New resale owner-what questions to ask

[Vacay0606]

I'm a recent resale buyer at Vacation Village at Williamsburg with a fixed week 4 bedroom lock out. I received a welcoming email from them letting me know to call them and just wondering what questions I should be asking them to make sure everything is discussed during the call. Your input will be appreciated.

 

[jp10558]

I guess you want to know how locking off works, how the MF payment works. Otherwise I don't think there's anything else they could tell you really for a fixed week and unit.

 

[noreenkate]

I never got an email or a call-
curious to hear how yours goes

 

[HudsHut]

When are maintenance fees due?
Do you have to "reserve" your week each year, or is the fixed week automatically reserved for you?
If you wish to rent out your unit(s), how do you give them the guest name(s)?
What is the procedure to Lock off and deposit the unit(s) to an Exchange company?

 

[Vacay0606]

I'm thinking I also need to know how far in advance I can notify them to bank my week into II and how I want the lock off deposited because I only bought it for a trader. Also, if I will receive any accommodation certificates?

 

[gravityrules]

Do you already have an II account?

 

[Vacay0606]

I never got an email or a call-
curious to hear how yours goes

I received an email and a text message. Still gathering info before I call.

 

[Vacay0606]

Do you already have an II account?

I have II and RCI. Both for fixed weeks. 2 different resorts.

 

[gravityrules]

I think you will need to contact II to have your new VV ownership added. May be a small fee for that.
I have seen the AC for deposit offer on the webpage showing next my ownership. But not sure it's always there.
II also may add ACs to your account without deposits but the free ACs are more limited in what they see than ACs provided with deposits. I've also received an AC for renewing platinum membership and it was one of the better ones. II seems to do targeted promotions from time to time. Perhaps they will add an AC to your account for adding your VV unit, but who knows with II?

 

[silentg]

VV also has internal exchange system, much cheaper than II or RCI. Lots of affiliated resorts. Enjoy your Timeshare.

 

[Bill8777]

When are maintenance fees due?
Do you have to "reserve" your week each year, or is the fixed week automatically reserved for you?
If you wish to rent out your unit(s), how do you give them the guest name(s)?
What is the procedure to Lock off and deposit the unit(s) to an Exchange company?

I just purchased VV at Weston resale. I have week 28. You basically have to confirm your week through the concierge. MF are due Jan. 1st but you have a 30 day grace period. They are RCI points. They provided a code for RC
I so I got 2 years for 110.00 for Gold. You can then upgrade to Plat which I have not done.

 

[Bill8777]

VV also has internal exchange system, much cheaper than II or RCI. Lots of affiliated resorts. Enjoy your Timeshare.

I was not aware of that. I also have a Hyatt Vacation Club membership. How are the exchanges on II. Which do you prefer. I'm interested in Key West and Bermuda.

 

[Vacay0606]

I called them yesterday and they were very helpful. Only waited a few minutes til they picked up. Paid my 2025 MF over the phone. They gave me 3 different ID #s which I don't get. Why are 3 needed? Went to register my account on Daily Management web site and it said that my ID # was already in use so it locked me out. I called them back and they said that an IT person would have to unlock it and it would be a few days. When I was done speaking with Owner Services, they transfered me to the VV II representative and he added my unit to my account. It was a $39 fee or I could renew my II membership that expires in January. Easy decision. I took the 5 year deal for $347. I asked them to remove my Westgate Vacation Villas from my unit list(told a fib that I had sold it)but he said he had to wait a couple days and I would receive an email letting me know the set up was complete and then they would remove it. My main goal of buying VV@W 4 bedroom lock off is to deposit as 2-2 bedrooms into II and stay at WVVillas for an extended time in Winter using my already bought resale week 7&8. Once I deposited VV into II, I had a fantastic view of available units for the winter at WVVillas which I couldn't see with just my WVVillas resale II account. So excited. Now hoping for some cheap Getaways to round off my winter stay in sunny Florida!

 

[dioxide45]

I asked them to remove my Westgate Vacation Villas from my unit list(told a fib that I had sold it)

Why would you ask them to remove a week that you still own?

