Preparing Your DVC Contract for Sale: Documents and Steps
Selling your DVC membership goes smoothly when you're prepared. Before listing, gather key documents, make smart decisions about your points, and understand what makes contracts sell quickly. Here's how to prepare your contract for a successful sale in 2026.
Documents You'll Need
Deed and Contract
Locate your original DVC deed or purchase documents. While the title company can pull this from Orange County (Florida) public records, having your copy speeds the process and lets you verify contract details like point count, use year, and home resort. If you purchased at multiple resorts or added on, you'll have separate deeds for each contract.
Membership Number
Your broker needs your DVC membership number to verify contract details with Disney. This appears on your membership card and online account. If you have multiple contracts, each may have its own sub account number.
Account Access
Log into your DVC member account and confirm you can access point balance information, reservation history, and account details. Your broker may request screenshots of your point status to accurately market the contract. You'll continue using the account until the transfer completes (typically 30 to 60 days after closing).
Government ID
Valid photo ID is required for closing. If you've moved since purchasing, make sure your ID matches your current address or be prepared to provide address verification documents. The title company will need your current mailing address for closing paperwork regardless.
Point Status Decisions
Use or Include Current Points
This is one of the most impactful decisions you'll make. Including points makes your contract significantly more attractive and commands a higher price. A "loaded" contract (one with all current year points plus any banked points) often sells 2 to 4 weeks faster than a stripped one. The math usually favors including points: they add $5 to $15 per point to your sale price, which typically exceeds what you'd get from renting those points separately.
Banked Points
If you have banked points from the previous use year, these add substantial value to your sale. List them prominently in your contract details. Buyers love banked points because they provide immediate vacation flexibility from day one of ownership.
Borrowed Points
If you've borrowed from future years, those points won't be available to the buyer when that year arrives. Disclose this clearly in your listing. Borrowed points reduce your sale price proportionally, typically by $10 to $15 per borrowed point depending on the resort.
Maintenance Fee Status
Your maintenance fees must be current before listing. Unpaid fees can delay or completely block closing. At closing, fees are typically prorated between buyer and seller based on the use year. For example, if your use year is February and you close in August, you've "used" half the year and the buyer owes you for the remaining half.
If you're behind on fees, pay them up before listing. Some brokers won't accept listings with outstanding balances, and buyers will discover the issue during title search anyway.
Pricing Research
Before listing, research current market prices for your resort. Check multiple broker sites and aggregators for similar contracts. Pay attention to:
- Contracts at your specific resort with similar point counts
- Whether comparable listings are loaded or stripped (and price the difference)
- How long similar contracts have been listed (overpriced ones sit for months)
- Recent sold prices, not just asking prices (sold prices are typically 5% to 10% below initial listing)
Price competitively for a faster sale, or list higher if you're not in a rush and want to test the market. Just know that every month your contract sits unsold, you're accruing maintenance fees on points you may not use.
Choose Your Broker
Interview at least two or three brokers before choosing. Ask about:
- Commission rates (typically 7% to 15%) and any additional listing or closing fees
- Marketing strategy: do they list on aggregators like DVC Market?
- Average time to sell similar contracts at your resort
- Communication style: weekly updates, or only when there's an offer?
- Title company partners and their closing process
Read our guide on choosing the best DVC resale broker for sellers for detailed comparisons of the major brokers.
Listing Agreement Details
Once you choose a broker, you'll sign a listing agreement. Read carefully and understand:
- Listing duration (typically 6 to 12 months). Shorter is better for you.
- Exclusivity terms: can you list with multiple brokers simultaneously?
- Commission amount and when it's paid (at closing from proceeds)
- What happens if you cancel the listing early
- Whether the broker can adjust your asking price without permission
What Makes Contracts Sell Faster
Based on market data, these factors correlate with faster sales:
- Competitive pricing: At or slightly below current market rates for similar contracts
- Full point allocation: Current and banked points included (loaded contracts sell 50% faster)
- Popular use years: February and August are most desired by buyers
- Clean account: No outstanding fees, no borrowed points, no issues
- Desirable contract size: 100 to 200 points is the sweet spot for buyer demand
Be Ready to Act
Once your contract is listed, offers can come within days if priced correctly. Be available to review and respond to offers promptly. Buyers often have multiple contracts under consideration, and responding within 24 hours keeps them engaged with yours.
Your broker will present offers with recommendations. Remember that the first offer is often your best offer. Holding out for a higher price risks losing a qualified buyer who moves on to another contract. Trust your broker's market expertise when they advise on whether to accept, counter, or wait.
Once you accept an offer, the ROFR process begins. Disney has 30 to 45 days to decide. During this time, keep your maintenance fees current and don't use any points that were included in the sale. The finish line is close.
