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What to Know BEFORE You Buy a Timeshare

5 key items many people overlook when deciding on purchasing a timeshare

Andy Spears
2 min readAug 19, 2022
Photo by Chen Mizrach on Unsplash

A “lifetime of vacations” for a reasonable up-front cost often sounds like a dream come true.

But if you’ve ever thought about — or actually “bought” — a timeshare, you know getting to the truth can be a daunting task.

I teamed up with Lisa Ann Schreier — The Timeshare Crusader — to outline 5 key things to look for BEFORE you decide to buy.

Not understanding the difference between weeks and points
Do you know the difference? Is it well explained? What are you getting for your money? Schreier says, “Not understanding this difference has a tremendous impact on how you’re able to use your timeshare and is a leading cause of owner complaints.”

Not knowing all the costs associated with the timeshare
Are there maintenance fees? What about an annual fee or a membership fee? Sure, the cost at signup may seem reasonable, but what is your yearly obligation?
Spears says, “Timeshare sellers are counting on consumers NOT paying attention. The details matter. Ask questions and don’t sign anything until you understand ALL the costs.”

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Andy Spears
Andy Spears

Written by Andy Spears

Writer and policy advocate living in Nashville, TN —Public Policy Ph.D. — writes on education policy, consumer affairs, and more . . .

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