The interviewer was most interested in the fact that our family of four had done a 3-day home exchange for a total of only $230 including all expenses. I guess the economy is bad all over.
I had prepared some notes on possible points of interest for British exchangers but the interviewer approached things from a very different angle. So I will share my thoughts on a UK to US swap with you:
"1) American home swappers tend to be quite open-minded and progressive. They are, by definition, interested in how people live in other countries. The more exchange homes listed in a particular region of the US the less likely it is that Americans there voted for George Bush or mirror stereotypes of the "ugly American". If only a few swap listings come up for a state or region, expect a relatively less sophisticated environment.
2) avoid real estate terms in your listing. Americans have no idea what "en suite" means. If you say your building has "a lift" they may imagine you live in a maintenance garage.
3) thanks to our nincompoop president the dollar is at an all-time low. Decreasing your American swap partners' travel expenses by, say, offering the use of your car, could make the difference between getting a swap and missing out.
4) most Americans don't know how to drive a stick shift (manual transmission). Few cars here take diesel fuel. Make sure your American swap partners know how to drive your car and what to put in the tank before handing over the keys.
5) Americans love quaint. See the home exchange movie "The Holiday" to discover the perfect American fantasy of a British swap home (stone walls, thatched roof, lots of tea cosies)."
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