Selling your timeshare on the resale market can be a real headache. This is how the timeshare resale brokerage business came into existence: Many people would simply rather pay a salesman's commission than do all the work of researching and advertising on their own.

There are good points and bad points when it comes to working with a resale broker. Make sure you understand what you are getting into before you sign any contracts with any agencies, no matter how good their reputation is.

The Pros

When it comes to working with a resale broker, the pros are similar to those you experience when working with a Realtor on the sale of a primary residence:

• You do less of the legwork

• You benefit from the broker's expertise

• You have a legal buffer between you and the buyer

These are all good reasons for choosing to work with an agency, though you will pay for every single one of them in the form of the broker's commission. If you are willing to fork over a share of your earnings — perhaps in exchange for saving time and aggravation — then using a resale broker might be the right move for you.

The Cons

The reasons people choose to sell their timeshare units on their own, without a resale broker, are also similar to those that you may experience when working with a primary residence real-estate agent:

• You have to pay a commission

• You may have to sign an exclusive contract with the broker

• You have to do things the broker's way, not yours

Paying that commission aside, the most significant con when working with a resale broker is that sometimes you will be asked to sign a contract that gives the broker the exclusive right to list the property for several months' time. Only after you sign on will you get to see whether the broker is doing a good job of marketing your timeshare unit, and the contract will prevent you from switching to a different agency in a timely manner if things are going wrong.

There is also the matter of being forced to do things the broker's way, which sometimes can be frustrating if she is a stickler for old-fashioned sales methods that you feel are simply outdated. If this is of concern to you, be sure to have the broker outline her plans in writing before you sign a deal with her agency.

Tips for Finding a Pro

If the good points about working with a broker outweigh the bad points for you, then your next bit of business will be finding a reputable agency to work with on your timeshare resale.

There are more than enough people in the timeshare industry who claim to be resale brokers, but you will want to work with one who is licensed and who has a good reputation for previous sales. You can check with other timeshare owners in consumer group chat rooms for recommendations, or look for agencies that advertise the seals of the Better Business Bureau, National Association of Realtors, or American Resort Development Association. To learn more about any of these groups, look in Chapter 19.