Change to Redweek process and all those extra fees... And not in a good way.... [MERGED]

[hurnik]

That is what I was seeing. I will list on both I guess and hope it rents out on Redweek, lol.

Are there pros/cons for each in regards to a renter that cancels? On Koala for example, I specified no cancellations, but what are my protections if they do?

With Redweek, you do not specify the rental terms and conditions. They do. (Redweek removed the DIY option for you to supply your own rental contract, terms, cancellation policies, etc.) It's now 100% up to Redweek. In the past, Redweek HAS screwed owners with cancellations during COVID and I believe at least one case post-COVID where the renter didn't "like" the unit or something and the owner didn't get their money and lost their week as well. THAT past behavior (plus other Redweek behaviors) make me not trust them. Fool me once... and all that.

I don't know if I've seen/heard of Koala screwing the owners like Redweek has, but I also don't know about any rental contract stipulations, etc. (ie: in what terms can a renter say the unit wasn't "up to standards" and get a free partial or complete stay, or get cold feet and cancel for a reason and leave the owner empty handed).

It's entirely possible for both that there is no recourse for an owner in any scenario. All I do know is that Redweek has a proven track record of not siding with the owner and always the renter.

 

[montygz]

That is what I was seeing. I will list on both I guess and hope it rents out on Redweek, lol.

Are there pros/cons for each in regards to a renter that cancels? On Koala for example, I specified no cancellations, but what are my protections if they do?

Redweek spells out the details in the rental agreement:

Sample Rental Agreement | RedWeek

Sample Rental Agreement

www.redweek.com

 

[Norcal5]

I rented my unit through Finding Meili this year, and in the future will list on there before giving Redweek anymore money, because F Redweek, if I'm being honest.

Do you have a contact for finding Meili? I joined and tried to list an property and the Purchase button doesn’t seem to do anything.

 

[NTP66]

Do you have a contact for finding Meili? I joined and tried to list an property and the Purchase button doesn’t seem to do anything.

Nope, and that's one of my issues. I literally cannot find a customer service e-mail address or phone number for them. This is why I will only do a DIY rental there, because then I control the contract terms, payment, etc. I can't imagine having an issue and then not knowing who to contact. The only contact info I found was legal@findingmeili.com, which is listed in their privacy policy.

Edit: Scratch that, managed to find a support contact: support@findingmeili.com. Hidden on a page not linked on the main site, lol.

 

[DeniseM]

hello@findingmeili.com

 

[NTP66]

I'd be shocked if the hello address wasn't a generic mailbox that doesn't accept mail. That's where their welcome e-mails come from.

 

[hurnik]

I'd be shocked if the hello address wasn't a generic mailbox that doesn't accept mail. That's where their welcome e-mails come from.

I have used it before and did get a response from that email address back in June, 2025.

 

[NTP66]

I have used it before and did get a response from that email address back in June, 2025.

Good to know. I just sent them an e-mail to see if they had other contact info, like I don't know, a phone number.

 

[hurnik]

Good to know. I just sent them an e-mail to see if they had other contact info, like I don't know, a phone number.

Yes, I agree the contact info leaves much to be desired.

 

[DeniseM]

It's not a generic email address - if they contact you, they use that email themselves.

 

[NTP66]

Well, color me shocked. The site still throws up some red flags for me, but since it has a DIY option right now, I can ignore them. My renter's check cleared, and they signed my contract.

 

[bdh]

With Redweek's changes that no longer offer DIY listings and have significantly increased fees for owners and renters, there's been a few new rental websites. In addition to the new rental websites previously listed in this thread, there's a new one that is completely DIY. Since it is new, they're offering free listings from now till May. Unlike Redweek and other sites, the owner and renter are in direct contact with one another and able to confirm arrangements to the satisfaction of each side.

With it being so new, all of the listings at the moment are Hyatt Residence Club properties.

https://www.timesharerentalonline.com/

 

[dioxide45]

With Redweek's changes that no longer offer DIY listings and have significantly increased fees for owners and renters, there's been a few new rental websites. In addition to the new rental websites previously listed in this thread, there's a new one that is completely DIY. Since it is new, they're offering free listings from now till May. Unlike Redweek and other sites, the owner and renter are in direct contact with one another and able to confirm arrangements to the satisfaction of each side.

