New Tugger - ? on Renting a Westgate TS

[KennyBob]

I'm a brand new TUG member and have just spent the last three hours reading all I can on the site. It's wonderful! Thought I'd jump in with a question or two.

We bought an Orlando Westgate Vacation Villas TS in '01, resale (thank God) for $2800, with three weeks in the RCI bank. Anyway, we've always traded and have never been to the resort. Looks nice on the website though. We've made some very nice trades over the years in Spain, Austria, etc. but have grown tired of the MFs which have risen to something like $750.

Bottom line is, I'd love to unload the TS but know how tough it is overall to do so. A friend recently mentioned TUG and how, in his opinion the answer was to simply rent it and at least pay for the MF. Especially with the new free classified ads, that sounds like a good possibility. I've read all the good info on how to rent it, agreements, etc.

I could use any advice any on how to effectively set the rental price. I've done a lot of research and seem to find a VERY wide range for weeks around my fixed week 2. Is there a better, more definitive site that will help me figure that out? Redbook maybe?

What is very disconcerting though is everything I've been reading about Westgate (aka Wastegate). I truly never knew until TODAY how disliked Westgate is, at least by many. Is there any real danger of Westgate pissing off my renters and having them come back at me for a refund or something? I know they would have no legal footing, but don't want to deal with unhappy renters! I'd rather just keep on trading the week, I guess.

Any advice?

Ken

 

[gmarine]

I think your best bet may be to continue to exchange. I doubt you could even cover your maintenance fees with a rental. WG Villas weeks sell for next to nothing on EBAY and an off season week 2 wont rent very easily. A unit the same as I own, week 30, sold for $400 on EBAY recently.

Exchanging is probably the best option.

 

[folashade]

What is very disconcerting though is everything I've been reading about Westgate (aka Wastegate). I truly never knew until TODAY how disliked Westgate is, at least by many. Is there any real danger of Westgate pissing off my renters and having them come back at me for a refund or something?

Ken

My one experience with Westgate in Orlando was horrible and I would never recommend any one stay there. Is there a real possiblitly of them pissing off a renter. Based on my experience yes. They messed up reservations they were overbooked and walking people to a nearby Days end! Customer service was medicore at best

 

[Colorado Belle]

Well trying to put a positive spin on things for ya...you got 7 years of some nice exchanges for your $2800 buy in. I realize that with high maintenance costs and exchange fees that you'd like to dump it....so I suggest that maybe you try to sell it on EBAY...even if you only get $1000 (and I 'm not sure if that $400 a week another poster mentioned was for renting a week or selling the deed)...you're not having to pay the high maintenance fees every year.

I toured Westgate many years ago and the units and grounds looked quite pretty. A friend of mine from Hawaii exchanged into westgate for a family reunion about 4 years ago and she said she had a really good time and that there were lots of activities. So maybe renting would work...but I agree that I don't think you could recover your maintenance fees.

Good Luck!!!!

 

[gmarine]

Well trying to put a positive spin on things for ya...you got 7 years of some nice exchanges for your $2800 buy in. I realize that with high maintenance costs and exchange fees that you'd like to dump it....so I suggest that maybe you try to sell it on EBAY...even if you only get $1000 (and I 'm not sure if that $400 a week another poster mentioned was for renting a week or selling the deed)...you're not having to pay the high maintenance fees every year.

I toured Westgate many years ago and the units and grounds looked quite pretty. A friend of mine from Hawaii exchanged into westgate for a family reunion about 4 years ago and she said she had a really good time and that there were lots of activities. So maybe renting would work...but I agree that I don't think you could recover your maintenance fees.

Good Luck!!!!

The $400 I mentioned was for a sale of a two bedroom week 30 annual. Unfortunately many WG units on EBAY get no bids and a lot sell for only a few dollars. If you search completed listings on EBAY you will see how bad it is. A 4 bedroom lock off at Westgate Town Center recently sold for $112.

 

[KennyBob]

Thanks to all for the replies. Yes, we got some good mileage out of this timeshare, so I'm not all that disappointed to unload it, even for free. I'll need to keep reading on TUG about how to sell via e-bay.

Ken