SURVIVING THE CONSECUTIVE SWAP

Should you accept a home exchange offer if other exchangers will use the swap home before or after you? Yes, but follow some simple guidelines to protect yourself.


AVOID HE SAID/SHE SAID

You face the same risk a home-owner faces from doing two or more consecutive home exchanges.


Any damage or loss experienced by the home-owner may be attributed to you. That could be the case even if the problem is the fault of the swap family that uses the home immediately before.


This may sound paranoid but it couldn't hurt to take some "before and after" photos.


To make sure there is no confusion about when the photos were taken, use a method that clearly demonstrates on which date you are shooting the pictures.


People sometimes hold up the front page of that day's local newspaper. This method shows the photos were taken sometime on or after that date but it isn't sure fire proof of the date. You could be using an old paper at a later date.


A better idea is to email yourself a copy of the photos taken on the same day of the newspaper used in the shot. The "sent" date on your email proves when you sent the pictures.


Having photos to show the condition of the home lets you prove if things were pristine or not when you arrived and left. Damage left by other swappers can't be blamed on you.