How to...

1. Join TopMarks HomeSwap
2. Pay your membership fee
3. Edit your listing
4. Check holiday dates
5. Contact us
6. How to Make a “This House Rulz” Book
7. Swap keys
8. Finally agree on a swap
9. Give feedback when you get back home
10. Make first contact
11. Swap a car

 

 

 

 

1. Join TopMarks HomeSwap  

To become a member of TopMarks HomeSwap you must be a registered Australian Teacher with a current teachers registration number. To join, just click the “Join as a Member” sub-menu option under “Becoming a Member”. This will open the Create New Listing - Registration Form page. This page is used to collect minimal membership details necessary to establish your registration. All fields that require input are marked with a red asterisk *.

As part of your input you can upload your feature image, being 1 of 3 images you can have. There are strict rules associated with the uploading of images, they must be of type .jpg and be less than or equal to 65Kb in size. Images taken with digital cameras produce files in the order of 1Mb (1,000Kb) and will be too large to upload. We recommended you use the software that comes with your camera to resize and compress your image for web use. If you have used a scanner to produce your image then the scanner software will enable resizing and compression. Prepare your image for a width of say 400 to 600 pixels with compression of 70% to 80% you will find the size will be suitable, make sure you check it first.

When you have input your details you need to click the “Submit” button at the bottom of the page. This will validate your input and advise of any problems with a message showing at the top of the page. If there are no problems found, the page will be presented again with the input details showing and grayed out preventing alteration. You now have two buttons at the bottom of the page, one RED “Review or Alter ” and the other “Submit your Details”. By clicking the Review Details button you will be taken back to input mode where you can make any changes required. By clicking the Submit your Details button, your membership information will be added to our database and a confirmation email will be sent to you. This email will contain your login details enabling you to complete your membership information once your payment has been received. You will then be taken to the payment page where we have several options for you to make your membership payment.

 

2. Pay your membership fee  

There are several ways of paying your membership fee for joining or renewing at TopMarks HomeSwap.

• Send a cheque
• Direct online money transfer
• Direct deposit from any bank
• You can use PayPal
• Online Credit Card Payment

When you carry out your registration and submit your details you will be presented with a payment page detailing the options above. This page is also available via the navigation menu called “Pay Membership Now”. Your membership cannot be activated until we receive and process your payment.

 

3. Edit your listing  

Once your membership has been activated you can access your details by selecting the “Edit Your Listing” menu option. This take you to a new page where we have an explanation of the various data tables available for you to make changes to your details. There is an "Edit Listing" button on this page that will open a new window and provide access to the Members Database Management Module. You will need to login using the login details provided to you in our reply email when you registered. Your login User Name is your Teachers Registration Number. If you have forgotten or lost your login password please Contact Us and we will email a new one to you.

 

4. Check holiday dates  

We have provided a calendar in pdf format where you can check all standard State School holidays for the states of Australian and New Zealand.

To access this calendar select the “Holiday Calendar (pdf)” menu option.

 

5. Contact us  

To contact us at any time please refer to the Contact Us page on our website.

 

6. How to Make a “This House Rulz” Book  

This is a book for your swap partner to read which details all the things you consider to be rules to do with your home.  Include in it all the things you would like to know in your new home away from home.

Try to go into each room, look around, and write down everything to do with that room that you consider to be a rule.  Also try to include the instructions for operating electrical appliances in that room – if you still have the instruction booklet that MIGHT be easier.  Creating this book is better than getting phone calls from your swap partner and then trying to explain it over the phone.  Don’t forget to go outside and write all the rules for there too, including when to put which bin out and where.

Store it all on the computer, print it out and put it together as a book.

Leave it on the kitchen bench for your swap partner to find as soon as they get there.

It would also be great to include lots of info about where are the best and closest places to shop, maybe some brochures about local attractions and even some useful phone numbers.  This book will be an essential guide for your swap partner and you will get one too when you go to their place.

 

7. Swap keys  

Here are some options for you to consider...

1. You could leave your house keys with a trusted neighbour or member of your family and your swap partner could pick the keys up from there when they arrive at your home.
2. You could post a single key to each other, (packed in bubble wrap in a CD postage box), so you have it when you arrive.
3. You could leave it in an agreed upon place, where a burglar is VERY unlikely to find it.
4. You could leave it on the message board at the airport.
5. You could stay at your place until your swap partner arrives (depends on flights).
6. You could meet at an agreed place en route (if you are going by car).
7. You could think up a new one and let helen@topmarkshomeswap.com.au know about it too.

 

8. Finally agree on a swap  

Feel free to download the suggested form, for making your HomeSwap final, from our website. We recommend both swap partners complete and sign the same form as it lists all your particulars and the extra conditions of your particular swap.

TopMarks HomeSwap recommends you use this form as a guide as it covers most eventualities. If you can think of ways to improve it, please tell helen@topmarkshomeswap.com.au.

 

9. Give feedback when you get back home  

We have devised a feedback form, and we are also considering a feedback rating (like e-Bay), to do with the whole swap experience. We would really appreciate it if you could complete the form (save it, fill it in and then attach it to an email - or use snail mail) and return it to helen@topmarkshomeswap.com.au or TopMarks HomeSwap, PO Box 3943, Loganholme, 4129, Qld as soon as possible after your swap. If you really like designing survey forms (there is a subject at Uni on it) and you think ours is not asking the right questions, feel free to tell us on helen@topmarkshomeswap.com.au.

 

10. Make first contact  

You should introduce yourself with your first name only, then quote your membership number, then state the dates you would like to swap for. This is enough information for a first contact. The person will then either reply in the negative, or suggest a different date or agree to negotiate a swap.

 

11. Swap a car  

This can be a more complicated part of swapping. Top Marks Home Swap has devised a suggested form for you to use. This form is for you and your swap partner to use and does not involve Top Marks Home Swap in any way in the negotiations you have with your swap partner. Top Marks Home Swap accepts no liability for your car swap arrangements.

Feel free to download and use the "Suggested Car Swap Agreement Form" we have created. If you really like designing forms (there is a subject at Uni on it) and you think ours does not include the right sections, feel free to tell us on helen@topmarkshomeswap.com.au.

Getting from the airport can be negotiated, but maybe you could both get a friend to pick up your HomeSwap partners and drive them to their HomeSwap address. If this is not possible, send very clear instructions about public transport or airport shuttles etc. You could also leave a message on the message board telling your exchange partner exactly where your car will be in the car park.

You need to check with your insurance company about the ability of a guest to drive your vehicle. You also need to check your restrictions and excess levels and convey these to your swap partner. These need to be written into your Car Swap Agreement.