Almost everyone has received some kind of notification offering so many free nights’ stay at a resort, or some other incentive to go on timeshare tours. These incentives are only granted as long as you go on the tour and often you are asked to provide a cash deposit to ensure that you actually show up. Most reputable companies and resorts return your deposit after the tour and they give you the incentive whether or not you purchase the timeshare, but naturally you will still have to sit through the 90 minute (or longer) presentation. It still pays to be extra careful and ask a lot of questions before going on one of these tours to make sure you understand the fine print.

If you decide to take the timeshare tour that is offered, you should be aware that most, if not all, have some kind of fee associated with cancelling or rescheduling your tour. There are a few companies that will offer you a full refund of your money if you cancel the tour within a set amount of time, but for the most part, they charge you some kind of fee first. You might also be out all of the money you put down for the tour if you cancel. So, keep this in mind.

A timeshare presentation can be one of the most highly pressured sales pitches you have ever attended. The sales people are trying desperately to get you to purchase the timeshare and nearly all timeshare salespeople work on commission. By pressuring you to buy, they feel you will have a harder time in saying no.

There are laws that have been put into place for actions like this, in the case of buyers’ remorse, that allow you to rescind a timeshare purchase, but they vary from state to state and even by country. You should never feel pressured to purchase anything. If you want it, then go ahead and buy it. If not, then you can walk away after the presentation.

Most timeshare tours are offered by a resort every year. They will set up a time for you to arrive and have a sales representative meet with you. After you sit through the presentation, the sales rep will take you to either a standard model or a show model of the timeshare they are encouraging you to purchase. They will walk you through everything it has to offer, including the amenities or the resort itself. If you like what you see and you think it will benefit you; the sales rep will discuss costs and fees with you at that time.

Many times people can get caught up in the moment and fail to “sleep on it” before making a decision. This should be considered a major purchase and, as such, should be taken seriously enough to think about before signing on the dotted line.

I strongly recommend never buying a timeshare during the presentation itself. Whatever deal they are offering you will be available later, especially in this economy. And for the most part you can buy nearly any timeshare much cheaper as a resale. So don’t succumb to pressure. It is always a good idea to go home and do a little investigating before you make any decisions. Just take a look at any timeshare auction on Ebay or listed here on this site and you will see how much money you can save by buying from a former owner.