I guess I shouldnt really refer to them as my competitors. Clearly they do not have the industrys best at heart. But, yes, I got a postcard myself! It stated that as "the cheapest" in the industry, they would "relieve" the owner from their timeshare for $595. ofcourse I had to chuckle, as that "cheapest" in the industry rate is about $200 more then Resort Connections rates.

You know... you would think that if you were going to spend money on marketing then you might want to try to avoid sending one of your competitors such a cheesy joke of a postcard. I am tacking it up on my wall at my desk just so I can remind myself each day of what I am doing here.. trying to protect timeshare owners  from scammers like this!  
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There is something that gives everyone a sense that a resort is a little better then the rest when they hold a ROFR (Right of First Refusal) clause attached to their deeds. This clause basically states that if the owner decides to sell their property, then when a buyer is found, the developer retains the right to buy the property back themselves first. This can be very lucrative to the developer as he retains more inventory to sell again without the construction costs of a new villa or unit. Its good for the owner because the developer still pays the owner what they were selling the property for, but the buyer is usually the one who loses. This process makes it harder for a savvy buyer to buy on the secondary or resale market forcing them to buy at the full price the developer offers. Otherwise, the buyer then has to choose between biting the bullet on the price, or purchasing at another resort that they can buy on the secondary market, that wasnt what they really wanted to start with.

As you all know, I am in the business of taking unused timeshares off the hands of owners who have had their vacation lifestyle change since the purchase of the timeshare they own. These owners typically recieve a discount, or an equity trade value for the purchase of a product that more suits their current desires or travel needs. Unfortunately, in order to continue to provide an ethical, morally sound and beneficial product for owners, I have found myself caught up in a ROFR nightmare! I turned in 2 contracts to a resort whom I had found a buyer of the properties for. The resort excercised their ROFR and gave our proceeds to the old owner who had already recieved their credit at the new home base resort, had turned over ownership to us and left us responsible to pay 2012 maintenance fees on (which was all explained in the sales contract turned in with the ROFR request so the resort knew this in detail). Now, you give away your timeshare, and a few months later you recieve a check from your old resort for several thousand dollars... are you gonna jump up and ship that check off to the connection company? NO! This is frustrating that I have done everything I can to provide this positive service for the resorts and the clients, and yet a few select resorts are so hard to work with, and now the consumer whom I am trying to protect, has refused to return the act of being ethical and "doing what you say" by accepting and retaining the funds from the resort that were sent to them instead of my company. Very frustrating. 

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You know that my mission has been to prove to the industry, and the clients, that "yes" this can be done right, ethically and without scamming anyone. I am so frustrated that the clients are always willing to work with us, the providing resort is willing to work with us, but the developers out there of these poor clients are just refusing to ALLOW us to do it right. Now comes Wyndham... impossible.. they send you the transfer paperwork and requirements, you follow them.. you pay the appropriate fees and the client handles their end of the requirements and fees and then the resort decides mid-transfer to change the rules suddenly demanding the next two years worth of maintenance fees up front. Talk about unethical, changing the rules mid stream.. doesnt hurt me.. I can just drop the transfer.. it hurts the owner and gives the Wyndham owner a bad taste in their mouth over their own developer. This client is sending US the paperwork that Wyndham sent them showing them that they are stopping the transfer until these future fees (not even due for another 10 months) are paid. The client is not upset at us... they are upset at Wyndham.. so yet another resort developer who screams and whines that there are no legitimate players out there, takes yet another one and hurts their own client for it because you surely would not want to see anyone who does do it the right way.. that would totally ruin your ability to fuss about it wouldnt it?
Good job Wyndham...
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It's been quite awhile since I have taken the time to post here on my blog, but I promise to be better this spring about keeping it updated!

2011 proved to be an incredible year full of ups and downs for me at Resort Connections. I have high hopes and faith in our team for the new years challenges in 2012, but it doesnt come without effort. I find myself in a position where some resorts are trying constantly to put kinks in the red tape to make it more and more difficult for me and my competitors to do our jobs correctly, while the industry is screaming at us to get it done fast and right. Its a thankless job as far as the industry goes but I find my gratitude coming from my clients... the owners and vacationers of our great products!

I recieve emails on my personal email account (guess I am easily tracked!) as well as at my office, clients thanking me for our services that we offered and allowing them to make their needed changes to their vacation lifestyles without feeling ripped off or scammed as other companies had tried (often successfully) to do to them in the past. 

Being in this position has brought me some varied opinions on legal and political issues that I never previously felt inclined to be bothered with and I find myself as passionate now about our government and laws as I do about our industry and my career... the two go hand in hand in many ways and the effects of either faultering would be devastating in so many ways. 

