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| Swop of the Week!! |
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| Location: Suburban |
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| Country: SOUTH AFRICA |
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FAQ's
Not 100% sure about holidayswopping vacations? Here are the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions and reservations.
Q: Why holidayswop?
A: Lots of reasons but in the main...cost, lifestyle, new friends, more flexibility, more choice, great fun and part of a growing trend that is being adopted by hundreds of thousands of people worldwide
Q: What is holidayswopping?
A: It’s a mutual exchange of homes, holiday homes or any other type of accommodation that you may have, usually at the same time, for an agreed period. It allows for people to use each others accommodation on a rent free basis and at the same time meet new friends, dramatically reduces costs of holidaying and at the same time give access to far more locations and types of holidays to go on. Homes don’t need to be of similar size or style or accommodation type, the fundamental principals remain the same. Both parties get to know each other through email or phone and as between them a decision is made as to whether a holiday swop is suitable and covers all aspects of a holiday that everyone is looking for.
Q: Can anyone take part in a holidayswopping experience?
A: Anyone with a home can take part. You should check with your landlord is you are living in rented accommodation as they may not be happy for you to swop their home!
Q: How many holidayswopping holidays can I make during my membership period?
A: As many as you like! Remember, you don’t always have to look for that trip across the other side of the world. Some people swop with other members within their own country for a long week-end break, city to the country or vice versa. There are no boundaries, only endless opportunities and often a new and lasting friendship with your fellow members
Q: What about any further charges?
A: None if you don’t want to. We do offer a facility to add your property onto our ‘featured property of the month’ which will go on the home screen and is guaranteed to give you more ‘hits’ but this is up to you. Your membership fee entitles you to access to the membership database for 12 months from date of registration.
Q: What happens if I refer someone and they join?
A: Two very important things happen. Firstly, when they join they will be invited to add in the membership number of anyone who referred them and secondly the network of available properties will grow giving more choice to everyone who is a member. We continually track member referrals and then on a chosen date, offer those members who have referred the most new members a discount onto their next renewal.
Q: It’s my first holidayswopping experience, have you any template guidelines?
A: ‘Yes’ there is a form you can print off and fill in which will assist in acting as a check list for you. Whilst it won’t cover everything, it will be a starting point from which to build on.
Q: How do I get started?
A: Firstly, you need to register. Once completed, all other members contact details will appear. Decide where you want to go and what you would like to do, ie active holiday, relaxing, by the sea etc and then start searching. If you are going to be registering your own property take a few moments to think about its appeal, the amenities around it, attractions within the location etc, remember the more people interested in your property, the more choice you will have in getting the holiday you want.
Q: When should I make contact with someone if I like their home?
A: As soon as possible. Don’t think that because your home is not a like for like match that the other member won’t want to swop. Sometimes you will find that members want the same type / size location, but other times they may want to try something completely different, that’s the beauty of the principals of holidayswopping.
Start with an e-mail, introduce yourself, your family and give the person your membership number so as they can see your property. You need to establish whether they are mutually interested in swopping as soon as possible to enable the communications to either continue or cease.
Q: Should I be worried about leaving my home with someone I don’t know?
A: ‘Holiday swoppers’ are like minded people. It is a lifestyle that hundreds of thousands of people worldwide enjoy and when anyone makes their first exchange they will have the same reservations as you do! Although there is no guarantee that your home will be treated well, having someone in your home at the same time you are in theirs gives each of you a great incentive to treat the home entrusted to you with respect and care.
Remember that by the time you are in their home and them yours, you would have made numerous phone calls or emails to build trust and rapor and may have even exchanged photos, local information etc and will feel confident in your decision to make the swop. Some people might chose to meet and greet their new found friends on the day they arrive to hand over keys, give a walking tour of the house etc whilst others might have a family member, friend or neighbour hand over keys and explain things such as heating operations etc. Getting good swoppers means your home is far safer than if you were to lock it up and go on holiday leaving it empty
Q: How many people should I contact?
A: As many as takes your fancy. Don’t restrict yourself and don’t be put off by people who don’t mention your area or country as a possible exchange location. They may welcome a suggestion from another member in an area they didn’t consider.
There is nothing wrong with contacting multiple members at the same time as often. Your first, second, third choice may not be available as someone has already arranged a swop with them, so give yourself choice and flexibility, everyone else will!
