Did I do okay & what's next? [Starwood]

[TravelLuvr]

Hi there,

This is my first time buying a resale. I was actually looking for a timeshare to rent on Craigslist and saw an ad for a Starwood property selling for just the transfer/atty fees of $400. Everything seemed legit, so I swallowed my fear & bought it... but I was still worried the whole time!

I got the quitclaim deed in the mail last week. I guess I now own week 37 at Vistana Cascades (even biennial). I'm excited, but not sure what to do next and wonder if I did okay with the purchase. The MF is around $500, due in Jan.

Starwood said they are a week behind in processing, but I'm not even sure what they are processing. Will I be getting a welcome packet or anything like that?

I know the StarOptions or SVN will not transfer in a resale, so the owner "gifted" the week to me & is contacting Starwood to tell them she gifted it to me as her sister. We think this will allow the transfer, but not sure. Do I really need it anyway?

I will probably want to trade the week in II because we want to be able to go to the CA beaches. So, how do I join II, or is that part of SVN when/if it transfers?

Once I join II, I can use those getaway things, right? I was hoping that would make up for the odd year.

So, please tell me if I did okay, any recommendations you have to make this deal any better before it's all final.

Thanks in advance!

 

[DeniseM]

Hi and welcome to TUG!

If you are NOT her sister, the benefits will not transfer to you. Starwood is going to ask for proof.

I'm not sure this week is going to have the trading power you are hoping for. The main advantage of owning a Starwood II trader is it's priority for Starwood to Starwood trades. Also - week 37 is off-season, which reduces the trading power. Since there are no Starwood timeshares on the beach in CA, and those are difficult trades, you may or may not have the trading power necessary. (In general, Florida timeshares have lower trading power due to an over-supply.)

You will not find beach front resorts in CA in the Getaways. Getaways are primarily in areas with over supply, during the off-season.

Please see the II FAQ at the top of this forum for all the details about how to open a II Acct.

To be quite honest with you, you could have gotten a Starwood week with more trading power, for completely free on ebay. (No closing costs.) Personally, I would not accept an off-season week in Florida.

Please note that the MF will be about $500 EVERY year, but you will only have usage every-other-year.

All you will get from Starwood is a welcome letter, once they have transferred the ownership to your name. They don't provide much info. to resale buyers - but we have that here for you.

Please see the Starwood FAQ at the top of the forum for all the details about how Starwood works.

 

[TravelLuvr]

Thanks for the feedback. So, my excitement has now faded to disappointed. Basically, I paid $400 for something I could have gotten for free and will be paying $500 a year for something that will never trade.

I was so excited as a single mom to be able to finally take my kids on vacation. Finances are tight & I thought I was doing good. Now I feel like I wasted my money.

I guess it's too late to cancel, now that I have the quitclaim, huh?

 

[DeniseM]

If you have paid, it's too late to cancel. You CAN use this to trade, but probably not for the beach in California.

I wouldn't say you have wasted your money - it's just not the best deal.

However, this is a very nice resort near Disneyland, and you can definitely use it yourself.

If you put in an ongoing request for other Starwood resorts well in advance, and are flexible about when and where you go, you can definitely trade it - it's just not going to be a top trader.

My suggestion is that you read the II FAQ & the Starwood FAQ at the top of the forum, and then ask questions about what you don't understand. We can help you get the most out of this timeshare.

 

[Bubbasgonefishin]

I am curious. What type of proof would Starwood ask for? How do you prove you are or aren't someones sister? Of course my sister and I look just alike so I don't have that problem...except I'm a lot younger, lot smarter, lot skinnier.....lol... yeah right.

 

[DeniseM]

I am curious. What type of proof would Starwood ask for? How do you prove you are or aren't someones sister? Of course my sister and I look just alike so I don't have that problem...except I'm a lot younger, lot smarter, lot skinnier.....lol... yeah right.

Driver's licenses and birth certificates would verify it.

 

[SDKath]

Trust me, Starwood is going to make you prove you are her sisten in any which way they can! It's not that easy since everyone wants to be in SVN!

