I am asked that question every day. And normally, someone wants to know what their timeshare is worth because they are considering selling it or have been trying to sell it with no success.

The value of a timeshare is found in its usage. Its value is determined by the amount of savings you can realize compared to paying rack rates at comparable resorts. Over time the amount of money you save when you use your timeshare becomes its value to you.

On the other hand, the first time you pay your maintenance fee and do not use that week, you find out it is worth less than zero! It is a liability. And at that point many owners decide to sell their timeshare rather than pay for something they cannot use or no longer fits into their lifestyle.

ARDA published a study several years ago saying that the average timeshare sells for about 50 to 75% of the resort developers price. Remember, that is an average taking in all resorts, all locations, all types both good and bad. While someone may be able to say they can produce a timeshare appraisal, it is very seldom worth the paper its written on. Also, a true comparative market analysis is usually incorrect because of the way timeshares have been sold. A residential home most likely was sold while listed in an MLS. The MLS will have “sold data” that is compiled into reports that can help you decide at what price to sell your home. But that is not the case for timeshares. There is too little data and too many variables to produce any reliable brokers’ opinion on the price of a timeshare.

If you were to believe everything you see on the internet auction sites, you would think that timeshares are almost impossible to sell unless you are willing to sell for pennies on the dollar. But, with the right marketing and advertising and negotiating skills of a timeshare resales broker, you can get a better value for your timeshare when you get ready to sell.

What is My Timeshare Worth? Video & Hyatt Resort Slideshow