Redweek listings are just sitting online, not many are renting, a new phenomena and a waste of money for owners at $59 for verify/ protect

[chapjim]

Redweek collects the tax. Koala doesn't yet, and they expect owners to maybe do that?

Redweek doesn't collect tax for Hawaii rentals but I thought they did, so I was surprised by that info.

Redweek collects the tax IF the listing says On-line Booking. Otherwise, no.

 

[dioxide45]

Redweek collects the tax IF the listing says On-line Booking. Otherwise, no.

Doesn't that apply to all their listings in all the states. They don't collect on any DIY. That is why it is called DIY and it is cheaper.

 

[rickandcindy23]

Doesn't that apply to all their listings in all the states. They don't collect on any DIY. That is why it is called DIY and it is cheaper.

No, they don't collect in Hawaii.

 

[chapjim]

Doesn't that apply to all their listings in all the states. They don't collect on any DIY. That is why it is called DIY and it is cheaper.

Florida is the only one I've run up against as far as a Sales & Use Tax is concerned. I don't do much renting elsewhere.

Short-term rentals in New Orleans are illegal unless the owner has a permit for that specific location. The permit is expensive and hard to get.

 

[Timeshare Von]

There are contracts on TUG. I can email you the one that I use. It's a great contract. I use it all of the time, thanks to @Timeshare Von for sharing it.

<<SNIPPED>>

Glad it's still working for you!

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

Disney allows 20 reservations in guests' names per year. That can create some issues for some. If you own a lot of Disney points, you better get some big rentals, not just a night here and there. Better book the 100-150 point rooms to rent.

I think Disney is going to crack down sooner rather than later.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I think Disney is going to crack down sooner rather than later.

Maybe. They cracked down on the rentals a while back, I think around 2015. Some were dumping their points cheaply to get out.

I hope they hold off for a few years, until I get out of Wyndham completely. Then I can use our DVC points more for us.

I am hoping to use our Disney points for these difficult times of year to get Disney via exchange, and I am probably going to book just studios.

Our son likes to get at least 2 bedroom units for his stays. There are only five of them, not like this is a huge bunch. I told him this is what exchanges are for. Better he and the family stay at Marriott rather than spending all of our points on a 2 bedroom. He would really rather have a 3 bedroom. This next trip, he is staying at Marriott's Imperial Palms.

 

[wallace37]

Redweek collects the tax. Koala doesn't yet, and they expect owners to maybe do that?

Redweek doesn't collect tax for Hawaii rentals but I thought they did, so I was surprised by that info.

I've never rented out my unit at WKORVN before so doing some research on fees (Redweek, etc.) and your information has been very helpful. What are the taxes for Hawaii rentals? I want to make sure I factor that in my pricing. Thank you.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I've never rented out my unit at WKORVN before so doing some research on fees (Redweek, etc.) and your information has been very helpful. What are the taxes for Hawaii rentals? I want to make sure I factor that in my pricing. Thank you.

I have always thought Redweek charges taxes, so we don't have to. It was only recently that someone here on TUG said that Redweek doesn't remit taxes.

 

[dioxide45]

I have always thought Redweek charges taxes, so we don't have to. It was only recently that someone here on TUG said that Redweek doesn't remit taxes.

I think the difference is in how the Hawaii taxes are to be paid. They are paid for by the owner based on a percentage of the rental price. They aren't collected by the owner from the renter. At least that is kind of how I understand it.

 

[sfcolliejr]

First, I have no sympathy for the people who are renting Disney exchanges. I can tell which ones are exchange rentals. Those summer weeks are sitting online, and I am sure people think it's a sure thing to grab and rent a 2 bedroom for $3,500. I don't like the competition with my own studio DVC rentals, but I digress.

I have weeks listed at Sheraton Broadway, Westin Ka'anapali, and a few other odd weeks, really just SDO and Westin Desert Willow, and some Bonnet Creek and Wyndham Shearwater during times of year that are not blocked for guests. Nothing is renting. This is a year similar to 2020. I can honestly say that my Sheratons are going to be deposited in large numbers for 2024 use year, and I cannot even use this many as exchange, unless I can get the kids to go on more vacations (their names are on a lot of our ownerships).

When weeks rent on Redweek, they are grayed out. Not many are grayed out. Rentals are down this year, is my conclusion. I realize inflation is playing a part. High gas prices, food prices going up, while wages remain stagnant. Vacation or food/ gas/ utilities, people choose what they can afford.

Part of the problem is the outrageous additional money Redweek makes on the back-end of the listing. RW recently put the total amount of the rental with their profit included. If I list my week for $5,000, and Redweek adds $475 that makes a total of $5,475. Redweek is not even paying taxes in Hawaii. I had no idea until recently when a TUG member pointed that out.

They also get the $59 listing fee and $99 out of the total when it rents. Let's just say that I have paid a lot of $59 listing fees lately, and as the rental date gets close, I will have to cancel to get my points or weeks back to use however I can use them. I am losing money at $59 a listing There are no guarantees by RW that your week will rent, I realize that, but what a waste, when the week doesn't rent.

I don't want to be in competition with other owners by reducing my price, and they then have to reduce their price (which you can do anytime on RW or Koala). I see one other listing that is the same as mine, same view, but it's a little lower in price.

Koala also makes money on rentals, but at least I am not out $59 for each one that doesn't rent.

I will probably stop using the RW verified/ protected service. My conclusion is that I can rent myself and save renters money (and me as well).

Too bad Koala is not working better for me. I have two rentals for fall on Koala, however, but not a single DVC rental with RW. I am sure hoping for better results as my dates get near. I can always use David's Rentals as the dates get closer. That is almost a guarantee.

