How much non-communication to take

[OutSkiing]

I have had a very good experience purchasing resale timeshare in the past but am experiencing what seems to me to be poor communication from Benjamintimeshares. I know they are legit as they have been referenced in other threads on this site as successfully completing transactions.

After they confirmed receipt of my signed documents and payment, I requested to be notified as processing took place by asking the Client Services Manager:

I would like to know each additional step such as:

- seller signed docs
- docs sent to recorder
- docs back from recorder and off to Wyndham

The answer I got back was 'Yes that is the order of steps. The resort will need documentation from the seller as well. '. Okay, nice to know I missed a step but seemed a little flippant to me. I replied that what I meant was that I would like to be notified as the step completes. Answer back was 'I will notify my assistant and request continuous updates for you.' A couple weeks go by and I ask if seller has signed. Answer back was 'I have not been notified if the seller has signed the purchase agreement. As soon as I have an update I will inform you.'

So basically she is telling me to bug off while I have no idea where things are at.

Does this seem like normal interaction? What would you do? It is night and day different from the very good communication I received from Timeshare Recylers in the past.

Bob

 

[dioxide45]

You asked to be notified when each step was completed. It doesn't seem that the first has been done yet, so nothing to notify you of. They can't give you an update every day of nothing back from seller, nothing back from seller.... She has told you where things are at, which is nowhere. Nothing has progressed.

Every agent is different and everyone working a file is different. For some reason timeshare transfers take a long time. Providing constant updates can slow things down. Yours is not the only closing they are working on. I would just let it ride out. The end result is the same.

 

[DeniseM]

How long has it been since you returned the signed contract?

 

[BevL]

I'm much like you, like to be kept in the loop. But I don't see the problem here as being non-communication by the transfer company. You've asked for step by step updates, they've said they'll do that.

Then you've followed up and asked if there's an update. They've communicated back, presumably reasonably promptly, with a, "No, there's not. We'll let you know when there is."

They are letting you know what they know. Perhaps you're not happy that there isn't anything to report, but they don't really have control of that.

Perhaps it's the tone of the communication, as you have commented one of their responses seemed to bug you a bit. Or do you think they are not following up diligently enough?

Sorry, unless there are significant time lags between your inquiries and their responses, or you're having to follow up with them two or three times or four times to get a short email back, I just don't see a non-communication issue.

You asked for opinions on whether this is a problem. Wouldn't be for me and as I said, I tend to have some micromanaging tendencies.

 

[OutSkiing]

How long has it been since you returned the signed contract?

Its been 26 days since they received my signed contract and 20 days since they acknowledged receipt of my payment which was deposited in their escrow account a full week after that.

I would have thought all signatures would have occured on the same week (same day for most real estate transactions) and then the waiting would begin after that.

Bob

 

[theo]

Frankly, I did not see or perceive any of the "flippant" or "bug off" tone to which the OP has made reference. OP asked for updates as specific events occured sequentially --- and most of those events have reportedly and simply not yet occurred.

Owner could be away for a few weeks at this time of year, for just one example, delaying obtaining required signatures. Back and forth holiday period snail mail has its' own inherent delays. In my own experience over a few decades, precious few resale timeshare transactions get wrapped up in less than 60 to 90 days. YMMV.

 

[dioxide45]

Frankly, I did not see or perceive any of the "flippant" or "bug off" tone to which the OP has made reference. OP asked for updates as specific events occured sequentially --- and most of those events have reportedly and simply not yet occurred.

Owner could be away for a few weeks at this time of year, for just one example, delaying obtaining required signatures. Back and forth holiday period snail mail has its' own inherent delays. In my experience over the past few decades, precious few resale timeshare transactions get wrapped up in much less than 60 days. YMMV.

I would agree. Also, most closing agents send the paperwork to the seller via email. Those emails are either ignored or go to junk mail. The closing agent won't follow up right away but will wait a couple weeks before contacting the seller to find out if they sent anything back. The seller will say they never got it and the cycle starts all over again.

Same day signings only occur in real estate transactions where all the parties involved are sitting at the same table or visit the closing agent in person. This doesn't happen with timeshare transactions where the closing agent, seller and buyer can be thousands of miles apart.

 

[SmithOp]

It took me 6 months to get ownership of a $5 eBay purchase. When I finally got a copy of the deed it was signed by an attorney that had POA. I don't think you can assume papers get signed right away.


