Westin St John [Master Thread] - Part 2 (June 2014 and forward)

[SandyPGravel]

We bought a timeshare resale, were paid 2015 taxes at our closing from the seller, and would like to pay. Starwood said they can't send us a bill as it was mailed to the previous owner. How can I get the control and invoice number to pay the bill online?

I have contacted the previous owner and asked for him to send it to us if he received it - he hasn't responded.

I can find the previous owners parcel and account # online under "search for a tax bill", but am not seeing the other numbers.

Also, I am an official member of TUG (paid my membership fee a few months ago), but I'm still listed as guest... any way to change that (not a biggie, but I thought I'd ask).

Have you tried https://propertytax.vi.gov/ put in either your name or sellers name? I found my sellers information by their last name.

I am in the process of purchasing a resale. So I am curious, did you send Starwood a copy of the newly recorded deed? If yes, how long ago did you notify them? Because if my resale goes through soon, in the next month or so, and I notify Starwood right away, I am curious who will get the MF bill in December? Me or the seller?

 

[sachia007]

SandyPC,

The closing lawyer sent the deed to SVO in June.

 

[Helios]

My closing agent told me, at the beginning of the year, that USVI takes about a year to transfer the taxes into the new owner's name. I have paid the 2014 and 2015 under the old owner's name.

 

[GrayFal]

Has anyone gotten their paper tax bill in the mail from SVO?
The email was dated 9/1/15.

FYI
I received my two paper tax bills.
As a resale owner from 2015, the bills were still in the other owners name.
Starwood had a sticky note on each bill with my name and address.

Letter was postmarked 9/21/15

 

[SandyPGravel]

Resale reservations

Hi-

If the seller has next years reservation for a fixed week at WSJ already reserved in my name, will the reservation remain when the deed is transferred to me? (Maybe I'm being paranoid, this being my first resale purchase.) "They" don't like us buyers of resale, so I was wondering if "they" pull anything sneaky like cancelling the reservation?

I already have my airfare purchased, don't want to lose ours or anyone else's that might plan to come with us. I don't want to find out what camping on the beach is like!:hysterical:

Thanx!

 

[DavidnRobin]

Gina - 'They' do not care. Do not overthink this (or be too paranoid).
'They' care about MFs being paid.
After transfer just go onto MSC and see if reservation is still in your name - or just call Owner Services and inquire (after transfer). Do not over complicate it for the OS Rep as not too confuse them. Good luck and enjoy STJ.

 

[GrayFal]

I am in the process of purchasing a resale. So I am curious, did you send Starwood a copy of the newly recorded deed? If yes, how long ago did you notify them? Because if my resale goes through soon, in the next month or so, and I notify Starwood right away, I am curious who will get the MF bill in December? Me or the seller?

When my closing agent Darla received the deed, she scanned it and emailed it to me (and put the hard copy in snail mail) I then emailed it to the Title Department (email addy in Starwood Owner sickie) and within two weeks I had a MyStarCentral account.

Hi-

If the seller has next years reservation for a fixed week at WSJ already reserved in my name, will the reservation remain when the deed is transferred to me? (Maybe I'm being paranoid, this being my first resale purchase.) "They" don't like us buyers of resale, so I was wondering if "they" pull anything sneaky like cancelling the reservation?

I already have my airfare purchased, don't want to lose ours or anyone else's that might plan to come with us. I don't want to find out what camping on the beach is like!:hysterical:

Thanx!

Make sure your seller has notified Starwood the reservation is transferring with the ownership and that your first year of use is noted as 2016. When I got MyStarCentral account for my first resale, the first day the Resie was not there. I called and they said they would verify with the seller which they did and the next day I could see it in my account.

No paranoia required

 

[Henry M.]

Double check on the reservation after the deed transfers. When I checked in at WKORV this past August, there was a young couple on their honeymoon ahead of us. One of the spouses sisters had given them a week at WKORV as their wedding present. They were trying to call around to get on with their trip.

It turns out the sister sold the unit a couple of days before they arrived, and somehow they didn't have a reservation anymore. They were supposed to have the room, but something went wrong in the process. The front desk was offering them a room to rent for $600+/day. I don't know what the final outcome was, but the bottom line is that you need to check every step of the way. Don't assume things are taken care of, even if the prior owner truthfully thinks the reservation will be maintained.

 

[SandyPGravel]

When my closing agent Darla received the deed, she scanned it and emailed it to me (and put the hard copy in snail mail) I then emailed it to the Title Department (email addy in Starwood Owner sickie) and within two weeks I had a MyStarCentral account.

Make sure your seller has notified Starwood the reservation is transferring with the ownership and that your first year of use is noted as 2016. When I got MyStarCentral account for my first resale, the first day the Resie was not there. I called and they said they would verify with the seller which they did and the next day I could see it in my account.

No paranoia required

Thanks, I just sent an email off to the seller asking if he would do this for me. (BTW, Darla is processing our transaction too!!)

