|
The eBay Factor
If you were around during the early 2000’s and you weren’t living in a cave away from society, you’re bound to at least know about eBay, one of the largest auction sites on the planet. It has become a pop culture of late because of its reputation that anything can be sold on the popular auction site. eBay users have been able to make a killing on items that they would have found difficult to sell elsewhere, such as locks of hair (Britney Spears’ hair went on sale in May 2007) and eccentric memorabilia (like a cup from which Elvis supposedly drank). They were able to do so because eBay allowed them to reach out to a larger market, one that didn’t require physical interaction but was still willing to pay for their goods.
But What About Your Timeshare?
Think of your timeshare (or at least the deed to it) as an unusual item, or at least one that would be difficult to sell. Why? Remember that timeshares are exactly like real estate investments, albeit on a smaller scale. If you have any prospective buyers, they’ll most probably want to check the property out first before they commit to any transaction. That’s why most timeshare reselling transactions are carried out between family members or people who know each other. Many aspects of their transaction are based on trust and the fact that they physically interact with each other on a regular basis.
Timeshares and eBay – Are They Compatible?
They meant it when they said you could sell almost anything on eBay. That works out to your advantage if you intend to sell timeshare. On eBay, timeshares are regularly traded, and the site even has a section, eBay Timeshares, completely dedicated to timeshare resale and timeshare auctions.
Putting up your timeshare for sale on eBay also allows you to have your offer seen by a much wider audience. On eBay, your item will be seen by anyone who wants to buy timeshares from any state and just about any country you can think of.
From the buyer’s point of view, an eBay transaction might seem like an unorthodox and even untrustworthy way to buy and sell timeshares. However, eBay – particularly in the United States – has become so sophisticated and so stringent with their anti-fraud policies that both buyers and sellers are assured of a safe and smooth transaction. PayPal, one of the companies that eBay acquired some years ago, is a big proponent in this “Trust eBay” campaign by providing the eBay community with a way to safely send and receive payments. Many escrow services also do business on eBay, giving buyer and seller more security in their transaction.
Selling Your Timeshare on eBay
eBay is just like a marketplace. Prospective buyers come over to look at your item and then go away to look for a better deal. Here are some tips to make sure your Marriott timeshare, your Fairfield timeshare and all the timeshare in your portfolio gets the attention it deserves.
•Add photos: Scratch that. Add lots of photos. Since the chances of your buyer ever seeing the actual item are very slim, you’ll have to provide them with an alternative. Give photographs of every possible view or, for point-based timeshares, of every property available under the operator. That could be the deciding factor for your item if a competing timeshare is all text and no color.
•Make comparisons: This is another alternative that you can put in place of an actual viewing. Make comparisons like “You’ll get this quality of accommodations for this price.” If your prospective buyers have been searching for a while or have experience with the market, they’ll appreciate your timeshare a whole lot better.
•Make the terms clear: Allocate a space on your eBay listing where you will outline the terms of the sale one by one. For example, specify when the new owner will start paying maintenance fees and taxes. State how much the fees are projected to be. You’re bound to get less questions and more offers if your buyers see that you’re transparent and up front about the transaction.
•Pump up your feedbacks: This might take some time and a lot of effort on your part but will greatly improve your chances with selling on eBay. eBay uses a feedback system wherein buyer and seller leave feedbacks or testimonials on each other’s account to say how well or how badly the deal went. Succeeding buyers and sellers can then decide how trustworthy the buyer or seller is based on the feedbacks they have received. Get a few smaller transactions done before you go for the big one.
•Get a PayPal account: This step will greatly benefit you in the long run. Aside from offering security for the transaction, which it does for both buyer and seller, a PayPal account will help assure the buyer that you are a trustworthy seller and that there is a way to go after their money if the deal does not go as planned. Your acceptance of PayPal payments could just make or break the deal.
Going, Going…
If you’re looking to sell your timeshare, it’s a good idea to keep eBay in serious consideration. Many people and companies have already established themselves there as timeshare sellers and resellers, proving that there is indeed a market for that sort of commodity. The market has varied tastes, too; everything from the most expensive Marriot timeshares to limited timeshare vacations, and from Florida timeshares to Las Vegas timeshares have been sold there. There is also a very healthy trade of RCI timeshares.
The market is there, the transactions are secure and the process of waiting for a buyer is very convenient. Give it a try. You never know just how high the bid may go.
|
