Inheriting a timeshare

[Subdomain]

Hi all,

First time tugger...it looks like my wife and I will eventually inherit 1/3 of a Wyndham timeshare. My first concern
was to be able to exit the timeshare if we decided at some point we didn’t want it. I believe all was purchased through the developer so I am thinking Ovation is an option but still need to verify.

I guess the second question would be is there any value in keeping it together (among 3 children) versus splitting it into 3 separate accounts?

I believe the total points is around 750,000. We didn’t know if we would lose status/benefits by splitting things up.

 

[T-Dot-Traveller]

Hi all,

First time tugger...it looks like my wife and I will eventually inherit 1/3 of a Wyndham timeshare. ... I believe all was purchased through the developer ...

I guess the second question would be is there any value in keeping it together (among 3 children) versus splitting it into 3 separate accounts?

I believe the total points is around 750,000. We didn’t know if we would lose status/benefits by splitting things up.

There are Wyndham owners - TUG members who can give you very detailed information on your questions , BUT you will likely need to post more details on your parents ownership.

Do they have VIP status - what level ( gold - silver - platinum) ?
Were the points purchased all at one time; or via upgrades that list separately on their acct.?

If you have access to the account and can give details - it will likely help you get clear answers
as to the pros and cons of various options .

YOU have come to the right place .

 

[Subdomain]

Thanks for your reply. I am in the process of getting all the details...I take it I should probably post in the Wyndham section.

 

[Passepartout]

Thanks for your reply. I am in the process of getting all the details...I take it I should probably post in the Wyndham section.

That would be where it would get the best response. Welcome to TUG!

 

[bluehende]

My suggestion would be to find out if any of the three of you really wants it. That individual could take possession and between the three of you come up with fair compensation. Timeshare ownership is complicated enough without adding 3 families with varying interests and varying futures. Hopefully all 3 understand what is owned and how much it is really worth. If possible breaking into 3 may be an option if all three are really interested. Family dynamics are complicated, especially around a death or a parent. Adding friction over a timeshare ownership is the last thing you will need.

My advice would be to have all three of you read TUG to hopefully get you all on the same page. The one thing you will get here is honesty and a ton of info on how to get the most value from your ownership.

 

[bogey21]

Personally I'm not keen on owning anything with two other people. IMO conflict is inevitable. Thus I would try to see which one of the three of you want it most. The other two could then disclaim their inheritance. Then if the one in whose name it goes wants to share it with the others, fine but keep your name off ot.

 

[Janann]

I don't own with Wyndham, so I'm not completely familiar with their system. I have attended one of their presenations though. What I'm about to say applies to any timeshare -- there is no way that I would jointly own a timeshare outside of the immediate family (aka my husband or adult daughter). There is just too much potential for disagreement.

If you really want a timeshare, you can always buy a resale on your own and get exactly the number of points that you want without having to explain your management of the account to anyone else.

 

[Subdomain]

I don’t think any one party would be interested in owning the whole thing as it’s a pretty good chunk of points/fees and we all have busy lives. I think the options will be either co-owning or splitting up the points.

Everyone does get along pretty well but I can see how problems could easily arise with a complex product.

 

[Jan M.]

If the points were developer purchased you should have VIP gold status which you will lose if you split up the account. You can see the chart I took the following information from if you log into the account and look on the Wyndham website. These benefits are significant! I've highlighted the ones that will absolutely be of value to you and save all of you money. Not that you won't ever use the others. One thing to note when it comes to estates and resale, timeshares have no cash value. None. So if you or one of your siblings didn't want to be part of this or wanted out there should be no expectation of the remaining individuals buying them out. You can all share the cost of the maintenance fees and the use of the points but if one or more of you don't want to be involved or included then they walk away with nothing for it. That should be established from the start and might be something your parents could put in their will. Every family group comes up with a plan that works for them about how the account is shared in regards to the maintenance fees, how many points everyone gets, who has access to the account to make reservations and so on.

Do you, your siblings and your parents know they have the ability to get sale and last call weeks on RCI which uses no points. Your parents have an RCI membership that comes with their Wyndham ownership. Those weeks typically range from $219-$299 for a week and you can find studios, one bedroom and two bedroom/two bath units at a number of great resorts.

I don't know how old your parents are or how knowledgeable and good they are about using their gold VIP benefits. Sometimes younger family members are better at learning things online. TUG is a valuable resource to help you learn as I'm guessing you know since you joined to ask questions.

