We have discovered Mr. Serafano is running a timeshare listing service. Mr. Serafano is neither licensed nor authorized to sell or list timeshare real estate in any of the states he is purporting to be able to.
Mr. Serafano charges between $500 and $1,000 for his "listing services"
THE RESALE SCAM
Unscrupulous companies may contact you by phone or mail. Salespeople are likely to tell you the market for resales is "hot" and that their company has a high success rate in reselling units. They may claim to have extensive lists of sales agents and potential buyers. For an advance "listing" fee, often $300 to $500, some salespeople promise to sell your timeshare for a price equal to or greater than your purchase price.
In reality, the market for resales may vary considerably, depending on the location and time of year. The lists of sales agents and buyers may consist of people who have never heard of the company or have no interest in buying a timeshare. It may be unlikely that the company can sell the timeshare at all, let alone at a price equal to or greater than your original purchase price.
IF YOU WANT TO SELL
If you want to resell your timeshare and are approached by a company offering to help, consider taking these precautions:
Don't agree to anything over the phone until you've had a chance to check out the company. Ask the salesperson to send you written materials. Find out where the company is located and where it does business. Contact the Better Business Bureau, state Attorney General, and local consumer protection agencies in the state where the company is located. Ask whether complaints have been lodged against the company.
Ask if the company's salespeople are licensed to sell real estate by the state where your timeshare is located. If so, verify this with the state licensing board.
Be wary of companies charging an advance "listing" fee for services. Consider opting for a company that offers to sell for a fee only after the timeshare is sold.
You have several other resale options. You may try selling your timeshare yourself, by placing an ad in a newspaper or magazine, or contacting a real estate agent familiar with the area.
If all the timeshares have been sold in your development, consider asking the seller to establish an on-site resales office. As an alternative, you may consider an exchange program. For a fee, these programs allow you to arrange trades with other resort units in different locations. If you have been approached by Mr. Serfano or any of his companies, ask them to explain their record on the usacomplaints.com.
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