TIPS TO HELP YOU LAND A NEW YORK SWAP
"If you are like many of our members, you may be considering a New York City swap. We've put together 10 helpful tips (we hope) that might just make a difference on whether you succeed in finding a New York swap.
Note that the following tips are also relevant for other destinations, so read on even if a New York home exchange is not in your immediate travel plans.
First, a little dose of reality. If your effort to find a New York swap consists of simply adding a home exchange listing with a note indicating your interest in New York, then unless you are very lucky, it isn't going to happen!
New York City is the most sought-after exchange destination."
I knew that my town was popular but I did not realize that it was the MOST in-demand swap location. On the one hand, hotel rooms here are expensive, tiny and shabbier than in other locations due to high traffic. However, there are so many housing units in New York City and the surrounding suburbs that I can't imagine it is that difficult to get a swap here. The folks at 1stHomeExchange.com see things differently:
"There is more demand for New York than supply. We did an informal analysis and found that there are 10 times more people looking for an exchange in New York City than available New York swaps. Not only is this the case on 1stHomeExchange.com but it's also true for other home exchange sites.
So how do you go about getting one of these elusive NYC swaps?
1. Add a listing that markets your home and location - explicitly outlining the advantages. Ask yourself, why would someone want to come to my town/city and why would they want to stay in my home? Include information that helps sell your location - local attractions, ease of traveling to tourist sites, parks and playgrounds for children, and more. (Please keep it honest.)
The visitor reading your listing is probably not familiar with your area and will not know what makes your location a great holiday destination. Including relevant travel information about your area will help "sell" your offer."
I agree with this advice 100%. It is exactly what I have been telling my readers for years -- especially the part about keeping your description from veering off into the realm of fantasy. You don't want someone with the keys to your front door to be mad that the "pool" in your backyard is inflatable and has a cartoon character theme.
"2. Contact the New York listings that interest you. It is unlikely that someone from New York is going to contact you simply because you indicated New York as a destination.
It's unfortunate to see how many people only post a listing and never even contact a single listing. And of course these people are then disappointed because they are unable to find an exchange."
As someone with a large (by Manhattan standards) apartment in a prime location, I can verify that I never send out home exchange offers any more. Despite being very clear in my listing that I am only interested in the US East Coast, West Coast and Latin America, I still get hundreds of listings per month. I do respond to every offer I receive, and I set up swaps with anywhere from 3 to 8 families per year. So don't be shy about contacting the New York City folks first.
So far, so good. But some of the advice for a potential Manhattan swap doesn't ring true. More on that next time.
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