Many people do not go for direct exchange time share. It is however still a possible option for your vacation property time. You might want to try it if other time share exchange methods do not work for you anymore. What does it involve?

Direct Exchange

A direct exchange of your time share is exactly what it sounds like. You simply have to find someone who wants to swap his week in a vacation property with your week in another vacation property. Naturally, your respective vacation properties should be within legitimate time share programs.

In a direct exchange time share, an individual who wants to trade vacation property time will have to take care of everything from contacting the person whom you want to trade property with. Some still prefer this direct exchange scheme simply because it dispenses with the fees that trading companies charge. One also has more independent control over the details of the exchange.

Alternatives to Direct Exchange

The only other alternative to a direct exchange is to use a middle entity to facilitate the exchange. This can be a time share exchange company or a resort or hotel franchise that facilitates exchanges among its ring of member properties. Although direct exchange time share may offer more independence, others might opt for the company-assisted method of exchanging time shares.

Most property owners prefer this options since with this mode, you have a reputable company that can ensure that all its registered member time share owners are legitimate. This can also be quite convenient for those who prefer near automation of procedures. Depending on the company you are with, it may help you with finding the perfect exchange traders according to the parameters that have been provided. Different time share agencies also have a host of other benefits. They do however charge potentially steep fees that would otherwise have been absent in a direct exchange.

How to Exchange Directly

There are different ways to go about direct exchange if you want to save some money on exchange agency fees. Here’s how you can perform direct exchanges.

- In some cases, the same exchange companies that charge fees for facilitated exchanges may give you the option to exchange time shares on our own with other members. You take control of everything in the transaction. Exchange agencies still charge fees for direct exchanges but are usually lower than that paid by those who opt for indirect or assisted exchange. The fee is for allowing your time share to remain posted on the data bank and searchable by other members.

- There is also the option of exchanging directly with those who are in public listings. These listings are not exchange companies. They are simply lists or advertisements of time share properties. You can directly contact owners to get the desired exchange. List sites may or may not charge fees.

- Anything can be sold in auction sites. It seems that this is also true for direct exchange time share properties. Your actual objective may actually be to sell but your item could be spotted by someone who would prefer to exchange instead.