How do I contact a property owner advertising here?

You must be registered as a member, and have a property listed for swap or sale on International Property Swap. Once you have a property listed, and are a paid up member, you can 'log in' and a 'contact button' will appear underneath each advert which you can click on to contact the owner.

Do I have to list my property for swap before contacting an advertiser?

Yes. Everyone who advertises on International Property Swap is seriously committed to swapping or selling their property. Therefore, we have made this rule, so to avoid advertisers being bothered by potential time wasters.

How much does it cost?

Membership is just £29.99, and entitles you contact other property owners advertising on this website, and also list one property for swap or sale for an unlimited period of time.

How long will my advert run for?

There is no time limit at all, and you can leave your advert running until you have successfully swapped or sold your property.

How long will my membership last?

For as long as you have a property listed for swap or sale on this website.

Are there any hidden costs?

Absolutely not! Our fee is just £29.99 whatever the value of your property. There are no hidden costs, or commission fees to pay - ever!

What if I want to list more than one property?

You can list as many properties as you wish. If you want to list several properties at one time, please contact us and we can offer you a special multi listing discounted price.

I'm an Estate agent, can I advertise on International Property Swap?

Yes we welcome Estate agents, and can offer attractive rates for multi-listings. Our terms and conditions are different from standard membership, so please contact us to discuss your requirements, and to set up an account.

Can I list my property if I don't have any photos?

Yes, your listing will be very welcome and will still be viewed by potential swappers. You will be able to edit your advert at any time, so if you want to add photos at a later date, that's no problem!

What if I don't own a digital camera?

If you want to include photos in your advert, but don't own a digital camera, simply take some photos of your property, and have them put onto a computer disc when you get them developed. You can then save, and upload the images from your computer. Alternately, if you have a scanner, you can scan your photos, and transfer the images to your computer, for unloading.

We will also be happy to receive and return photos by post, and scan in images for you. For this service there is an extra fee of £10.

What if my property is in a place or country not listed on your website?

No problem! When you are composing your advert, and are asked to enter your property's location, it will be added to our database, and will appear in the search options.

How do buyers find this website and my property?

Your property will be featured on the www.internationalpropertyswap.com website hereby reaching a worldwide audience of potential swappers. We constantly strive to promote our services, and channel potential swappers towards this site. We use our expertise to concentrate on marketing in the places where most people begin their search - the search engines, giving you the benefit of the very best exposure for your property.

Your property has more chance of being seen by potential swappers/buyers, as we run a continual Google advertising campaign insuring a good traffic flow through our website.

How do I List my Property?

Once you have registered, you will be guided through a short and easy to follow step by step process. You will need to supply a short description of your property, and you can add up to 10 digital photos if you want. When you have finished the process, you may preview your advert, and make any changes before it is seen live on the website. You will also be able to log in and make changes to your advert at any time during the duration of your membership.

How do I Get my Photos on the Web Site?

When you place your advert, you will have the opportunity to send us your photographs directly. This is called 'uploading' and is a very simple process. If you have a digital camera, we recommend that you set it on the lowest resolution, as this will produce a smaller image, and help speed up the uploading process considerably (cameras on mobile phones are often lower resolution, and ideal to use as well). Once your listing is live, you can add and remove photographs easily and whenever you want.

If you don't own a digital camera, simply take some photos of your property, and have them put onto a computer disc when you get them developed. you can then save, and upload the images from your computer. alternately, if you have a scanner, you can scan your conventional photos, and transfer the images to your computer to use. We will also be happy to receive and return photos by post, and scan in images for you. for this service there is an extra fee of £10.

How Secure is my Information?

We take your security and privacy very seriously at International Property Swap. We respect your privacy and will never ever give or sell your personal information on to other organisations. No personal information is openly displayed on the website, and only members who have a property listed on this website, can contact other members. Your e-mail will be given for contact purposes when writing to another member, but it is up to you whether to include your telephone number or not.

How do I Pay?

Payment is made securely and easily through PayPal. You don't need a PayPal account, and can pay using your credit or debit card with no problem. If you prefer, we will also accept payment by direct bank transfer. Simply contact us for details.

What are Your Terms and Conditions?

You are welcome to read our full terms and conditions here.

I've forgotten my username/password

Don't worry if you have forgotten your password - just click on the following link, enter your email address, and you will be sent a new password to use.

Forgotten Password

What if my property is with an Estate agent?

No problem! You can advertise privately alongside an agent, and if you arrange a successful swap or sale through this website, you will not have to pay any commission to them.

How do I know how much my property is worth?

Always get your property independently valued, and in writing, (for tax purposes) before considering a permanent swap. Do your research - check out local property prices, and ask several local estate agents to value your home. Don't be tempted to over-price your property. Remember we are in a global financial downturn, and there are a glut of properties on the worldwide market at the moment.

If I advertise my property here for swap, can I sell it instead?

You can do whatever you like! If you find another member who wants to buy your property, and you want to buy theirs - go ahead! Just set up a private sale between the two of you. Often, a potential swap can turn into a conventional sale.

Do both properties have to be the same value?

No, you can up-size or down-size when swapping, but you must arrange finance to cover the difference in value when swapping for a more expensive property, just as you would when buying.

Will I lose out if my property is worth more than the one I want to swap with?

No, if your property is more expensive than the other, you can 'part exchange' as long as the other party is agreeable, and able and willing to pay you the difference in value.

Does swapping mean I can avoid paying stamp duty charges and taxes?

No, unfortunately, you will still be liable to pay all the same taxes you would in a conventional sale. For this reason it is very important that you keep all written valuations and evidence of transactions between yourself and the other party.

How do I know I can trust the other party?

In general, you shouldn't totally trust a complete stranger in any property transaction - you should take the same care and precautions that you would when purchasing or selling a property privately. These are mostly common sense, but in particular:

• Be careful when arranging meetings, always tell someone else where you are going and who you are meeting.
• Take appropriate independent legal advice. If you are arranging a swap with someone in another country, you should take advice in both countries or consult a Solicitor who is familiar with with the property laws in the country you are planning to move to.
• Employ professionals to check every aspect of the swap and the other house. This could include people like: lawyers, surveyors, architects, structural engineers, and even electricians and plumbers. You should at least make sure that:
  • The other person is entitled to sell the house you want.
  • The property is as described.
  • You and the other owner agree on the value of both properties.