We were able to rent two weeks; however, both were "word of mouth" rentals. One week was listed on RedWeek. My wife found a renter for the RedWeek listing at her Pilates class. The other were friends who were taking their grandkids to Maui. When we offered the Westin rental and they compared to hotel prices for the week, they jumped at ours (we gave them a good price). Both of our weeks rented at reduced prices compared to the last two years. I agree, rental listings on RedWeek are many and I see fewer rentals.

 

[chapjim]

I saw a full service listing on RedWeek.com for a fixed week, fixed unit that said the view "varies" so I asked how that could be. Here's the response:

QUOTE
Hi James,

Thank you for your inquiry. Below are the estimated closing costs for the posting you are interested in. These costs are in addition to the sales price. If they are acceptable the next step would be to submit your offer.

This is a fixed week and fixed unit.

Closing Costs: Emailed closing company will update you with this information.

Resort Transfer Fee: Emailed resort will update you with this information.

Estoppel Fee: $250

Admin Fee: $99

First Year Use: 2025

2025 Maintenance Fees will be collected at closing.


Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
END QUOTE

So much for RedWeek's customer service.

 

[TolmiePeak]

I saw a full service listing on RedWeek.com for a fixed week, fixed unit that said the view "varies" so I asked how that could be. Here's the response:

QUOTE
Hi James,

Thank you for your inquiry. Below are the estimated closing costs for the posting you are interested in. These costs are in addition to the sales price. If they are acceptable the next step would be to submit your offer.

This is a fixed week and fixed unit.

Closing Costs: Emailed closing company will update you with this information.

Resort Transfer Fee: Emailed resort will update you with this information.

Estoppel Fee: $250

Admin Fee: $99

First Year Use: 2025

2025 Maintenance Fees will be collected at closing.


Please let me know if you have any questions.
Thank you,
END QUOTE

So much for RedWeek's customer service.

Doesn't that just mean the view is lousy? They don't want you to come back at them and claim you are unhappy with the view. Pretty much similar to how we handle employee reference checks. I have no problem giving good references for good employees. If the person was lousy I just say I can confirm the person you are calling about was employed here. Nothing more which = "the person was lousy and useless".

 

[Eric B]

I saw a full service listing on RedWeek.com for a fixed week, fixed unit that said the view "varies" so I asked how that could be.

Maybe it gets foggy some of the time...?

 

[TolmiePeak]

Maybe it gets foggy some of the time...?

Yeah you just know there would be some dolt who would complain to the front desk about the view being blocked by fog.

 

[chapjim]

Doesn't that just mean the view is lousy? They don't want you to come back at them and claim you are unhappy with the view. Pretty much similar to how we handle employee reference checks. I have no problem giving good references for good employees. If the person was lousy I just say I can confirm the person you are calling about was employed here. Nothing more which = "the person was lousy and useless".

Parking lot isn't one of the view choices in RedWeek.com.

 

[chapjim]

Maybe it gets foggy some of the time...?

Yeah, I was thinking about that. Also, sometimes it's dark, or wet, or white.

 

[WaikikiFirst]

Has anyone tracked how the strike vs Hilton @ HHV is impacting redweek reservations at HHV? I'm sure the majority are made well in advance, but if things were already slow, there may have been a good amount Oct/Nov/Dec inventory sitting there when the strike hit

 

[chapjim]

Doesn't that just mean the view is lousy? They don't want you to come back at them and claim you are unhappy with the view. Pretty much similar to how we handle employee reference checks. I have no problem giving good references for good employees. If the person was lousy I just say I can confirm the person you are calling about was employed here. Nothing more which = "the person was lousy and useless".

Could be but I tend to think the people are lazy. The easiest thing for people at the resort is to say the view varies, or none. And, the RedWeek agent simply accepts it.

 

[dioxide45]

Could be but I tend to think the people are lazy. The easiest thing for people at the resort is to say the view varies, or none. And, the RedWeek agent simply accepts it.

It may come down to available options for the owner to pick when listing their week. "Varies" seems to be the generic option that would most likely be used for a floating unit that doesn't really have a special designation. For a fixed unit, the owner could pick a more descriptive option based on the actual unit they own. It is also possible they have never stayed in the unit.

 

[davidvel]

It may come down to available options for the owner to pick when listing their week. "Varies" seems to be the generic option that would most likely be used for a floating unit that doesn't really have a special designation. For a fixed unit, the owner could pick a more descriptive option based on the actual unit they own. It is also possible they have never stayed in the unit.
View attachment 100856

True. As an example MRD has no view designations whatsoever, so the most truthful response would be varies. Of course, this does not apply to a resort with formal view designations on the list.

 

[Huskerpaul]

Disney's Boardwalk has three views - Standard, Boardwalk, Pool/Garden (two of which are listed above). The Standard view rooms are some of the lowest point cost rooms in the DVC system and as such there are many for rent on Redweek and DVC rental sites. Whenever I see Varies view on a Redweek listing I'm almost certain they are Standard view rooms.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I have rented most myself without having to pay the $99 verify fee. I tried to list a week for rent and discovered that I can no longer rent anything without verify. I tried to find the $30 option but no longer see it.

Someone said this was happening, and I was still able to see the full do-it-yourself, which for me was $30 because I have multiple listings. What is happening with Redweek? I realize that people are expecting to rent through RW now. I have many people who are requesting that I add the verify and protect option for their rental from me, but the problem going that way is they don't want to pay the higher price after they see how much it costs them. I did this for a renter one time, then sent them the link to the listing and they said they wouldn't pay that price. I told them that is what Redweek's full service option costs the renter.

 

[DeniseM]

Cindy - This has been discussed a lot: It is still there, you just have to be sure you are logged into CLASSIC Redweek.

 

[dioxide45]