One of the primary reasons some people fall into the trap of scammers and frauds is that they do know their legal rights. It is always a good practice to know your rights when you are signing any contract or agreement. The timeshare industry is no exception. As with any other industry, the timeshare industry is also prone to unscrupulous tactics by some people. Stories abound of someone being duped into buying a timeshare and the property is not up to the standard of what they were promised, or, in some cases, may not even exist. This article will outline a few things to keep in mind while shopping for a timeshare.

We must first understand the different types of timeshare plans. There are basically two types. A deeded and titled timeshare and the second one are right-to-use (also as called license-to-use timeshares). A deeded and titled timeshare means the buyer owns the timeshare and acquires a specific facility for a specified length of time each year, for a specified number of years (generally 40 years) and a deed. A right-to-use timeshare means the buyer has the right to acquire all the above mentioned things except the deed (i.e., title). A deeded timeshare is inheritable whereas a right-to-use timeshare is like a lease which expires after certain number of years.

People working in the timeshare industry have taken to employing shady tactics in order to hook prospective clients so that they can give them the full whammy of their sales pitch. As a consumer, your first experience with this type of a salesperson might arrive in your mail as an exclusive invitation to a presentation about timeshares. You are told that those who attend will receive an expensive gift. Of course, the minute you accept the invitation and attend the presentation, you'll be swept into a high-powered sales pitch much like you'd expect from a car salesman who is pushing you to buy. This presentation may go on for as long as two hours in sometimes pretty horrific surroundings, during which time you'll be pummeled and harassed every way possible to try and coerce you to buy. People endure the trauma because of the promised gift. Unfortunately, the gift turns out to be nothing but a gimmick, and you'll have listened to all the sales spiel to receive junk. There are laws governing such presentation which include notifying you in advance of the length of time you'll be expected to stay and the physical condition of the building where the presentation is being held. Timeshare companies are also prohibited by law from misleading you about the market value of the timeshare or the potential for resale or exchange.

The law also prohibits timeshare companies from omitting any oral promises that were made before the purchase of the property in the written contract. Likewise, they may not include any kind of fees that were never mentioned orally. The rules may vary from state to state. Some states also have a "cool-off period" (usually of two weeks) to allow you to cancel your contract should you change your mind.

But these rights aren't the only matter to consider. You should also ask yourself questions like: is this particular timeshare the perfect fit for you? Did you or someone you trust go on location to inspect the facility? Have you checked for complaints by previous owners at the Better Business Bureau? Have you had the opportunity to talk to current owners of the timeshare property? And what are your plans for the timeshare: do you plan to rent it out, or to resell it? How often do you think you will visit this vacation site before you want to go somewhere new? All of these answers should be clear in your mind before coming to a decision on whether or not to buy a timeshare property. You don't want to put money down on a unit that isn't truly your dream vacation destination!