Made an offer, mulling the counter offer.

[luckyman_apd]

The best way to go into a buy or sell transaction, if you have the luxury, is to decide the dollar amount at which you're willing to buy or sell first.

Too often, parties to a negotiation get overly focused on whether they are putting more money on the table than they have to to get the deal (or conversely, leaving money on the table). To me, that's a lot of wasted energy. If one is willing to pay X, getting worked up because you think maybe with more rounds of negotiation you could get it for X minus 500 is a spot that leads to more angst than the $500 might be worth.

The thing that makes it hard, though, is when you get new information. For example, it may be all well and good for me as a seller to say "I won't go under $90/point" when I get an offer at $85. But if, since I made my decision, several comparable units have sold for $86, I did a poor job of picking my number. Part of the calculation has to be assigning a value to the points that come with the contract. You might say, "I'll pay $88 for a contract with all 2012 points available," and then pick a number you'll pay for more points or deduct for fewer points. I think $8 is a reasonable number -- it's about half way between the dues on the points and the rental value of the points, roughly speaking.

So, if these were my touchstones, I'd be willing to pay:

For a 100 point contract, with all points coming in 2012: $8800.
For a 100 point contract, with 50 bankable 2011 points: $9200.
For a 100 point contract, with 50 2012 points borrowed: $8400.

Etc.

If you don't have immediate pressure to make a reservation, gather all the information you can and pick the best number you can, and if you can get to it, great, and if you can't, there's other fish in the sea. If you did your homework right, it will serve you well.

I posted on the first page, but I'll post it again. We did agree to meet their price. The difference was $650 more than what I thought was my top offer. I figured the 94 banked points was worth it as we can now upgrade our accomodations with that while still taking my parents. Thanks for all the advice. I don't feel like I paid too much, was just trying to get the best deal I could. The seller was willing to hold out for a while, and this is a perfect fit for us, so I didn't want to let it go over $650. Thanks again for all the help.

 

[Sandisw]

I posted on the first page, but I'll post it again. We did agree to meet their price. The difference was $650 more than what I thought was my top offer. I figured the 94 banked points was worth it as we can now upgrade our accomodations with that while still taking my parents. Thanks for all the advice. I don't feel like I paid too much, was just trying to get the best deal I could. The seller was willing to hold out for a while, and this is a perfect fit for us, so I didn't want to let it go over $650. Thanks again for all the help.

Congtatulations!!! You will enjoy the new points!!

 

[dbs1228]

I posted on the first page, but I'll post it again. We did agree to meet their price. The difference was $650 more than what I thought was my top offer. I figured the 94 banked points was worth it as we can now upgrade our accomodations with that while still taking my parents. Thanks for all the advice. I don't feel like I paid too much, was just trying to get the best deal I could. The seller was willing to hold out for a while, and this is a perfect fit for us, so I didn't want to let it go over $650. Thanks again for all the help.

I think you got a good deal and what you wanted congrats! Upgrading accommodations can be dangerous - addonitis later Enjoy.

 

[luckyman_apd]

I think you got a good deal and what you wanted congrats! Upgrading accommodations can be dangerous - addonitis later Enjoy.

HA HA! No, I think we broke the bank on this one. Not really, but persuading the wife to spend more on this in the future will be tough, unless she wants to start going more often. It's funny because I used to view Disney as the ultimate vacation luxury that you only do every 3 to 4 years because of the cost. But now that we've gone 3 times in 2 years (although one trip we were surprised by guests with an invite to stay with them for free just 4 months after we had previously gone) it really got us thinking about ownership.

The funny thing is, 3 years ago we stayed at Coronado Springs and really enjoyed it. We were thinking a Studio will be similar to that, but at a better location (BLT). We were going to get 100 pts, but after seeing this contract come along, and examine the points charts, it seemed like a safe bet to get a few more points with the 125. For the difference is dues is less than $10 a month right now. I'll take that to upgrade to a 1br for half of our trips. (originally figured fall 5 day in a studio, summer 7 day 1 bedroom...2 trips every 3 years) I can foresee the distant future my wife and I alone using studio's and going more frequently.

But I do see your point. Upgrading accommodations is dangerous as you set a higher standard for yourself.

 

[dbs1228]

I love the 1 and 2 bedrooms at BLT (3 teen daughters) 1 bedroom with 2 baths, 2 bedroom with 3 baths, big tub, full kitchen, washer dyer Well I already told DH there is no way I am going back even when we travel alone
Okay maybe someday when we have the time to stay longer. Staying at THV next month for 10 nights cannot wait to check them out but know I am going to miss the location of BLT!

Enjoy your points!

 

[bigtony777]

Congratulations on the acceptance! We were in the same boat as you. The counter offer was a little more per point than I really wanted to pay, but when you look at the little added cost over the life of the contract we did the same as you and accepted. We were lucky enough to find someone to rent 70 of our banked points that we were not able to use so we actually made back the extra money that we paid for the contract.

 

[luckyman_apd]

Congratulations on the acceptance! We were in the same boat as you. The counter offer was a little more per point than I really wanted to pay, but when you look at the little added cost over the life of the contract we did the same as you and accepted. We were lucky enough to find someone to rent 70 of our banked points that we were not able to use so we actually made back the extra money that we paid for the contract.

NICE!

We originally had planned on our Nov 12 trip as renting points from a friend, and renting 2 studio's. Then we decided if we were going to buy (debating it for a year) we should buy now, and use our own points. So we were going to buy and use ours, and rent points for the second studio for my mother and step father. The banked points we can rent to them, or as we now have decided, get a 2 br (thinking a lock off now rather than dedicated so I can get away from them if need be ) So even if they still pay the same amount they were going to pay to rent a studio, it makes up the difference. My wife is getting even more excited about it as each day passes so I know we made the right decision. I have wanted to do it since last year, but wasn't sure she was 100% on board with it. Now I know she is.

 

[goofy2008]

You can do it !!!

 

[VrBchJ]

I'm glad you decided to pull the trigger. It's so hard to find the right contract with the right number of points and the right UY. Even though it's more than you wanted to pay you'll get more than $650 worth of satisfaction from all the years of fun and enjoyment you'll have with the points. Think longterm!

 

[Tamar]

Oh, crap. Reading this thread has given me a case of addonitis. I have to get off the computer now!

 

[luckyman_apd]

Oh, crap. Reading this thread has given me a case of addonitis. I have to get off the computer now!