Although a part of the United States, Hawaii feels like it is a world away. Millions of people travel to Hawaii annually to enjoy the stunning beaches, feel the warmth of the sun, explore the many outdoor adventures of the islands, and on and on. Resorts dot the coastlines of several islands, and the possibilities for where you can stay and what you can do seem to know no bounds.
Part of the tourism economy in Hawaii is a thriving timeshare industry. When visiting Hawaii, you may find yourself confronted by opportunities to purchase a timeshare in this incredible place, which many people will find hard to turn down. The timeshare sounds even better when promoted by a professional salesperson who has been carefully trained to present such information in an appealing way. If you wound up buying a Hawaii timeshare and are now having second thoughts about that purchase and what it means for your life, consider trying to get out of the contract right away. Let’s use the space below to break down how this might work.
Act Immediately If You Just Purchased This Timeshare
A good timeshare presentation is hard to resist. This is particularly true if you experience one of these presentations in a place like Hawaii, where you have warm breezes outside your door and the office where the sales pitch takes place may overlook the ocean or a beautiful beach. Who could turn down the offer to experience such a setting more frequently moving forward?
If you’ve decided to agree to a timeshare purchase only to later think more carefully about it and have second thoughts, you’ll be happy to know that some options are available. The best option is available to you only if you’ve signed your timeshare agreement in the past week. The state of Hawaii offers a seven-day cooling-off period, during which you are free to cancel the purchase and wipe the whole thing away. Given what we will see later on this page in terms of the complications that can come with timeshare ownership, being able to cancel your timeshare legally with no questions asked is an opportunity you don’t want to miss.
For those who are reading this within seven days of having signed a contract, the next step is simple – get in touch with the developer right away and tell them you would like to cancel. They are going to use some of the same sales pitches on you when asking to cancel as they used initially, but don’t be swayed. They have to honor your request under the law, so be clear about what you wish to do and proceed through the steps to make that happen.
Ask Some Direct Questions of the Developer
As described above, you’ll need to go through the developer if you have the chance to cancel your timeshare before the cooling-off period ends. But what should you do if it is much too late to take that path? We’d recommend still reaching out to the developer and asking about any options that might exist for owners who aren’t happy with their experience.
To be clear right from the start, this might not lead to anything. In fact, it’s probably likely that it won’t lead to anything, but it’s still worth taking a moment to reach out. If you are fortunate, your timeshare developer might have a program available that allows owners to get out of their contract and move on. You may just be able to give it back, or you might be asked to pay a fee to get out. Whatever the case, weigh your options and only proceed when you are sure you are making a choice that will be in your best interests.
Look for Places to Sell
While you are trying to work with the developer on getting out, you might also want to explore the possibilities of selling your timeshare on the open market. Again here, you’ll find a path that isn’t guaranteed to lead to anything, but you can give it a try and see what happens. Selling timeshares tends to be a challenging process, mostly because of the burden of maintenance fees and assessments that people will be hesitant to take on. You are eager to get away from those ongoing costs for a good reason, so others won’t be so excited about signing up to spend that money.
What you certainly don’t want to do is take your timeshare out to sell and expect to get anything near what you paid for it in return. Simply put, that isn’t going to happen. While it might not be nice to hear, your timeshare was never worth what you paid for it, and that money is gone. Unlike a true asset like a house or other forms of real estate, timeshares almost never increase in value, if they have any value at all. If you can simply manage to sell the timeshare for any amount and get away from the legal obligations that come with it, be happy with that outcome.
If you are fortunate enough to find a willing buyer, make sure to complete the sale legally and keep all documentation for the long run. As we will discuss below, you always want to be able to prove anything that relates to your timeshare ownership experience, so you can avoid difficult situations later on if a dispute arises.
Don’t Leave Anything to Chance – And Trust No One
As you work through the process of hopefully leaving your timeshare in the past, you may come into contact with several different people or groups within the developer’s organization. As you talk to different people and perhaps discuss various options, you want to find a way to have a record of those discussions. You can’t trust that you will be told the same thing from one day to the next, or from one person to the next. Always ask for everything in writing and then keep what you receive so you can prove it later.
This isn’t to say that the developer is guaranteed to treat you unfairly, but it wouldn’t be the first time. Timeshare companies aren’t necessarily known for being honest and forthright, although some are better than others. It’s up to you to cover your bases and protect yourself throughout. This is particularly important if you are given a way out. You need to be able to prove that this offer was made, or that you were told that your ownership had ended. If something comes back around later and the developer tries to claim that you owe money for fees or assessments, you need proof that they are incorrect.
A Common Problem with Solutions Available
It’s hard to put a number on exactly how many people want to get out of their timeshares, but it’s certainly a lot. Close to 10 million people in the United States alone have an ownership stake in a timeshare, and it’s safe to assume that a meaningful portion of that population is dissatisfied with the experience and would like to move on. That’s a huge group of people, then, who might need some help getting away from their timeshare once and for all.
When a demand like that exists for a service, you can be sure that companies are going to pop up to fill the demand. That’s what has happened in recent years with timeshare exit services. Companies have been created that are designed to serve unhappy timeshare owners who want to get out. These businesses are filled with lawyers and other professionals who have a number of tools available to them that can help you move toward ending your ownership. Some cases will be tougher than others but getting professional help can take a huge weight off of your shoulders.
The most important piece of advice that you can receive regarding hiring a timeshare exit company is that you want to be sure your money goes into escrow at the start, rather than right into the pockets of the company. Using escrow is an excellent way to protect yourself and make sure you aren’t taken advantage of while trying to get help. Not all of the timeshare exit companies you encounter will be up to the task, so take your time picking a proven organization and use escrow as an important layer of protection.
Ready to Leave Your Hawaii Timeshare?
Few places around the globe feature the natural beauty that is on offer in Hawaii. No one can blame you for wanting to travel to Hawaii with family or friends to have memorable vacations under the sun and in or around the bright blue waters. Is a timeshare the right way to have those experiences? Not necessarily. To work on getting out of your timeshare in the near future, call us at
833-416-8796 and learn more about your options. We also have a li