Sell DVC Points: Your Guide to Selling Disney Vacation Club
Selling your Disney Vacation Club membership involves transferring your ownership to a new buyer through the DVC resale market. We've helped hundreds of families through this process over the past 25 years, and understanding the key steps can help you achieve a successful transaction while avoiding common pitfalls.
The DVC resale market is well-established and active, with most contracts selling within 60 to 90 days when properly priced. Your broker will charge a commission (industry average is 9.5%, though our commission is 6.9%), and you'll pay a $150 estoppel fee to Disney for the required ownership verification documents.
Why Members Choose to Sell
DVC members sell their contracts for various reasons, and all are perfectly valid. Life changes like relocation, retirement, family changes, or health issues can make maintaining the membership impractical. Sometimes financial priorities shift, or vacation preferences change over time.
Other members find they purchased more points than they actually need, or they prefer the flexibility of booking different destinations each year rather than planning around their DVC home resort priority. Whatever your reason, the resale market provides a straightforward path to transfer your ownership to buyers who are eager to join Disney Vacation Club at a more affordable price point.
Gathering Your Contract Information
Before listing your contract, you'll need to collect specific details that buyers require to evaluate your membership. This includes your contract number, home resort, annual point allocation, use year (the month your points are allocated each year), and the current status of your points.
Check that your annual dues are current with no outstanding balances. If you have any financial obligations to Disney, you'll need to resolve these before closing. Also determine whether you have points available to use, points that have been banked from previous years, or if you've borrowed points from future years. This point status significantly affects your contract's value and appeal to buyers.
You can find most of this information by logging into your DVC member account online or calling Disney Vacation Club Member Services. Having these details ready speeds up the listing process and helps your broker provide accurate information to potential buyers.
Selecting a DVC Resale Broker
Most sellers work with licensed resale brokers who specialize in DVC transactions. A good broker will list your contract across multiple platforms, market it to their established buyer database, handle negotiations, and coordinate the entire closing process. Their expertise and relationships typically result in faster sales and better prices than selling independently.
When evaluating brokers, compare their commission rates, marketing reach, and track record. Ask about their average time to sale, how they determine pricing recommendations, and what support they provide throughout the process. A professional broker should offer transparent communication, realistic market guidance, and prompt responses to your questions.
Look for brokers who are licensed in the state where they operate and who carry appropriate insurance. They should provide you with a clear listing agreement that outlines commission rates, marketing commitments, and the terms under which you can terminate the agreement if you're not satisfied with their service.
Setting the Right Price
Pricing your contract correctly is probably the most important factor in how quickly it sells. Your broker should provide you with recent comparable sales data for contracts similar to yours, showing what similar memberships have actually sold for in the past few months.
Several factors influence your contract's value. Home resort is significant, with some resorts commanding higher resale prices due to location, amenities, or booking advantages. Point count matters because larger contracts often sell for slightly higher per-point prices. Use year affects value, with some months being more desirable than others. The current point situation (loaded with points, stripped of points, or standard) also impacts pricing.
Overpricing typically leads to your contract sitting on the market for months while buyers purchase other options. Underpricing means leaving money on the table. Work with your broker to find the pricing range that attracts serious buyers while maximizing your return. You can always adjust the price if market response isn't what you expected.
The Marketing and Listing Process
Once you've agreed on pricing with your broker, they'll create a listing for your contract and begin marketing it to potential buyers. Quality listings include all the essential details buyers need: resort, point count, use year, point status, annual dues amount, and asking price. Many brokers also provide photos of the resort and detailed descriptions of the amenities and location benefits.
Your broker should list your contract on their own website and potentially syndicate it to other DVC resale platforms for maximum exposure. They might also email information about your contract to buyers who have expressed interest in similar memberships.
Stay responsive during the listing period. If your broker contacts you with questions from potential buyers, offer updates, or negotiation opportunities, prompt responses help maintain buyer interest. Active engagement often makes the difference between a browser and a serious buyer.
Handling Offers and Negotiations
When buyers submit offers, your broker will present them for your consideration. Each offer typically includes the proposed purchase price, any special terms or conditions, and information about the buyer's financing and qualifications. You have three options: accept the offer as presented, reject it entirely, or counter with different terms.
Consider more than just the price when evaluating offers. A cash buyer with no financing contingencies might be preferable to a slightly higher offer that depends on loan approval. Buyers who seem genuinely interested in your specific contract and resort often make more reliable partners than those shopping multiple options simultaneously.
Remember that even accepted offers must survive Disney's Right of First Refusal review. Disney has the option to purchase your contract at the agreed price instead of allowing it to transfer to your buyer. If Disney exercises this right, you still receive the full sale price, but you'll need to relist the contract for new buyers. ROFR decisions typically take 30 to 45 days.
Understanding Right of First Refusal
Disney's Right of First Refusal (ROFR) is a standard clause in all DVC contracts that gives Disney the option to purchase your contract at the agreed sale price before it transfers to a third-party buyer. This mechanism allows Disney to maintain some control over the resale market and the availability of DVC memberships.
ROFR patterns vary by resort and market conditions. Disney tends to exercise ROFR more frequently on contracts priced significantly below market value or for resorts where they want to maintain inventory. Contracts priced at or above recent comparable sales often pass through ROFR without Disney's intervention.
If Disney does exercise ROFR, you receive the same proceeds you would have from the original buyer. The process simply means finding a new buyer for your contract. While this can be frustrating, it's not a financial loss, and your broker will relist the contract at no additional commission charge.
Closing Your Sale
After your contract passes through ROFR (or Disney waives their right), the transaction moves to closing. A licensed title company handles document preparation, signature collection, and fund distribution. You'll sign a deed transferring ownership to the buyer and receive your proceeds minus the broker commission and any outstanding fees.
Most closings happen remotely, with documents sent to you via overnight mail or through secure electronic signing platforms. You won't need to travel or attend meetings in person. The title company coordinates with Disney to obtain the estoppel certificate (verification of your account status and contract details) and ensures all required documentation is properly completed.
The entire closing process typically takes two to four weeks after ROFR waiver, depending on how quickly all parties complete their required steps. Your proceeds are usually delivered via wire transfer within a few business days of closing completion.
After the Sale Closes
Once closing is complete, the title company records the deed in the appropriate county and notifies Disney of the ownership transfer. Disney will remove your name from the account and register the new owner. Your responsibilities as a DVC member end at this point, though you should keep copies of all closing documents for your records.
If you had any unused points in your account at the time of sale, those typically transfer to the new owner as part of the transaction (unless specifically negotiated otherwise). Any future point allocations will go to the new owner, and they'll be responsible for all future annual dues payments.
Tips for a Successful Sale
Several strategies can help ensure your contract sells quickly and smoothly. Keep your annual dues current throughout the selling process, as buyers can't close on contracts with outstanding balances. Be flexible on closing timing when possible, since some buyers need specific timeframes to align with their financing or personal schedules.
Stay informed about current market trends and pricing in the DVC resale market. This knowledge helps you make informed decisions about offers and pricing adjustments. Maintain good communication with your broker and respond promptly to any requests for information or documentation.
Consider the timing of your sale if you're not under immediate pressure to sell. Market conditions can vary throughout the year, with some periods showing stronger buyer activity. Your broker can advise you on optimal timing based on current market trends.
Working with an experienced DVC resale broker who understands the market and process can make the difference between a smooth transaction and a frustrating experience. The right professional guidance helps you price competitively, market effectively, and close successfully while maximizing your return on the investment you made when you first purchased your Disney Vacation Club membership.