 

[Vacay0606]

Since I own at Westgate Vacation Villas, I never see any of those units in Getaways. They have an II block so you can't see any of the Orlando Westgate Properties. The only time I have seen them was with Accommodation Certificates. I never deposit my week 7 & 8 and always use it. I am sending a huge thank you to "dioxide45" for recommending VV@W as an II trader. So far it's everything I could ask for.

 

[dioxide45]

Since I own at Westgate Vacation Villas, I never see any of those units in Getaways. They have an II block so you can't see any of the Orlando Westgate Properties. The only time I have seen them was with Accommodation Certificates. I never deposit my week 7 & 8 and always use it. I am sending a huge thank you to "dioxide45" for recommending VV@W as an II trader. So far it's everything I could ask for.

Ah, that makes sense. I do know about the Getaway block into Westgate resorts for Westgate owners. The Orlando resorts (and others) are so cheap on getaways.

 

[silentg]

I was not aware of that. I also have a Hyatt Vacation Club membership. How are the exchanges on II. Which do you prefer. I'm interested in Key West and Bermuda.

I have only used II once or twice. RCI have used for fixed weeks. Never had an exchange to Key West or Bermuda.

 

[Vacay0606]

Already received 2 certificates since depositing. Does anyone use the "extend" option?

 

[dioxide45]

Already received 2 certificates since depositing. Does anyone use the "extend" option?

Paying to extend isn't usually a good value. I supposed if you have a specific exchange in mind that you want to book into, but there is a chance you will extend and still not use the certificate. Making it just wasted money.

 

[noreenkate]

Already received 2 certificates since depositing. Does anyone use the "extend" option?

I havent found it necessary yet - so far i receive one for every deposit and i havent ran out yet and one usually from renewing. So far only ones used were the VV bonus weeks no deposit necessary from RCI...

 

[gravityrules]

Ah, that makes sense. I do know about the Getaway block into Westgate resorts for Westgate owners. The Orlando resorts (and others) are so cheap on getaways.

But if one does own Westgate, even if that ownership is not registered with II, can you still purchase an II getaway at a WG property and not have WG giving you grief about that reservation? Or is that assuming too much intelligence (or malice) on WG's part?

I don't know the answer but since you own something other than WG (which is not blocked in II) this could just be an II coding problem you are getting around.

How would this work if you had II with an independent resort registered, owned a Marriott week that was not registered with II? Could you trade your independent resort for a Marriott property in II?

 

[noreenkate]

Could you trade your independent resort for a Marriott property in II?

Not sure if this will answer your question but I have a MGV and traded 1/2 my VV unit for MBP for thanksgiving week. ( Love the sightings board)

 

[dioxide45]

But if one does own Westgate, even if that ownership is not registered with II, can you still purchase an II getaway at a WG property and not have WG giving you grief about that reservation? Or is that assuming too much intelligence (or malice) on WG's part?

If your Westgate isn't registered with II, then they wouldn't even know about any getaways that you book. I understand that with Westgate you need to always buy your own individual II membership (they may pay for a first year), but it isn't like Marriott, Vistana, Hyatt or DVC where the membership is paid for by Westgate. The block seems to exist whenever you have a Westgate property registered to your II account. The person who posted this will need to tell us if unregistering the Westgate now allows them to book Westgate getaways.

 

[Vacay0606]

If your Westgate isn't registered with II, then they wouldn't even know about any getaways that you book. I understand that with Westgate you need to always buy your own individual II membership (they may pay for a first year), but it isn't like Marriott, Vistana, Hyatt or DVC where the membership is paid for by Westgate. The block seems to exist whenever you have a Westgate property registered to your II account. The person who posted this will need to tell us if unregistering the Westgate now allows them to book Westgate getaways.

I called II and told them that I sold Westgate Vacation Villas and asked them to remove the unit from my profile and magically all the Orlando Westgate properties showed up in Getaways. Something that I previously never saw and you are right-tons of inventory at great prices.

 

[Bill8777]

VV also has internal exchange system, much cheaper than II or RCI. Lots of affiliated resorts. Enjoy your Timeshare.

If his unit is points based he'll have to book through RCI or maybe II. I called VV today when I booked in Orlando. The RCI fee was 269$. I was told that since my unit is points I have to book any other resort except the original through RCI and pay the fee.