If you or your siblings and your parents would buy a cheap resale RCI week or get one free, yes free, you could put it in PIC Plus and make a minimal purchase through Wyndham telesales, $10k. That could make the account platinum which is 1,000,000 points. This might not be offered down the road and will never be cheaper to do. I've included the information about the PIC Plus program below the gold VIP benefits. You would only want PIC Plus, not PIC Express. With platinum the VIP discount increases to 50% and the free upgrade at 60 days just like the discount. You would get 15 free guest confirmations. And a very important platinum benefit is the ability to deposit any expiring points clear up until the last day of your use year instead of within the first 9 months. There are other benefits too but these are the biggies. Now here is the really important part of why I think you and your family should do this now. When your parents and you make this additional purchase through telesales you and your siblings can be added to that deed and only that deed. That will make you and your siblings listed on the Wyndham account and you can have reservations in your names without having to use guest certificates which are currently $99 each online. Some people leave their deceased parents names on the account just to be able to hold reservations in their names without having to use a guest certificate. You wouldn't have be on your parents deed or deeds for the 750,000 points they already have just the new points. You can also make a reservation in each one of your names for the same or overlapping dates. This is a biggie as OP will tell you. There are OP people here on TUG who can help with recommendations about getting a week to put in PIC Plus. You can look on eBay or in the Bargain Deals under the Buying, Selling, Renting forum to see what is being offered here on TUG. Your parents already have an RCI weeks account so I don't believe they would have to set up a new RCI account. You and/or your siblings should be added to the deed for the RCI week for PIC Plus just to make sure there are no issues once your parents are no longer on the account.

I know this is a lot to take in. If you, your siblings or your parents have any questions about any of this you are welcome to private message me and I will give you my phone number.


Exclusive Vacation Planning Benefits CLUB WYNDHAM Gold Owner
700,000 - 999,999 Points

Points Discounts within 2 Months of Check-in
• Receive 35% discounts on NEW reservations only at CLUB WYNDHAM Plus and Affiliate locations.
VIP Upgrade Opt-In Feature Size Upgrades
• When you confirm a reservation, you may opt in to receive an automatic upgrade to the next largest unit if it becomes available during your upgrade window. Within 45 days of check-in date
Guest Confirmations
• Receive 10 Guest Confirmations each calendar year to share with family and friends.
Unlimited Housekeeping Credits
• No charge for Housekeeping Credits when making a reservation.
Free Reservation Transactions
• Receive unlimited Reservation Transactions at no additional charge.
Ability to Reserve Specific Units
• Request a specific unit number when making reservations.
Worldwide External Exchange Deposit Unit Size Upgrades
• Upgrade to the next largest unit on all Value and Quiet season deposits.
RCI® Instant Search and Book Feature
• Instantly search and book your desired vacation with the amount of points immediately available in your CLUB WYNDHAM Plus account.
Reciprocal Advance Reservation Priority
• Confirm reservations outside your “home” resort at other CLUB WYNDHAM Plus locations up to 11 months in advance of check-in. 2 times per year
Points Deposit Feature Extension
• Receive additional time after the start of your Use Year to deposit points into a future Use Year with CLUB WYNDHAM. Within the first 9 months of your Use Year
Access to Margaritaville Vacation Club® by Wyndham Resort Inventory Beginning 8 months prior to check-in date
Adventures
• Enjoy Wyndham-hosted trips during the Standard Reservation window.
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• Confirm reservations up to 13 months in advance of check-in at Select Associate Locations. 4 times per year

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• Enjoy an early check-in if the unit is available.
Midweek “Clean and Tidy”
• Enjoy a “mini” cleaning during a full week stay which includes a fresh set of towels and a removal of refuse from the unit.
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• An exclusive check-in area is provided for VIPs.
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Personal Interval Choice (PIC) Plus Program
Personal Interval Choice (PIC) Plus provides you the opportunity to enroll qualified non-Wyndham timeshare weeks affiliated with RCI® and make them a part of the CLUB WYNDHAM Plus program. You may enroll a maximum of 2 weeks in the PIC Plus program. More information about enrollment is available by visiting a Member Services representative at your nearest CLUB WYNDHAM resort. Once you enroll your non-Wyndham week in PIC Plus, your week will be allocated a point value based on the unit size. Please refer to the PIC Plus Allocations chart below. The point value of your enrolled week(s) counts toward CLUB WYNDHAM Plus VIP eligibility.

PIC Plus Allocations UNIT SIZE POINT VALUE/POINTS CREDITED TOWARD VIP
Studio 70,000
1 Bedroom 105,000
2 Bedroom 154,000
3 Bedroom or more 254,000

