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Author:
Chris Robertson

You're considering a timeshare for your next investment, but you've just learned about additional charges called "maintenance fees." This frightens you a bit because it seems to be just another add-on fee you'll have to pay. But actually, maintenance fees can be a good thing. Imagine buying a vacation home and being able to pay a set yearly fee to take care of all maintenance and other expenses! That would be a dream come true, but it's usually not possible with normal real estate. With timeshares it is possible, and owners are benefiting every single year.

What are Timeshare Maintenance Fees?

Maintenance fees are paid annually when you buy a timeshare. The fee may cover all or many of the following: timeshare maintenance, furnishings and carpet, property taxes, insurance, cable television, phone and utilities. Those who buy timeshares are financially responsible for the up-keep of the timeshare unit while the condo personnel are responsible for the physical, or hands-on, up-keep of the timeshare unit.

Benefits of Timeshare Maintenance Fees

Probably the greatest benefit of timeshare maintenance fees is you don't have to worry with the up-keep of your vacation property. The timeshare unit will be cleaned on schedule and receive repairs when needed - without your direct supervision. Obviously, if you buy a timeshare far away from your home, it would be very difficult to keep things running smoothly. For example, living in New York would make it very difficult to supervise Tahoe timeshares, Orlando timeshares or Las Vegas timeshares! The distance is too great.

Another benefit is you can cover many small expenses in just one yearly payment. Instead of having different bills for services like water, phone, cable, insurance, taxes and repairs, you can pay one yearly fee to take care of all these at once.

Don't be Afraid to Ask about Maintenance Fees

Before you buy a timeshare, be sure to ask about the maintenance fees. Find out what is covered and what is not covered beforehand. Also, be sure there are no other hidden costs. Read your contract carefully. The company that sells timeshares is responsible for including a thorough description of what your fees will include in your contract. Don't settle for anything less. Even in a timeshare resell situation where you are buying from another owner, be sure this information is disclosed in the contract. Those who rent timeshares also have a responsibility to let you know if there are other fees. So, always read the fine print!

Owning a timeshare is similar to owning any other vacation property. There will be additional costs any time you invest in a property, even if it's only for a space of one week out of the year. Think of maintenance fees as all your extra timeshare expenses in a bundle. It's a small price to pay for peace of mind and a worry-free vacation!

Chris Robertson is an author of Majon International, one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing companies on the web. Learn more about Timeshare Maintenance Fees or Majon's Travel directory.

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A Quick Note From The Publisher... If you like the article above, you may be interested in the following article which is also related to Timeshares... To Timeshare Or Not Timeshares are a large part of the vacation travel industry. Travelers who cannot afford to own a home abroad, or who don't want the worries associated with exclusive ownership, often see timeshares as an affordable alternative. However, unscrupulous salespeople, poorly maintained properties and unexpected hidden costs have brought a lot of bad publicity to the industry. A well-informed consumer can avoid the common pitfalls. It is always risky to buy property sight unseen, but many people do this when they purchase timeshares. If you purchase in an area where you wish to vacation, you may be unpleasantly surprised when you arrive at your destination. However, many timeshares are purchased with the intent of trading them for others in different locations, and in this case the location of the property is a bargaining chip, not the actual physical property. Timeshares in prime locations such as Hawaii are easier to trade than others. Recently, big corporations such as Disney, Hilton, Marriott and Hyatt have entered the timeshare market, and their properties are of a uniform standard around the world. First, you should know that if you buy a new unit directly from a timeshare company, it may cost up to 60% more than if you purchased from the resale market. Buying from a time-share company is more expensive primarily because of the company's marketing costs, which include free trips, meals and vacation activities for prospective buyers. Most customers of these timeshare companies buy on impulse, without any intent to purchase when they first walked into the timeshare seminar. Hard-sell tactics and "Buy-it-NOW-one-time-only-offers!!!" are the rule, and to avoid being pressured into a bad deal, the best tactic is to...