 

[SandyPGravel]

Double check on the reservation after the deed transfers. When I checked in at WKORV this past August, there was a young couple on their honeymoon ahead of us. One of the spouses sisters had given them a week at WKORV as their wedding present. They were trying to call around to get on with their trip.

It turns out the sister sold the unit a couple of days before they arrived, and somehow they didn't have a reservation anymore. They were supposed to have the room, but something went wrong in the process. The front desk was offering them a room to rent for $600+/day. I don't know what the final outcome was, but the bottom line is that you need to check every step of the way. Don't assume things are taken care of, even if the prior owner truthfully thinks the reservation will be maintained.

Thanks for the affirmation that I am not being totally paranoid!! I thought it was possible that something like that could happen.

 

[LisaRex]

It's important that the contract itself is clear on usage rights. "Seller retains right to 2015 usage. Buyer's first use year will begin in 2016, including Reservation xxxxxx, which was reserved in the buyer's name on mm/dd/yyyy."

I would certainly follow up with Reservations to have them put a note in the file to this effect, but it also should be in the contract itself.

Timeshare agents will do this as a matter of course, but many people DIY.

 

[SandyPGravel]

It's important that the contract itself is clear on usage rights. "Seller retains right to 2015 usage. Buyer's first use year will begin in 2016, including Reservation xxxxxx, which was reserved in the buyer's name on mm/dd/yyyy."

I would certainly follow up with Reservations to have them put a note in the file to this effect, but it also should be in the contract itself.

Timeshare agents will do this as a matter of course, but many people DIY.

Thanks, I did put it in the sales contract that usage year starts in 2016, but I didn't include the reservation number or the date. The person doing our deed transfer didn't want to be involved in that part(sales contract) of the transaction. She said the sales contract was between the seller and myself. The seller has been very cooperative throughout the entire process. I just hope that with this being his first sale and this being my first resale purchase we don't mess it up.

Do you think I could call MSC and get anywhere? The reservation is in my name, but he still is the registered owner. I have the reservation number, I'll call and see what they say. I already own at SVV so at least I can talk to someone at OS.

 

[GrayFal]

Thanks, I did put it in the sales contract that usage year starts in 2016, but I didn't include the reservation number or the date. The person doing our deed transfer didn't want to be involved in that part(sales contract) of the transaction. She said the sales contract was between the seller and myself. The seller has been very cooperative throughout the entire process. I just hope that with this being his first sale and this being my first resale purchase we don't mess it up.

Do you think I could call MSC and get anywhere? The reservation is in my name, but he still is the registered owner. I have the reservation number, I'll call and see what they say. I already own at SVV so at least I can talk to someone at OS.

I would ask your seller to call and confirm with Starwood that the Resie is transferring to you. I just sold my Marriott Aruba Surf Club with the 2016 Resie going to the buyer. I called Marriott and They noted this in my account. The day the new owner could see the ownership in their online account, I again called and reconfirmed the Resie was going to the new owner. They could see it in their account the next day. So I have been three for three this year with Resies going to the right person at the end of the day. I imagine your experience will be the same.

Now someone can post another negative experience

 

[LisaRex]

Thanks, I did put it in the sales contract that usage year starts in 2016, but I didn't include the reservation number or the date.

It's completely different to say "Usage starts in 2016" and "Usage starts in 2016 and Reservation xxxx will transfer to buyer upon resale." So I really hope that MSC can help out here.

FYI, when a sale takes place, one should assume that Starwood will wipe the slate clean unless you include stipulations to the contrary. That includes not only reservations for future use years, but also reservations that will take place for this usage year but after the contract is executed. Don't assume anything.

I also learned the hard way that you should also put in the contract if you want to retain banked SOs attached to a deed you are selling. There was a time when I owned an EOY SVV Bella and wanted to replace it with an annual unit. When I inquired about what would happen to the banked SOs associated with the EOY VOI, a CSR told me that I would retain banked SOs only if I was still a member of SVN (because I owned another mandatory/developer VOI) when the transfer was executed. So I deliberately delayed the sale of my EOY unit until after my newly purchased annual unit was in my name. What I WASN'T told was that this isn't done automatically. It should still have been stipulated in the contract and I should have still called Starwood and had them add a note to my file to this effect.

So live and learn!

(FYI, Starwood did eventually relent and return those banked SOs after I showed them emails where I was informed that as long as I was an SVN member, I would keep any banked SOs.)

 

[sachia007]

FYI
I received my two paper tax bills.
As a resale owner from 2015, the bills were still in the other owners name.
Starwood had a sticky note on each bill with my name and address.

Letter was postmarked 9/21/15

GrayFal,

I just got the bill as well - sent directly from Starwood.

 

[sachia007]

Any Tuggers in STJ week 8?

Would love to meet up with any/all Tuggers. Perhaps go on a boat trip together?

If anyone is interested, please let me know.

 

[ekinggill]

When we left STT in mid Aug, the wait was a lot longer than usual. On top of that, the air conditioning was broken. The whole process was almost unbearable.

Our week 32 experience was the same. We paid a porter to help with the bags and that got us into a shorter line...but that shorter line still might have been an hour long.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Would love to meet up with any/all Tuggers. Perhaps go on a boat trip together?

