“I Need to Think About It”: How Waiting Quietly Becomes the Most Expensive Option
One of the most common things we hear from timeshare owners is: “I just need some time to think about it.” Before you decide to wait, it's vital to know the legitimate process to exit a permanent contract.
That response is understandable. Exiting a timeshare feels like a major decision, especially after years of being told to wait, upgrade, or hope things improve. Many owners are cautious by nature, and no one wants to feel rushed into another mistake.
The problem is that with timeshares, waiting is not neutral.
Why “Thinking About It” Often Means Doing Nothing
In most cases, “I need to think about it” does not lead to a new plan. It leads to:
- Another maintenance fee bill.
- Another year of ownership.
- Another increase in costs.
- Another round of frustration.
Months turn into years. And during that time, the financial obligation never pauses. Unlike other financial decisions, timeshare ownership does not sit quietly in the background while you decide. It continues to bill you every year whether you use it or not, often driven by unpredictable maintenance fee math.
The Math Owners Rarely Do
We regularly speak with owners who have been “thinking about it” for two, three, or even five years. When we review their numbers, a pattern emerges.
For example:
- Annual maintenance fees of $1,500 to $3,000.
- Sometimes higher with special assessments.
- No meaningful usage or realistic resale prospects.
After two or three years, many owners have spent most or all of what a legal exit would have cost, with nothing to show for it except continued obligation. By the time they move forward, they often say: “I wish I had done this sooner.”
Why Waiting Feels Safer Than It Is
Indecision often feels safer because it avoids immediate discomfort. There is no paperwork today, no upfront decision, no confrontation with the reality of the contract.
But this sense of safety is an illusion.
Waiting does not reduce:
- Maintenance fees or loan balances.
- Contract enforceability.
- Resort leverage.
- Future difficulty exiting.
In many cases, waiting makes the situation harder. Fees increase, accounts age, and options narrow.
[!IMPORTANT] This Is Not About Pressure. It’s about the reality of the ongoing financial obligation. Choosing to exit a timeshare is a financial decision, not just an emotional one. Many owners feel a sense of embarrassment that they waited so long. If that sounds like you, remember that you are not alone and your situation is fixable.
How Sales Conditioning Fuels Indecision
Timeshare owners are often conditioned by years of sales messaging to believe that next year might be better, or that availability might improve. This same thinking is what led many owners to upgrade or hold on longer than they should have. Indecision becomes another version of the same trap.
A More Useful Way to “Think About It”
If you need time, that time should be spent evaluating facts, not waiting passively. Productive thinking includes:
- Calculating your annual maintenance fees.
- Projecting five years of continued ownership.
- Comparing that number to a permanent exit.
- Understanding whether your situation is likely to improve.
When owners do this math clearly, indecision often resolves itself.
A Clear Path Forward
At NW Advisors Group, we see this pattern every day. Many of our clients waited years before moving forward and spent more in maintenance fees during that time than the cost of a lawful exit.
NW Advisors Group has been helping timeshare owners for over 15 years and is A+ rated and accredited with the Better Business Bureau. We guarantee a legal and permanent exit from your timeshare, or you get your money back.