With it being so new, all of the listings at the moment are Hyatt Residence Club properties.

https://www.timesharerentalonline.com/

I did another search and was able to find the entity.

I'm always kinda curious and also skeptical when new timeshare resale and rental websites get posted here. Especially those that don't really have a name or contact information behind the website and also lack a privacy policy on their website. The only available way to contact someone is via an anonymous form, though it does look like there is a phone number. The website looks to belong to a Sea Winds Realty of SW Florida Inc. in Cape Coral Florida but the only similar reference with the Florida Division of Corporations is a Sea Winds Realty where the principle has an address of West Palm Beach. I can't seem to find any exact matches to any of the names in the Fictitious Name registery with the Florida Division of Corporations.

I'm all for new rental listing startups, but they really need to be more transparent to the people who are actually behind these outfits. Is the person operating it a licensed real estate agent? Not that they need to be but the name of the company would make us think that. Why not share their license number?

All said, looking across a number of the different websites that have popped up over the past couple years, they all seem to have these same things in common.

 

[billymach4]

I have been posting across several other sites aside from Redweek including TUG, Koala, several FB groups.

So far this season Redweek continues to be the winner in my court. Will keep trying.

 

[bdh]

The website looks to belong to a Sea Winds Realty of SW Florida Inc. in Cape Coral Florida but the only similar reference with the Florida Division of Corporations is a Sea Winds Realty where the principle has an address of West Palm Beach. I can't seem to find any exact matches to any of the names in the Fictitious Name registery with the Florida Division of Corporations.

Florida SunBiz was one of the top 5 sites in a Google search of Sea Winds Realty of SW Florida Inc. The company name and address on SunBiz matches the name and address listed on www.timesharerentalonline.com web page. SunBiz also lists the name of the company Registered Agent - a Cape Coral real estate professional.

 

[dioxide45]

Florida SunBiz was one of the top 5 sites in a Google search of Sea Winds Realty of SW Florida Inc. The company name and address on SunBiz matches the name and address listed on www.timesharerentalonline.com web page. SunBiz also lists the name of the company Registered Agent - a Cape Coral real estate professional.

Thanks. I did another search on Sunbiz and did turn up the entity. It looks to be Don Heisler who I understand is quite involved in the Hyatt Resale market, perhaps why the site right now only has a few Florida Hyatt listings.

 

[MOXJO7282]

I have been posting across several other sites aside from Redweek including TUG, Koala, several FB groups.

So far this season Redweek continues to be the winner in my court. Will keep trying.

Yes this is what I'm finding also. When the changes first went into effect I boycotted RW for a few months because I still think its outrageous that they just stole profits from so many owners that had no problem finding renters without V&P and of course it artificially increases the cost to the renter, so both owners and renters were harmed, just for more profits. While both those things are true, at least for me I came to the conclusion fairly quickly that Redweek is still the only game in town because while I boycotted RW early as I started listing for 2026, I tried every other online resource out there. For the first 2 months I didn't even receive an inquiry so I went back to RW while leaving the other listings up on the other sites. Since mid summer, after a slow start with RW I since rented 9 via RW and 1 via Vacation Candy. From all the others, I've received one each of "can you change the date" requests from Koala and actually VRBO.

I have 25 Marriotts now, down from 41 in 2019, and RW has rented maybe 95% of my listings with VacationCandy a distant 2nd and Facebook a distant 3rd, since I started renting my Marriotts in 2002. I've tried almost all of the other platforms out there and have never rented through any of them so disappointed that RW did what they did but grateful they still get the job done for me.

 

[4Reliefnow]

Not sure why anybody would use Redweek anymore when there's a better site - FindingMeili.com... it allows owners to list their unit, DIY for around 16 bucks. They also have a clone feature for 5 bucks. I had two desert springs units, and cloned them. 4 listings for WAY less than one redweek DIY AD

Because findindingmeili does not have much traffic. I posted 6 weeks without hits.