In the meantime, I am about to start work with a webdesign team who will also work with our database needs and SEO needs. I am very excited to have met these guys. They have the same fire and spark that I enjoy feeding, and feeding off of and I am positive that we will team up to make Resort Connections, LLC an even bigger and brighter star than it already has become. 
 
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Its one of the hardships of this dreaded life in the timeshare industry... being forced to visit clients in some of the most  beautiful georgious locations on Earth and at top of the line accomodations. HA! And that is the reason I stay in the industry, so that others do not have to suffer such pampering and attention...

Pueblo Bonito resorts are my top client. I am so excited to get down there this weekend. I will be staying at the Pueblo Bonito Rose in Cabo San Lucas for one full week starting on Friday. I plan to bring back plenty of pictures from the stay to post here on the blog and hope you enjoy them as much as I will enjoy taking them! A big hats off to Eric White of Pueblo bonito for hosting me on yet another wonderful stay at his lovely resorts!  
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Harrisonburg, Va. – September 23,2011 – Resort Connections, (www.resortconnections.net) owned and operated by timeshare industry veteran Freda Stemick, has announced today its membership in to the American Resort Development Association (www.arda.org) as well as announcing its increased presence within the timeshare industry through strong growth during the second and third quarters of 2011.

During the second quarter of the year, it was clear that Resort Connections was providing a much needed and desired service to its clients as it experienced double the volume that it had experienced in the first quarter of 2011.

“Coming to the end of this third quarter, we have seen yet another doubling of volume from the second quarter. My business model was laid out with extreme care and caution from the start, and our philosophy since has been to remain Developer, ARDA, HOA and client friendly. “, says Freda Stemick, Owner and CEO of Resort Connections and writer of the Timeshare Girls Blog.

“The many great industry connections that I have from my years in our industry have proven to be an incredible resource to kick start me in this endeavor from the very beginning. This is why I felt it important for my company to join ARDA. It has been through my ARDA network of friends and colleagues, along with incredible past employers (also in ARDA) who have enabled me with the ability to start this program and see it become successful”.

Resort Connections will also be adding a Licensed Brokerage division during the 4th Quarter of 2011 and has positioned itself to accept an increase in clientele and resort accounts.  

About Resort Connections:
Resort Connections is a full service Equity Trade In program offering resorts a reliable and honest sales tool program. Resort Connections is working for and with developers, HOA’s and owners to find solutions to today’s timeshare industry issues.
For more information, continue to follow the Timeshare Girls Blog at www.timesharegirlsblog.com. You may also contact Freda Stemick at freda@resortconnections.co or visit our website at www.resortconnections.net for details about how we can help your resort or HOA.

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Check out our new advertisement in the Resort Trades!

http://resorttrades.com/directory.php?name=Resort%20Connections
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Check out the new format of our website! I am still working daily on adding to it but we are fully up and running with it now.. www.resortconnections.net .

Also, Resort Connections has officially submitted their membership application to ARDA! www.arda.org ! I am so proud of my little flourishing company!
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I am very excited to report that to date, Resort Connections is showing incredible growing power and progress! I have completed three quarters of the year in business and despite various road blocks and stumps as all new businesses face, i am not only still in business but am thriving forward into new levels of growth already!

I have recently shifted my company to a new structure. I had previously been contracting an outside company to handle my title transfers and sales, but as of recently, I have been able to bring all functions of the company processes into one home under me. I am moving from a Sole Proprietorship to an LLC and have a staff building rapidly while still bringing in a profit. 

Again, thank you to all of my ARDA friends in the industry who have assisted me in jump starting my business... thank you to all of the people that I have worked with through the years of my career who have taught me all that I know and who I know. Despite trying to be as careful as possible, I have indeed been through the run with people who have crossed my path with ill intentions, but as always, truth and honesty prevail. I have proven that and will continue to work with my clients to ethically assist them with their needs and will continue to do so without harming resorts, developers, HOA's, the clients or any one else who is affected. I do hope to see you all at the ARDA conference in DC this upcoming November!  
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I have gotten so terrible at posting my daily blog.. infact, I believe this is my first entry in a month or so. But never fear... I am still here! and yes, still busy in the industry.. infact, getting busier then ever which has been the reason for my quiet dissapearances. I have had to focus more time and energy on my company and business processes, and in the meantime have had the arrival of my second grandbaby! I am heading out for a week next week to Kansas to visit the little sweetheart and therefore, have spent the past couple of weeks really trying to get more done with my company, Resort Connections.
When the weather turns again to fall, I completely expect to have more time to blog and get back in to the industry as far as keeping up with what everyone else is doing.. I just hope in the meantime that everyone keeps up the level of paitence with my absence!
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