If your home available to swap includes a private swimming pool, you have a really good selling point for your exchange offer, especially to those Home Base Holidays members who live in cooler climates.
However, if you feel that your home has some features (possibly a pool) that could pose potential safety hazards for young children, elderly people or someone with mobility problems, do include any such pertinent information in your exchange listing. This will warn off those for whom your home may not be suitable, whether this is because of an unfenced pool, an open staircase, no handrails or the closeness of your home to a busy road. It is far better to lose out on a good exchange offer yourself than to find out later that a member of your exchange partner's family has had an accident while staying in your home. If you don't have young children or mobility problems yourself, it can be easy to overlook potential dangers such as these or to even think whether cleaning products and medicines are stored safely in your home. If your home is not really geared up for the needs of children, you will feel more relaxed if you restrict your exchange offer to adults only.
A friend has said that when she worked for the Citizens' Advice Bureaux one much quoted phrase was 'buyer beware'. In the case of home swapping, although it is hoped that all members will give accurate descriptions of their homes in their listings, all members are also responsible for checking that an exchange offer home will fit their own particular needs before agreeing to a swap. Ask as many questions as you want (and ask for extra photos, including of the pool area) but, if you don't get satisfactory answers, decline the offer at an early stage so that both of you can move on to look for more appropriate exchange homes.
It's much better to decline a home exchange offer that may not be quite suitable than to face anxiety for your family later while on holiday in the home, however enticing the thought of having a private swimming pool may be when making your summer exchange plans in the depths of winter.
Comments