Each year you can choose how you would like to use your PIC Plus week(s):
• Vacation at your non-CLUB WYNDHAM “home” resort
• Exchange it with RCI • Exchange it for CLUB WYNDHAM Plus points Important Information
• You must be current in both your assessment fees and your yearly maintenance fees in order to request an exchange.
• An $89 exchange fee is required to complete the PIC Plus exchange.
• You must call RCI at least 9 months prior to the scheduled start date of your week and make an exchange request. Once accepted RCI will send you a Deposit Acknowledgment card. You may also request RCI’s auto deposit option and sign the appropriate documents to get enrolled for annual renewal.
• Once you receive the Deposit Acknowledgment card from RCI, call your Vacation Planning Center at 800-251-8736 to complete the exchange. You will select whether you want to receive the points in the current Use Year or the following Use Year, and the appropriate amount of points will be deposited into your CLUB WYNDHAM Plus account. These points will expire at the end of the selected Use Year.
• Once points are deposited into your account, the number of points and benefits you have available for CLUB WYNDHAM Plus Standard and Express Reservations, Worldwide External Exchange, PlusPartners, Charitable Gift and WYNDHAM Club Pass will be increased by the amount of points associated with your PIC Plus contract for the Use Year chosen.
• In order to maintain the accuracy of your account, your non-Wyndham weeks enrolled in PIC Plus will be subject to an annual verification process. If your week no longer meets the eligibility requirements for enrollment, it will be removed from the PIC Plus program.
• PIC Plus contracts are nontransferable.
Eligibility Requirements: Membership in the PIC Plus Program is available with a new vacation ownership purchase from Wyndham Vacation Resorts or to CLUB WYNDHAM Plus Members who pay the PIC Plus Membership Enrollment Fee. In order to be eligible, non-Wyndham week(s) must be: (1) affiliated with RCI and (2) not currently participating in a points-based program, including RCI Points. Members will be responsible for maintenance fees on their nonWyndham week(s).

 

[Sandi Bo]

Good information/summary from Jan!

My father had a VIP Platinum account, next level up from VIP Gold, which it sounds like your parents have.

Splitting it up makes it fairly worthless. Buying developer and keeping it over 750K is what brings all the value and benefit that Jan outlined.

I manage my Dad's for our family. We all get along REALLY well and there isn't anyone with financial issues (key to our getting alongness, and why this works for us, IMO).

You can all be on the account.

If you choose to get rid of it, you pretty much give it away (to Wyndham). Depending on the properties, you can recover a small portion of your parents money by having someone sell it for you (or sell it yourself on eBay). Do not pay anyone in advance to "take it off your hands".

A lot has changed in the past year with Wyndham. None for the good for WYN VIP owners. I, myself, am not sure we'll hold on to ours much longer. If we get out, some will be sold on eBay, and some will likely be given back via Ovations.

Good luck and Welcome to Wyndham. Feel fee to PM me as well (start a conversation).

 

[wjappraise]

Our grandparents had a Gold VIP ownership in Fairfield. Early on we concluded the only real value was in keeping the 600,000 points in one membership. While other family members were interested in using the vacations, no one wanted to take on the primary monthly obligation. So I did. I also added my siblings names to later small resale purchases simply to avoid guest fees. I had a written agreement that I would bear sole responsibility for the account. Each sibling was allowed to use a vacation by reimbursing me for the maintenance fees associated with the points used.

In time I added a Platinum PR contract myself by purchasing 464,000 more developer points. I dearly overpaid for this perk. But you live and learn. I’ve added resale contracts over the years and used those to add my aged parents names, and our daughters names.

Bottom line, we have a nice account and my siblings are pleased to use vacations more than once a year. It has worked well. It hasn’t caused problems in the family, it has done the opposite. By having a simple document filled out and signed, the few details spelled out keep all of us beyond conflicts. It’s my ownership, my responsibility, but my privilege to share with our family. And it is spelled out what the vacations will cost my siblings. So I don’t have to provide free vacations, but certainly I provide low-cost, value vacations.

 

[Subdomain]

Thank you all again for the well informed advice. I still have not seen the contracts but I have some more information.

Unfortunately all the points are not with Wyndham, only 400k and change between 2 contacts, so we’re not as nearly as close to platinum level. The other 300k and change are on 2 contracts with Bluegreen.

Of the Wyndham, one is Smoky Mountains and the other is in Chicago. One is deeded and one is access sorry I’m not sure which is which. VIP but not gold I don’t think.

The Bluegreen one is kind of strange. His father (my wife’s grandfather) actually owned land in Pennsylvania that they wanted to develop. They traded the land for 2 separate weeks but nothing was ever developed. That one is vip gold although it’s called something different than gold.

Yes I’m the in-law in all this but no one else is taking initiative and my wife has no idea about it. One sibling is realistic about the value and the other thinks it’s probably worth the $175K the sales guy mentioned.

The parents also don’t understand that these things are worth pennies on the dollar so I am treading lightly but trying to learn all I can.

 

[Subdomain]

Btw the Wyndham sales guy said the account could be merged and made platinum for $45k so it is possible that it could be achieved for 10-15K.

Of course that could have been a lie since it came from a sales pitch.

 

[Free2Roam]

Unfortunately all the points are not with Wyndham, only 400k and change between 2 contacts, so we’re not as nearly as close to platinum level. The other 300k and change are on 2 contracts with Bluegreen.

Wow! 300k is a LOT of points for Bluegreen! I had 10K points... acquired resale for next to nothing a few years ago, mainly for access to Hershey in PA & Solara in Miami.

I paid over $900/year in maintenance fees for those 10k points. I thought about adding more, but after Bluegreen started exercising ROFR I gave away my contacts.