He bought a timeshare because he feels he doesn't have enough time to plan his vacation, but he knows he still has to take time off each year. He works long hours, but he hoped a timeshare purchase would achieve some balance between his work and personal lives.



This is an extreme case but it got us thinking about the reason for buying a timeshare. Most people want to achieve a balance between the Two Es: Emotion and Economics.

We believe a successful timeshare purchase provides a balance between these two Es.Here's how:

The First E: Emotions

Certain people and places always stick with you. Great times, food, scenery, friends. Many of us have great memories of places we want to go back to every year. We hope to recapture feelings we first experienced at these places.

Such a place is Cozumel, Mexico. It provides not only a wonderful timeshare vacation for people, but it was also the honeymoon for a couple we know. The couples entire trip was amazing, from the great food (the newlyweds actually found a wonderful Italian seafood restaurant there), great diving (the groom remembers his brides eyes when she saw her first barracuda), and friendly people.

It probably will not come as a surprise that we keep our eyes open for Cozumel property.

Emotions help us focus on what really matters in life.

The Second E: Economics

When you say this E Word, people think of accountants with green eyeshades. But thats far from the truth.

Economics in a timeshare purchase is a simple matter of looking at the yearly cost of a vacation. Economic factors to consider include:

What is the best value for my vacation investment?

What places offer me the best bang for my buck?

What can I afford each year and not have to worry about paying the credit card bill after the trip?

These may be boring questions, but the emotional value of this economic approach is anything but boring. Answers to these money issues can offer you great peace of mind.

Lets look at a couple scenarios where the economics and emotions are out of balance.

More Emotion than Economics

Does that sound familiar? Have you ever noticed a great commercial in which the product is secondary to the emotions you feel? All you have to do is purchase the product and you will feel the emotions in the commercial.

Have you ever noticed travel web sites never show an unhappy flyer or a seasick cruise passenger? You dont want negative emotions anywhere near the product being sold.

Remember this as you look at timeshare auctions. Like all companies marketing travel products, TimeshareValues want to show our timeshares in the best positive light. However, thats very easy, since we believe so much in the product and how it improves the quality of a vacation.

Making a buying decision based more on emotion than economics has been the American Way of Marketing for decades. But the Internet is helping to change this, since you can find a wealth of invaluable information before you make a purchase. You can do extensive research before a making purchase, checking out the Timeshare Users Group (http://www.tug2.net), viewing other timeshare auctions and classified sites, and even calling a the resort.

When a buyer makes a purchase based on emotion, he or she will usually pay more for a product than necessary. A few dollars isn'tt a big deal, but injecting a little economics can be very helpful. We love people who ask enthusiastic questions. They get more information, which lends excitement and fun to the bidding process.

More Economics than Emotion

In his book Dont Worry, Make Money, Richard Carlson has taken a time-worn phrase and re-engineered it. He has a chapter titled:

Consider the Possibility that if it Sounds too Good to Be True It Might NOT Be

Read that again slowly. Carlson states that cynicism, doubt and suspicion cause people to miss out on excellent opportunities. We see this every day.

We get e-mails that say:

* Why so cheap what is wrong with this property?

* What havent you told me in your auction?

* This is a rental right?

These people are interested, but theyre also very wary. Some are wary to the point where they dont participate. Their decision is based on economics and some negative emotions.

These wary people dismiss the prospect of a good deal, because theyve heard about the prices others have paid. But if they were to ask us, we would tell them 500,000 timeshare owners want to sell their properties, and that creates a huge buyers market.

Our company buys properties at a low price and sells them for more than we paid for them. Of course, we make a profit, but we let the market tell us how much the profit will be. People who are more driven by dollars than emotion struggle with this. But this approach has worked for us more than 300 times, so there must be something it!

There is an added business benefit to our approach: Our timeshare products dont sit around they always sell. This means we return our capital faster to purchase more timeshare properties. People who value economics like to hear that. Its key to our business model.

Finding Your Balance

Rarely is a decision based on equal parts emotion and economics. These factors come in different strengths for different people.

We propose an exercise that is effective for everyone. If you are inclined towards one E Factor or the other, work on the weak side before you place a bid. When you find the right balance, your Emotional Side will be happy, and your Economical Side will let you sleep at night.

Our auction web site provides detailed articles help your Economical Side plan better, and pictures and personal stories will give your Emotional side a lift by showing you those places you just HAVE to visit!

Get your life in balance today!

Kevin Co writes for where you can find out more about .