Home Switching 101: Strategies to Get Your Exchange Requests Approved
Swapoffi
25 Mar
Unlike most other forms of accommodation, when you switch homes as part of a home exchange, you “request” a swap, and not “book” one. Therefore, homeowners can accept or request any swaps with no maximum or no minimum.
If you are the only person requesting a home switch for a particular home, then you might be in luck and have your swap request accepted right away. However, many homeowners who are members of a swap community like Swapoffi, will receive multiple requests for their homes, particularly at peak travel times. That is why we want to share tips on steps you can take to improve your chances of getting your home switching request accepted.
Common Reasons for Rejected Requests
- Incomplete or Short Bio
- Incomplete or unattractive description of home
- Lack of communication
- Pets and plants
When considering hosting someone in your home, knowing a bit about them goes a long way. Our first tip for securing a home swap approval is to provide a friendly head-and-shoulders photo along with an engaging 'About You' for your home exchange profile. These details help your fellow swappers assess who might be staying in their home. Check out this swapper profile as a good example.
In situations where there are multiple swap requests for the same home, it's essential to stand out. Strike the right balance in your bio—avoid dullness or irrelevant details. Instead, share pertinent information like your country of origin, who will be swapping with you, your profession, hobbies, and your travel preferences.
Ensure your home photos showcase its best features. Each home has its unique charm, which is the beauty of home swapping. However, it's essential to make your bed and declutter before snapping pictures. Keep it authentic, though, as you want to align expectations with reality for arriving swappers. For more tips, check out our post on how to take great photos of your home.
Once you have submitted a home switching request, it is common for both parties to chat to answer any questions either may have. You might have questions about the area, the home or specific access or entry details. It is important to respond to any communications promptly and courteously.
While dedicated house-sitting sites require pet care responsibilities, limiting travel flexibility, Swapoffi differs. While not a house-sitting platform, some members may have pets or plants, or both. If that is the case, make sure that you declare any maintenance needs in your home. We offer filters for pet preferences to facilitate finding the ideal swap. It's all about aiding members in finding their perfect match.
Strategies for Getting Your Requests Approved
The first step to getting your home switching request approved is to craft an impressive home exchange profile and description of your home.
- Upload high quality photos of your home
- Upload horizontal images or hold your phone horizontally if taking pics.
- Save every image individually on each section.
- Make sure you click the "Save Images" button at the very end when you finish uploading all your images.
- Select a feature image by clicking the star in your chosen image.
- Only jpg, jpeg or png files are supported.
- If you are using an app to take high quality pictures, please upload a ‘snip’ of the image to ensure you have a compatible file.
- Provide detailed and accurate descriptions
- Showcase any unique features and amenities about your home or neighbourhood!
- Establish clear communication
- Be prompt in your responses.
- Express genuine interest.
- Address concerns proactively
A picture is worth a thousand words, and it can be the deciding factor that determines whether your request for a home swap gets approved. So, here are our tips for taking and uploading a great photo:
It's fine to have a fifth-floor walk-up without an elevator, but it's crucial to mention this in your home exchange profile upfront rather than after swap requests. Respect others' time and avoid inconveniencing them with last-minute disclosures.
If your location is not convenient and requires a car, say it in your home profile. You get the idea! Accurate and honest descriptions of homes are essential!
Don’t be shy! Use your profile to tell people why you love your neighbourhood. Is it because of public transport links? Friendly neighbours? A safe neighbourhood? Access to the beach, river, mountains or any green space? People may not have heard of your neighbourhood, town or city, so this is a great opportunity to promote it.
As no-one pays to swap a home, money is not a motivator for a home-owner when accepting swap requests. So it is in your interest to have a comprehensive personal profile to let the home owners know who might be staying in their home. This particularly applies if the home and location are in demand.
Communication is key, and can be a deciding factor for your home exchange approval. So, make sure to:
Be flexible and compromise
Our top tip for securing a home exchange is to stay flexible with your travel dates. That's why we've introduced the 'I'm flexible, let's chat' feature on Swapoffi. It's been a hit with our community and has significantly boosted confirmed swaps. After all, in a home exchange, your travel dates must align with someone else travel dates (or away dates), and the more flexible both of you are - the higher the chance it will be a match!
Be open to various destinations
Seasoned home swappers often find the most memorable exchanges in lesser-known destinations. If you're eyeing popular and pricey locations like London or New York, booking accommodation might be a better option than swapping. We encourage exploring the destinations within your swap community, reading homeowners' area profiles on Swapoffi, where they also provide local tips.
Send multiple requests to switch homes
Our last tip is to make multiple swap requests to increase your chances of getting one accepted. That is normal in home switching. Unlike hotels, homes are not available year-round. Homeowners have their own schedules and may receive requests from various platforms. Respect others' time by only requesting swaps you genuinely want.
Join Swapoffi today to access our fully verified homes, each equipped with a workspace and reliable Wi-Fi. With homes in over thirty countries and counting, our members enjoy working and travelling without accommodation costs. Where will your first swap take you?
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