Remember, whilst you are making enquiries, so you should be getting some in, (a great feeling when a family in Canada or France or Dubai drop you an e-mail enquiry about a possible exchange! Balance these with your wishes and wants for a holiday and then narrow your choices down to a point where you are into the final stages of negotiating Don’t forget to e-mail any of those members who you decide not to continue arrangements with so they can likewise cross you off their list.
Q: Why do I have to pay a membership fee to see other people’s details?
A: First and foremost, you want to be sure that you are opening up your home to like minded people and offering free access to such information is not advisable. A small membership fee, (the cost of a very average family meal in a very average restaurant) demonstrates people’s commitment and genuine interest from yourself and other like minded holidayswopping families The subscription along with your details gives peace of mind to everyone that only like minded people are viewing the site with honourable intentions and the desire to arrange a successful holidayswop.
There are ‘subscription free’ sites but exercise caution if you go down this route - do you really want to entrust your home to people who aren’t prepared to make even a minimal financial commitment at the outset?' (From an article, 'Your new home from home', in The Sunday Times travel section, 10 October 2004).
Q: What about payment, can I pay online or can I pay by cheque / bank draft etc?
A: All of the above!
Q: Should I add photos to my listing?
A: Absolutely! Photos give feeling to a property listing and give other members a better ‘vibe’ and help paint a picture of the properties character:
To upload your pictures ensure that they are square in size and under 40Kb per image. If you are having trouble uploading or editing your images, please email them to info@holidayswopping.com and we will upload them for you.
Q: Should I consider holidayswopping for long term swops or exchanges?
A: Most people will use the service for short holiday swops, however, there is an option to offer a long term swop or a house sitting service so ‘yes’ use the site for all your requirements, it may not yield the result you are looking for, but then it may turn up the perfect solution. Remember to set out your offer or requirement at the time of registration
Q: I only have a small home, will anyone want to exchange with me?
A: Of course, there are no boundaries, restrictions or set criteria for holidayswopping, that’s the beauty of it. Just be honest on your appraisal of your own accommodation you are registering. Members are looking for a base to holiday from so as long as it fits that particular criteria and there family or individual needs can be accommodated, size, style or type of accommodation will only add to the whole experience of the holidayswop
Q: What about my household bills?
A: Bills normally continue to be paid by the home owner, (the phone costs being the normal exception). Again, these aspects of the holidayswopping experience are born out of trust and you will find that people will tend to treat and respect your home and associated running costs the ay they are expecting you to treat theirs. Whatever you agree, agree it in advance and then there is no confusion
Q: Should I inform my insurance company about my holidayswopping family?
A: ‘Yes’. It is normally taken in a positive light. It is fact that your home is far less likely to be burgled whilst occupied and therefore it is generally seen as a positive. It is important to tell the insurance company they are non paying guests. The only thing you must be mindful of is that a theft claim may not treated as such if there is no evidence of forced entry, so if you have items you are not comfortable leaving out, ensure they are removed and locked away safely prior to the exchange.
Q: What if I have a problem in someone’s home or them in mine during the holidayswopping?
A: Have a contact you can rely on. A friend, a neighbour, a family member. Just like when you go on holiday and leave your house un-occupied for a couple of weeks or a week-end or whatever, have someone look in from time to time to ensure everyone is OK. People will need to know how things work and don’t want to feel uncomfortable in your house whilst on the swop. Maybe have your members met and the key handed over and put them at ease and make them feel relaxed during their stay. These principals should then be applied during your stay I their accommodation. Experience will dictate a lot. As you get more used to swopping, you will refine the process and it will get easier and easier.
Q: I have pets?
A: Again, be up front. If you want a ‘pets and all’ swop then be clear from the start. Some people are happy with this set up, others aren’t. It will depend on the type of pet, (fish need no looking after, dogs needs regular walking)! Think it through and then put it on your registration form. If you are leaving your dogs and are not getting enquiries then maybe you consider revising your swopping criteria?
Q: What about swopping cars?
A: Again, like pets, can be a great set up if both holidayswopping families have transport, (cost savings as well will be significant), but again check your insurance, ensure it everything is legal and covered prior to handing over keys!
Q: When should we commit to flight / ferry tickets and other associated costs?
A: Make the final arrangements with your party and then commit a specific day to book your tickets. We would recommend that you then send each other a copy of the tickets by fax to reassure both parties all is done and confirmed. Generally, once significant amounts of money have been invested in getting to the destination country the likelihood, (short of sudden illness of other events out of your or their control) of cancellation is very slim. Buy your travel insurance as normal and ensure it covers cancelled tickets etc we will also remove any member who we feel has unduly cancelled without good reason and they will not be eligible to make any further exchanges
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