Katherine

 

[Gophesjo]

To be quite honest with you, you could have gotten a Starwood week with more trading power, for completely free on ebay. (No closing costs.)

OP - While what Denise has said is 'technically correct', and you have in one way overpaid, the truth is that you have done far better on your first interval purchase than many, if not actually most of us here on TUG, have done. (I myself entered this glorious world with a retail purchase in the amount of $3495 in the mid-eighties.) As such, if I were you I would not feel bad in any way.

Orlando is fun, and if you can travel on short notice, you may actually get some great trades.

 

[DeniseM]

Here is some good news: If this is a 2-bdm. lock-off (and by the maintenance fee it appears that it is) you can get TWO deposits out of it and use one each year to trade with Interval International - even though it's an every-other-year deed. (Each side of the lock-off is a complete 1 bdm. unit - large & small.)

Two bedroom lock-off villa - http://www.starwoodvacationownership.com/sheraton_vistana_resort/twobedroom_lockoff_cascades.jsp

More good news - this resort was just completely renovated - here is a brochure you can download w/pictures - Cascades Phase

*CORRECTION - this is a fixed/floating week, which means you don't HAVE to use week 37. At 10 mos. out from check-in, you can call and request any week in the year.

 

[DavidnRobin]

It is Fraud To have it QuitClaimed as a Sister - and I certainly would not post this to a public forum that Starwood reads... and could dispose TUG to give up IP address if it came to it...

This is a bad idea...

You can get value out of this but takes some education and effort (not much tho) - like many things - the more effort put into it - the more value you will get.

Many have lost a lot more (incl me) buying SVO (even resale)

 

[VacationForever]

Also - this is a fixed/floating week, which means you don't HAVE to use week 37. At 10 mos. out from your desired check-in date, you can call reservations and reserve a different week in your season. Your season includes weeks 1-5, 18-22, 35-38, 48-50.

I believe in the Cascades phase it should float week 1-52.

 

[DeniseM]

I believe in the Cascades phase it should float week 1-52.

Is this one of the phases where is floats 1-52 if you own it, and has 2 seasons if you are trading in?

I think you are correct - SVR is always so confusing - more info. - http://www.tugbbs.com/forums/showthread.php?t=127150

*I will correct my statement above

 

[jerseygirl]

If you own it, you can book 1-52.

It only has two seasons for those trading in with SOs. I'm sure they did that to equalize things with SVV.

 

[C30NY]

Dont be disappointed...I think you will be able to pull some good trades in II, but maybe not exactly what you were hoping for. Also, try to utilize the Starwood preference to your advantage! Good luck and welcome to the starwood family.

 

[MommaBear]

I have had fantastic trades with my Sheraton Vistana Cascades- have done Sheraton Broadway Plantation, Sheraton Desert Oasis, Napa Riverpointe, King's Plantation in Williamsburg, Westin Lagunamar- and each time I have traded my one bedroom for a two bedroom (except for Riverpointe). Even used it to trade for a cruise.

I am very happy with my Sheraton Vistana Cascades!

 

[clsmit]

TravlLuvr -- Depending on where you live this might not be so bad (to travel somewhere close, that is). If you are on the West Coast you can trade into a number of properties in California via II. There are also Starwood properties in Palm Springs you can get into as well.

If you are on the East Coast you can stay at your home resort and trade into the Sheraton Broadway Plantation in Myrtle Beach (or tons of other timeshares along the East Coast).

If you are in Colorado or Arizona or nearby you can trade into Starwood's properties there.

If you somewhere else you'll need to trade via II.

For any of these, you will need to plan in advance within you family's school schedule. But it can be done if you are diligent. Part of the fun of getting something inexpensively is that you can get a lot more value out of it with a little bit of work. TUGGERS are really good at that and can give you a lot of suggestions and ideas. You have a property that will get you 2 weeks of vacation with an every other year purchase. That's a huge benefit. You can get some great experiences for your family with this purchase. You can do it!