If anyone is interested, please let me know.

Oh man we will be there Week 9. (Fingers crossed, see above!)

 

[GrayFal]

It's completely different to say "Usage starts in 2016" and "Usage starts in 2016 and Reservation xxxx will transfer to buyer upon resale." So I really hope that MSC can help out here.

FYI, when a sale takes place, one should assume that Starwood will wipe the slate clean unless you include stipulations to the contrary. That includes not only reservations for future use years, but also reservations that will take place for this usage year but after the contract is executed. Don't assume anything.

I also learned the hard way that you should also put in the contract if you want to retain banked SOs attached to a deed you are selling. There was a time when I owned an EOY SVV Bella and wanted to replace it with an annual unit. When I inquired about what would happen to the banked SOs associated with the EOY VOI, a CSR told me that I would retain banked SOs only if I was still a member of SVN (because I owned another mandatory/developer VOI) when the transfer was executed. So I deliberately delayed the sale of my EOY unit until after my newly purchased annual unit was in my name. What I WASN'T told was that this isn't done automatically. It should still have been stipulated in the contract and I should have still called Starwood and had them add a note to my file to this effect.

So live and learn!

(FYI, Starwood did eventually relent and return those banked SOs after I showed them emails where I was informed that as long as I was an SVN member, I would keep any banked SOs.)

Why would Starwood have a copy of your contract?

I am not trying to be contrary, but of the 8 sales/purchases I have been involved with this year alone, the management companies (Starwood, Marriott, Wyndham)have not had my sales contracts. In fact, most of the closing companies (JRA, LTT, etc) do not even require you have a contract to do a closing thru them. You fill out their online forms and they take it from there.
I in fact do always do a contract for my personal records and to make sure all parties agree on what is to transpire in terms of usage and maint fees but I have never in 15 years sent my sales agreement to a management company. They have always done what I or the other seller has requested.

 

[LisaRex]

...In fact, most of the closing companies (JRA, LTT, etc) do not even require you have a contract to do a closing thru them. You fill out their online forms and they take it from there.

GrayFal, those closing companies do so many contracts that they've streamlined the process by creating contract aka Purchase Agreements (or whatever name they choose to call them) templates. Those online forms are used to populate the few areas where there is variation, such as purchase price, MF responsibilities, and transfer date. Even though it may not look like a traditional contract doesn't mean that it isn't one. There's no way they could legally transfer a deed from one person to another without a contract, which in its simplest form is just a meeting of minds.

 

[SMHarman]

Would love to meet up with any/all Tuggers. Perhaps go on a boat trip together?

If anyone is interested, please let me know.

End of week 5, week 6 and part of week 7. Gotta love those SO reservations.

Oh man we will be there Week 9. (Fingers crossed, see above!)

Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk

 

[GrayFal]

GrayFal, those closing companies do so many contracts that they've streamlined the process by creating contract aka Purchase Agreements (or whatever name they choose to call them) templates. Those online forms are used to populate the few areas where there is variation, such as purchase price, MF responsibilities, and transfer date. Even though it may not look like a traditional contract doesn't mean that it isn't one. There's no way they could legally transfer a deed from one person to another without a contract, which in its simplest form is just a meeting of minds.

Yes, I agree that the form you fill out online is a contract between you and the closing company. And since both parties fill it out it should be valid and enforceable. So if it says you get use of 2016 and the reservation in place transfers with the sale, it should be honored.

I think your example of banked StarOptions is a bit more complicated then usual. I am glad they reinstated them for you.

 

[Helios]

GrayFal,

I just got the bill as well - sent directly from Starwood.

Just got mine today.

 

[GrayFal]

End of week 5, week 6 and part of week 7. Gotta love those SO reservations.



Sent from my LT26i using Tapatalk

I have 3 friends that are using my week 7 this coming year. Are you interested in booking Island Roots Charter? How many people are you? They only take 6.

 

[SandyPGravel]

Thanks, I did put it in the sales contract that usage year starts in 2016, but I didn't include the reservation number or the date. The person doing our deed transfer didn't want to be involved in that part(sales contract) of the transaction. She said the sales contract was between the seller and myself. The seller has been very cooperative throughout the entire process. I just hope that with this being his first sale and this being my first resale purchase we don't mess it up.

Do you think I could call MSC and get anywhere? The reservation is in my name, but he still is the registered owner. I have the reservation number, I'll call and see what they say. I already own at SVV so at least I can talk to someone at OS.

I received an answer today from MSC, so I thought I would share:

Starwood Vacation Network
a better way to see the world®
Rule
Dear GINA XXXXXXXX,

I would be more than happy to assist you with your inquiry about the Westin St John reservation,

The current owner of this deed has already changed reservation ****** at The Westin St John for February 26, 2016 into your name (Gina XXXXXXXX). After the transfer of ownership the reservation will remain the same and nothing will be changed.

If I can be of any further assistance, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Sincerely,

Noah G.
E-Communications Specialist