Timeshare Brokers: White Knight or Con Man?

There are many ways to sell a timeshare. The owner could sell it himself or he could acquire the services of a broker. Some may actually cringe at the latter notion. They may have had a bad experience with a broker and are ill inclined to use a broker. Then, there will be those that rave about such services. To them, a broker is a helpful pro. For first time sellers, the question arises: who is right? Are these pros white knights or are they con men?

This same question could be posed at members of any professional circle. And the answers you would get from the same question would vary. Of course, there are good brokers and there are bad brokers. Some are honest and some have ethical issues. This is the way it works in all field among all professions.

Now, does that mean that you have a 50-50 chance of finding an ethical agent vs. an unethical one? No, the vast majority of brokers are honest people earning an honest wage. Unfortunately, the proverbial “bad apples” do a lot of harm to the professional reputation of solid professionals.

Because of this, it is critical to not form an opinion of a broker without weighing the situation. If the broker says or does anything that raises a red flag, opt out of working with him and move on. Common red flags include outrageous offers that could not possibly be filled; attempts to circumvent the law; trying to procure payment up front; and any other obvious below board behavior. These are the traits of a con man!

A con man type will often give off a very bad vibe. Follow you gut instincts and pay attention to any negative vibes you feel. That is your better judgment warning you. Conversely, if all seems positive and no “swerves” are thrown your way, this broker might be good match.