ villa for only a 1Bd OF at WKORV/N - and did not get a single hit.
One issue is that the WSJ week is fixed (as you know) and therefore hard to find someone to fit that exact week.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the response.

I guess if nothing else works, I'll try to rent the week to recoup MFs and then use the cash back towards Hawaii.
 
tammymacb said:
I'm thinking, I could maybe (on my own) trade someone for a week at their Hawaii TS 2 bedroom summertime and they could use my 2 bedroom WSJ unit.

.
Click to expand...
There's a whole section in the TUG Marketplace for exchanges such as this. You can place an ad there.
 
Never mind. it'll all work out after the OP's ownership becomes finalized and account set up. Be patient.
 
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Does this week have Staroptions?

Tammy - a gentle suggestion - please post all your questions in this thread, instead of starting new threads.
 
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Since all the questions are about the same timeshare week, it's best to keep them in the same thread for continuity, and so posters can see what's been asked and answered.
 
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tammymacb said:
Thanks for the response.

I guess if nothing else works, I'll try to rent the week to recoup MFs and then use the cash back towards Hawaii.
Click to expand...

Renting WSJ (summer) is not without challenges (esp if you hadn't done it before), but not impossible (expect to break even against MFs and gravy beyond that; Plat+ season is best for renting due to demand). Once again the inflexibility of the week hurts - effectively need to find someone looking for that week (against a lot of competition)

Or just bite a minor bullet and use the 95.7K SOs (worth ~$2500 in MFs) and do a SVN exchange into WKORV/N. That is at least less than renting WKORV/N from an Owner. If location villa location is important rent from an Owner that reserved >8 months out - SVN will get you only 8 month and less location priority.
 
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tammymacb said:
Hah! Thanks!

I'll totally have to research what you just said, but I'll try.
Click to expand...

He's saying that it will be far easier to use your Staroptions to to make a Staroption reservation for Maui, than trying to rent or trade WSJ.

You can make Staroption reservations at 8 mos. + 1 day before check-in at 12 midnight eastern on the Starwood website: www.mystarcentral.com

Here is an example of what 95,700 Staroptions can reserve at the Maui Resorts - the check-in/out days change the number of Staroptions required:

Studio: Monday - Thursday stay (10 nights) - 87,200 Staroptions

1 Bdm.: Monday - Tuesday (8 nights) - 89,100 Staroptions
 
Thanks! It's good to know I have that option if I decide to go that route. I didn't even know I could deposit SO. Not that I will very often.
 
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