Anyone ever swap ownership at the same resort to get a better view?

[glenn1000]

We have friends who own a 2-bedroom ocean view unit at WKORV, purchased from Starwood, and use Staroptions most years to exchange into WMH. Some years they use Starpoints for hotels but they do not like Maui. It seems like a waste of the view since the Staroptions are the same for all views. We own a 2-bedroom island view at WKORV and woould rather own an ocean view or ocean front.

Has anyone ever swapped ownership, paying a differential for an upgraded view, but staying at the same resort? It would make sense if people owning a good view never used their home resort but still want Staroptions or if people with a view could use some extra cash.

In our case I would not ask since a swap would make our friends' unit a resale, not allowing them to use Starpoints, a real advantage for them. But if I found just the right situation it seems like it could make sense, as opposed to buying a unit with a better view and selling ours.

Just curious if anyone has ever considered or accomplished this.

 

[DeniseM]

This might be a good deal for you, but I don't think it has any advantages for your friend. If they ever want to rent or sale their WKORV unit, the OV goes for a significantly higher price than the IV.

 

[lprstn]

Have you considered selling yours, and purchasing another resale with the view you want?

 

[glenn1000]

This might be a good deal for you, but I don't think it has any advantages for your friend. If they ever want to rent or sale their WKORV unit, the OV goes for a significantly higher price than the IV.

In this particlaur situation I would not ask our friends because I agree that it would not be good for them. But if someone owns a resale unit, does not use the home resort (i.e. owns to trade to other Starwood properties) and would like to get a cash differential back (? $5000-$6000) it seems like a potential win-win. Not sure if it's been done.

 

[glenn1000]

Have you considered selling yours, and purchasing another resale with the view you want?

That would be the alternative and might be what we end up doing. I was intrigued that some people own to trade to other resorts, for whatever reason (not TUG conventional wisdom), and therefore sacrifice value if they own an ocean view.

 

[nodge]

Crisscross Applesauce

A very wise Tugger (I can't find the thread now, I’m trying to meet a deadline at work) figured out how to not throw away an owner's view when exchanging into another SVN resort:

1. The owner with the view (hereinafter referred to as the “View Owner”) books their view villa for a time that another owner (hereinafter referred to as the “Non-View Owner”) wants it.

2. The “non-view owner” uses his or her StarOptions to book the resort and days wanted by the “view owner.”

3. The “non-view owner” gets the benefit of the “view owner's” view, AND the “view owner” gets to go to another SVN resort knowing that he/she didn't throw away his/her view.

4. If desired, the non-view owner can compensate the view owner for the trouble.

This crisscross applesauce deal can be done as needed each year without requiring actually trading deeds, etc. Moreover, the idea could be expanded to include a database (maybe even here on TUG) of “view owners” willing to do this deal (and what they want in exchange for doing it).

I'll give credit to the wise Tugger who thought of this if someone can find the original thread that posted it.

-nodge

 

[pointsjunkie]

nodge, you beat me to it, that was exactly what i was going to write. that seems to be best for all the parties involved.

 

[LisaRex]

A very wise Tugger (I can't find the thread now, I’m trying to meet a deadline at work) figured out how to not throw away an owner's view when exchanging into another SVN resort. I'll give credit to the wise Tugger who thought of this if someone can find the original thread that posted it.

-nodge

Oooh, I'm wise!!! BTW, I'm still up for doing this in 2009 if anyone thinks they can get a 3 bdrm at WSJ in Feb/March or the fall. (Ha!) PM me if you're interested.

http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=63136&highlight=exchange

 

[clsmit]

So if you're IV do you never, ever, get OV? I'd think, given all I've heard here, that since OV people sort of get OV, that maybe IV people could, if they are very nice to the checkin person and call 12 months out and are #1 when they call, get OV?

Just curious, since this whole IV/OV thing is something I've never had to deal with (not yet going to WLR, which is all OV anyway, and everything else I've been to isn't on the ocean either.....)

 

[LisaRex]

So if you're IV do you never, ever, get OV? I'd think, given all I've heard here, that since OV people sort of get OV, that maybe IV people could, if they are very nice to the checkin person and call 12 months out and are #1 when they call, get OV?

Just curious, since this whole IV/OV thing is something I've never had to deal with (not yet going to WLR, which is all OV anyway, and everything else I've been to isn't on the ocean either.....)

Elite owners would definitely get an upgrade. The jury is still out as to whether IV owners are given complimentary upgrades to OV. I would hope that they would, but I don't have any anectodal evidence to support that.

In reality, we're not sure how the pecking order works because Starwood doesn't tell us. It's possible that SVN traders get bumped ahead of IV home owners? We don't know. In theory, it may actually make sense for IV owners to wait til 8 months out and then trade in via SVN in order to get a better chance at an upgraded view. But I'm not sure anyone wants to be the guinea pig to find out. And there are so many variables (timestamp, etc.) that it boggles the mind.

 

[glenn1000]

So if you're IV do you never, ever, get OV? I'd think, given all I've heard here, that since OV people sort of get OV, that maybe IV people could, if they are very nice to the checkin person and call 12 months out and are #1 when they call, get OV?

We were the #1 IV reservation this year (they told us that when we checked in) and we did get a top floor room in building 4 facing the side rather than straight back, but it was a better IV but not an OV. We requested the OV upgrade at the 12 month reservation time and, though it may happen for some, we have not experienced it yet. The resort was full and we are not Elite so that must make a difference.

 

[califgal]

We are IV owners and only recieved an upgrade our first year. It was still classifed as IV but it was a deluxe unit, high floor with a beautiful oceanview. Last year I booked an additional night with extra options and for the one extra night we got a deluxe unit with a parking lot/oceanview.