Why
should I buy from a VOASA accredited member?
Member companies of VOASA agree to adhere to the VOASA Code of Conduct.
Violations attract penalties, which includes the blacklisting of transgressors.
What role does VOASA play with regards to consumers?
As the self-regulatory body for the shared vacation ownership industry
one of VOASA’s major objectives as far as consumers are concerned
is to provide information and offer a mediation service.
What
is the difference between conventional timeshare and the points-based
system?
Timeshare - A term used to describe a method of use and / or shared ownership
of vacation real estate where purchasers acquire a period of time (often
one week) in a unit or other type of vacation accommodation. Timeshare
is also known as “vacation ownership” or “shared vacation
ownership”.
Points - A “currency” that represents shared vacation ownership
usage and is often used to calculate a value for seasons, unit sizes and
resort locations. Points are used by some developers for both internal
and external exchange.
What
are levies and why do I have to pay them?
Shared vacation owners are required to pay a levy, usually on an annual
basis, to cover the running costs of a resort, which includes the daily
management, upkeep and improvements.
Can
I cancel my purchase agreement?
In every shared vacation ownership purchase contract you will find a clause
which is often referred to as the “revision”, “cool
down” or “cancellation” period. A period of time during
which a consumer has the right to cancel a purchase contract and obtain
a full refund of his/her deposit with no penalty. This is contained within
the New National Credit Act, the Estate Agents Act and is also stipulated
in VOASA’s Code of Conduct. The Revision or “cooling off”
period is 5 working days. This is just another example of the strong consumer
protections built into shared vacation ownership sales.
Where
can I buy shared vacation ownership products?
Browse through our membership directory for a list of VOASA accredited
shared vacation ownership companies.
How
can I sell my shared vacation ownership interest?
There will of course be situations where owners may need to dispose of
their shared vacation interest/points. However, as shared vacation ownership
is regarded as a long-term investment in holidays, as opposed to an investment
in real estate, it could be unrealistic to rely on realising the original
purchase price.
Bear in mind that some resorts/unit sizes are far more popular than others
and; as sales depend on current supply and demand it is not always possible
to guarantee a date for resale. Browse through our membership directory
for a list of VOASA accredited resales brokers and read the resale guidelines
to ensure you are well informed before proceeding with this transaction.
|