How to avoid Risk of Renting??? Advice???

It sounds risky and way too one-sided towards the seller of the week. When I rented out my last week I sent a paypal request for the funds to the buyer. The request referenced the redweek week offered and its conditions so I felt covered without any additional contract. The buyer paid the request for funds and the deal was made. Using paypal cost me maybe $50, the buyer nothing, but I found it painless and reasonable safe to both buyer and seller.

An update on this potential transaction. We've been exchanging a few emails with me trying to get some security for me - I asked him to at least sign the contract and give the resort permission to tell me he actually owns the week. His response just came in, he claims there are others inquiring about this unit and if he signed the document, it would take an extra 3 days for the whole process (shipping time) making me less likely to 'win' the week. He also wouldn't call the resort, claiming they wouldn't give me any information no matter what he tells them. I'm simply suppose to trust his words because he claims he has been renting this unit for 10 years. I'm calling BS and am done with him.

If I rent out a week, I send a copy of the reservation confirmation which shows my name as an attachment to the contract. Once I receive the signed contract back and the payment clears, I provide the revised confirmation again showing my name but also showing the renter's name on the reservation as the guest. I make every effort to ensure that the renter is comfortable with the reservation. The renter can call the resort, etc. as they want.

I have rented several timeshare units over the last 5 years all through redweek.com. I've had great transactions (and luck). What I've done is had the owner request the unit & week I want and if available, reserve in my name. Once that's done, I get an email confirm with my name and my dates sent to me. I then call the resort directly to confirm the reservation details. If these things are confirmable, then I will send payment (cashier's check or money order) to the owner.

I guess my only real risk is if the owner subsequently cancels or changes my reservation without my knowledge. I'm assuming a ligit owner wouldn't want to do that because I would initiate feedback and complaints and legal action against that owner. They wouldn't be on redweek much longer.

where would you suggest getting cancellation insurance

lancec13 wrote:

paul1616 wrote:

Considering renting my...Never having done it before, I looked thru' RedWeek's rental/escrow agreement and see no cancellation policies so you could be left up in the air with 60dys to go :(

How do you other owners cover this ?

Like many owners do, they say "Pay in full now before I book it for you and put your name in the rental agreement. If you're worried about having to cancel after you pay, then I suggest buying cancellation insurance."

CSA and Travelguard both offer vacation insurance. It would be the same for renting a timeshare as renting a week from a private owner's vacation house. There may be others. Do a search for vacation insurance.