 

[MOXJO7282]

Yes this is what I'm finding also. When the changes first went into effect I boycotted RW for a few months because I still think its outrageous that they just stole profits from so many owners that had no problem finding renters without V&P and of course it artificially increases the cost to the renter, so both owners and renters were harmed, just for more profits. While both those things are true, at least for me I came to the conclusion fairly quickly that Redweek is still the only game in town because while I boycotted RW early as I started listing for 2026, I tried every other online resource out there. For the first 2 months I didn't even receive an inquiry so I went back to RW while leaving the other listings up on the other sites. Since mid summer, after a slow start with RW I since rented 9 via RW and 1 via Vacation Candy. From all the others, I've received one each of "can you change the date" requests from Koala and actually VRBO.

I have 25 Marriotts now, down from 41 in 2019, and RW has rented maybe 95% of my listings with VacationCandy a distant 2nd and Facebook a distant 3rd, since I started renting my Marriotts in 2002. I've tried almost all of the other platforms out there and have never rented through any of them so disappointed that RW did what they did but grateful they still get the job done for me.

Just booked my 10th rental from Redweek.com so the platform still works, at least for high demand, well priced units. And as I analyze the listings I think there are some positives from the new RW business model. That is, I've noticed there are much less listings to compete against. No more catch all dates listings or owners that don't take down their ads or owners that are just seeing what they can get after already renting their units but aren't truly available. Now you can assume the listings are real and your competing against real offers. I do think that helps owners and renters.

With that said I will continue to list with all the other platforms to broaden my exposure. One other option that was mentioned was using companies like Concierge Realty and smaller TS brokers like them. I just closed a deal with Concierge Realty today and would love to do more with them because they are good partners with both the clients and the owners. These are the companies we should include in our promotion of options to Redweek but the reality is Redweek is still the big dog in town and must still be used but these other companies should not be overlooked and used as well.

 

[NTP66]

With that said I will continue to list with all the other platforms to broaden my exposure.

This is the obvious answer for all of us. I hate what Redweek has turned into, but I'm still going to list my unit there to cast as wide a net as possible. FWIW, I have used Concierge Realty a number of times in the past, and always contact them when my rental info when I post stuff. Would recommend.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

ust booked my 10th rental from Redweek.com so the platform still works, at least for high demand, well priced units. And as I analyze the listings I think there are some positives from the new RW business model. That is, I've noticed there are much less listings to compete against. No more catch all dates ...

That, right there, is a 10* post for tug. "How Markets Work"

 

[dioxide45]

Just booked my 10th rental from Redweek.com so the platform still works, at least for high demand, well priced units. And as I analyze the listings I think there are some positives from the new RW business model. That is, I've noticed there are much less listings to compete against. No more catch all dates listings or owners that don't take down their ads or owners that are just seeing what they can get after already renting their units but aren't truly available. Now you can assume the listings are real and your competing against real offers. I do think that helps owners and renters.

With that said I will continue to list with all the other platforms to broaden my exposure. One other option that was mentioned was using companies like Concierge Realty and smaller TS brokers like them. I just closed a deal with Concierge Realty today and would love to do more with them because they are good partners with both the clients and the owners. These are the companies we should include in our promotion of options to Redweek but the reality is Redweek is still the big dog in town and must still be used but these other companies should not be overlooked and used as well.

I don't think there is any doubt that Redweek is still the market leader. It's just that they now cost more for you and the renter. Have you noticed your nets remain the same, increase or decrease? Given Redweek is adding a 10% booking fee to all listings, is Redweek now just capturing some of the profit you were getting in the past? Or has your overall net per rental about the same and the renter is simply paying more for them now?

 

[MOXJO7282]

I don't think there is any doubt that Redweek is still the market leader. It's just that they now cost more for you and the renter. Have you noticed your nets remain the same, increase or decrease? Given Redweek is adding a 10% booking fee to all listings, is Redweek now just capturing some of the profit you were getting in the past? Or has your overall net per rental about the same and the renter is simply paying more for them now?

Yes good question and at least in my experience it has lead to higher rental profits. I think this is because of the fewer ads that almost all are valid and up to date on availability so you can offer dynamic pricing based on true competition. 2026 was the first year so its a small sample size but I can tell you I did record a higher profit margin compared to previous years on every single one of the 12 bookings I had via Redweek so far for 2026. Somewhere between $200-$400 each.