Guide on photographing your home

Photos draw attention to your listing and will help ensure you have a speedy and successful home exchange. This is an opportunity to really show off your home, and ultimately give you a wider and better choice of available city swaps. Before you take any photographs, tidy the rooms you will be photographing, plump cushions and make sure the beds are made. Make sure you present your home in a favourable light and give fellow exchangers a taste of what they would expect if they were to walk in after a long journey to spend a few days in your home.

Here are some top tips for when taking photos of your home:

• Remember to use flash on your camera as well as switching on all the lights in the rooms you are taking pictures of. This will ensure your rooms don’t appear dark and gloomy and instead light and inviting!


• Don’t forget to include photos of anything in your home that has a WOW factor! Swimming pool, yacht, hot tub, glorious garden, stunning views over your city.


• Take a photo or two of the outside of your property including garden if you have one. Remember it is vital you include interior shots as a majority of the photos on your listing.


• Take photos of the key living areas such as living room, kitchen and main bedrooms. Be prepared to provide further information if an exchange member asks.


• Include photos of yourselves in the About Me section.


• Get your pets to smile for the camera– however big or small! This may seem obvious but will save time if people realise that even though Mr Cat will be talking a holiday in a Cattery when they come and stay, that they will still suffer terribly if they are allergic to cats. Or if someone can’t sleep at night in your home for fear that Terrence the tarantula makes his great escape.


• If you live in an obscure city that most people don’t know much about then feel free to include some local photos of your area and fill out the My City section recommending those little known places to eat, drink and visit.

Remember, the world is your oyster at Swap My City Pad!

Image provided by ©istockphoto.com/Christian J. Stewart