Sent from my iPad Mini 4 using Tapatalk

 

[DeniseM]

I agree - since the reseller never meets with the owner face to face, they have no control over how quickly or slowly the owner chooses to proceed.

Also - I think email communications tend to be a lot less formal than traditional real estate transactions. I don't think the agent was being flippant - I think they were just being brief. It's the "text" generation.

My last resale purchase took 6 mos.

 

[OutSkiing]

I agree - since the reseller never meets with the owner face to face, they have no control over how quickly or slowly the owner chooses to proceed.

Also - I think email communications tend to be a lot less formal than traditional real estate transactions. I don't think the agent was being flippant - I think they were just being brief. It's the "text" generation.

My last resale purchase took 6 mos.

Thanks everyone.

I'll just be patient then.

Bob

 

[Extreme4x4]

I know how you feel. I'm close to 3 months now, on my second resale. My first one went quickly, but I was dealing directly with the owner. It is taking a lot longer when going through a reselling company.

Patience is my friend, but I have none with everything going on. Sigh

 

[OutSkiing]

I know how you feel. I'm close to 3 months now, on my second resale. My first one went quickly, but I was dealing directly with the owner. It is taking a lot longer when going through a reselling company.

Patience is my friend, but I have none with everything going on. Sigh

So on February 4th, (about 1 month into the process) I get an email saying 'You are now in Execution Phase'. What's that? Not signatures after all this time? Sure enough the deed is being sent out for signature by seller and supposedly me as buyer. I haven't seen it yet as of the 15th. My last purchase was directly from an owner / agent so I guess I was spoiled on that quick turnaround. Don't think I had to sign a deed last time but maybe my contact has it a little off or maybe I did but forgot that step as it all happened within days.

At least the sales agent is using a very reputable transfer company LT Transfers.

Bob

 

[theo]

So on February 4th, (about 1 month into the process) I get an email saying 'You are now in Execution Phase'. What's that? Not signatures after all this time? Sure enough the deed is being sent out for signature by seller and supposedly me as buyer. I haven't seen it yet as of the 15th. My last purchase was directly from an owner / agent so I guess I was spoiled on that quick turnaround. Don't think I had to sign a deed last time but maybe my contact has it a little off or maybe I did but forgot that step as it all happened within days.

At least the sales agent is using a very reputable transfer company LT Transfers.

Fwiw, there are relatively few states in which the grantee also signs the deed, although there are some. In most instances, only the seller (grantor) signs the deed.
I seem to vaguely recall (to cite one specific example) that New Orleans, LA might be one place (among others) where buyers (grantees) must also sign the deed.

 

[OutSkiing]

Resale closing process update March 6th

In case this helps others, things are going very well with my resale purchase from benjamintimeshares who uses LT Transfers for closing. They have kept me informed nicely as follows:

December 28th - received thank you / instruction letter from benjamintimeshares that I won an eBay bid
December 29th - I Signed purchase agreement and faxed to them
December 30th - sent payment in the form of a check
January 7th - they informed me they did receive my payment
January 13th - Check was cashed
February 4th - Entering execution phase (to get seller signature on deed)
March 1st - In Recording stage (signed deed sent to county recorder)
March 4th - In Finalization stage (deed back from county - copy sent to me)

Presumably the finalization stage is where it sits in a pile at the developer's office (Wyndham in this case) waiting to be entered into the system. Not sure if there is anything more they require for finalization.

Bob

 

[Ty1on]

In case this helps others, things are going very well with my resale purchase from benjamintimeshares who uses LT Transfers for closing. They have kept me informed nicely as follows:


December 28th - received thank you / instruction letter from benjamintimeshares that I won an eBay bid
December 29th - I Signed purchase agreement and faxed to them
February 4th - Entering execution phase (to get seller signature on deed)
March 1st - In Recording stage (signed deed sent to county recorder)
March 4th - In Finalization stage (deed back from county - copy sent to me)

Presumably the finalization stage is where it sits in a pile at the developer's office (Wyndham in this case) waiting to be entered into the system. Not sure if there is anything more they require for finalization.

Bob

If it is a Club Wyndham contract, it will go into a black hole at Wyndham, be prepared. You should wait every day of 90 days before it is in your name, and it may be weeks longer until you receive notification. I never received notification from Wydham: I got snailmails from the closing companies informing me that the transfer has completed. At the 90 day mark (from when they told you it was sent to Wyndham), you can start calling Wyndham weekly to get a status on the transfer. Then, once you have an account, you'll wait another 60 days for you RCI account to be set up.