Creating your listing:

When you list your Rv Resort Lot a good description of your Lot, RV resort, and surrounding areas is important. Your list needs to be an advertisement to excite people about visiting your area and your RV resort. The more details about your lot and RV resort the more chances you will find someone that is interested in exchanging lots, pads, campgrounds, etc. with you. So list if it has a pool, if a car is available, how far away is the beach, etc. If you are near tourist attractions list those also. People will be interested to learn what is in the area, what activities are available for kids, is there antique or discount shopping close by, etc. If you live in a small town, focus on the relaxed attitude of the area. If you are not in a main tourist area, maybe there are hiking trails, parks, biking, tennis, small towns with unique shops to visit, farmers markets, and more.

Some members even have their own websites to showcase their RV resort lots. You can add a link to your website in your description.

You want to make your listing as detailed as possible.
Go to other web sites from your area (community sites, county sites, park and recreation sites, attraction sites) to gather information that you can share with perspective exchangers.

Photos:

Adding Photos to your listing is a must. Most members will only exchange for a RV resort that they can see some photographs of to get an idea of the RV resort, Parking Pad, Hook ups, and surrounding areas. At a minimum you should take photos of the Parking Pad, the RV Resort Ammenities, and unquie items like hook ups. You should really include more photographs of recreational areas, like a club house or outside play areas, photos of the view if you have a scenic view, and photos of the area. http://www.RVResortExchange.com allows you to enter more photos than any other Exchange service. This is because we know just how important photos are for your listing. Our easy to use photo tools walk you through the process. If takes only moments to place your photos on our site and our tools resize the photos for you if needed. If you like, you can also email your photos to us with your member ID and we can add them to your listing.

How to make an Exchange:

There are two ways Exchanges take place. You either contact another member to inquire about staying at their RV resort or another member contacts you to inquire about staying at your RV resort. 

Making Contact:

Member can contact each other via email messages through the RVResortExchange website. If members decide to exchange they can then exchange phone numbers, addresses, and work out the exchange details between themselves. You will generate a great deal of interest in your listing and will get exchange requests from all over the world. If the dates work out for when someone would like to stay at your RV resort, you would work out the details with that party, that party would transfer the specified amount of Exchange Dollars into your account and then stay at your RV Resort pad in their own RV. After the stay has ended, you can leave feedback for the member that stayed at your Rv resort site and they can leave feedback for you. If the dates someone wants to exchange with you do not work for you. Please reply to the requestor so they can look for other members to exchange with. Some members like to exchange with other members resort for resort during the same dates. 

Feedback also allows you to see what other members are saying about their stays, so this also can be used as one party to deciding which members to exchange with.

As always, the more information and detailed planning you share with each other when making a RV Resort lot exchange the better. If you are exchanging resort for resort with international visitors that will be renting an RV then travling to your RV lot, plan a date to purchase airline tickets and then fax or email copies to each other of your airline tickets.

It is also very important to check with your RV Resort about rules for letting guests stay with their own RV on your lot.  If there are fees involved or special conditions, make sure you and your exchange partner both agree to the conditions and write down on paper and sign who is paying for what. 

Ultimately you decide which members you allow in your RV Resort and what terms and conditions you set with each other.



Ways to help make an Exchange:

1. Make a list of all the places that you are interested in visiting. List the dates you would like to go. The more flexible you are the easier it is to make an exchange.
2. Use Exchange Dollars to trade for a RV lot stay without having to exchange your RV lot. This allows you to work with a much wider selection of members and find a match sooner.
3. If you are interested in a prime destination during peak travel times, make your offer stand out. Again you can do a RV lot  for RV lot exchange for Exchange Dollars, or even easier, pay the exchange dollar rate the RV Resort is offered for and don’t worry about if your RV Lot is a match for the other member.
4. Communication – Communication with the other member is key.
You will work out the exchange dollar price, dates, and exchange agreement with them. Exchange contact information and make sure everything is in writing so there are no misunderstandings about what is included.
5. As our membership grows feel free to check other members feedback comments as one part of your evaluation before making a RV Lot exchange.
6. If you have an empty RV resort Lot 11 months out of the year, list it on exchange as often as you want. You couldl get many members that want to stay there and they would send you exchange dollars to do so. Save up your exchange dollars for a trade when you are ready to go on vacation at another members RV resort.
7. Leave plenty of time to make an exchange. Plan your exchange in advance so you can contact other members and work out the details.
8. It is very important to be truthful and honest in your listing about your Rv resort. People are planning a vacation based on this information. You can NOT back out of an exchange once exchange dollars have been transferred between parties.

When you transfer exchange dollars it is also a good idea for both parties to sign an exchange agreement with the terms they have agreed to for the exchange. You can make your own exchange agreement or use some sample ones we have here as a place to start.

Getting your lot ready for an Exchange:

It is a good idea to leave an Exchange Welcome packet someplace at the Resort or email it to the party that will be visiting your lot: If you can leave this at the resort itself, this can be a binder with covered pages and tabs. This way you can easily remove a page or update a page as needed when you do exchanges. The welcome packet should include:

a. Hookup Operation - How to use the lots hookups, dump station locations, laundry facilities) If you have any unique items or difficult items to figure out.

b. Emergency Shut-offs - A section on key lot locations.
c. A contact emergency list -
o Phone number of emergency local contact person (neighbor or property manager)
o Nearby hospital
o Numbers for police and fire department or 911
o Car insurance information (if included in the exchange)
o Car repair shop
o Gate code
o How to contact you, the owner.

d. Local information – Include local take out menus, lists of attractions or attraction flyers from your local AAA or tourism office, local area maps, directions to RV friendly gas stations, etc.

Arranging your Lot for Guests:

There is really not much to do since all you are exchanging in most cases is a gravel or cement pad with locations for hook ups to your RV.  Just make sure the area is clean, easy to locate and all hook-up are in working order.

How to exchange keys:

There are several ways to exchange keys if a key is needed to enter the resort:

1. Most people make extra copies and just mail them to each other.
2. Another popular option is to buy a key lock box. These are small real estate lock boxes that have a combination lock. You give the combination to the guest and they can get the key out of the lock box and also put it back in the lock box when they leave. These boxes are about $30 and attach to anyplace outside your lot with a few screws (if you have a place to screw one of these too).
3. A family member or friend / neighbor or the Resort Office can also give the key to your guest.

Leave the Lot clean and tidy:

Before you exchange your resort lot, take time to go over it and clean the pad, lot, campground area.
You want to exchange for a clean tidy resort lot and you should make sure your resort lot is also clean and tidy.

Everything else:

1. Have a the resort Office or Neighbor’s contact information available to assist if a problem should arise.
2. Contact your guest via email or telephone during their stay to make sure they do not have any questions.
3. A small welcome gift next to your welcome packet is always well received. Also a thank you note when you leave an exchange is polite.  You can often leave these with the office.
4. Make sure you contact your resort office and insurance company to get answers to any questions you may have, before making a resort lot exchange.

Items you might want to add to your exchange contract:

1. Use of vehicles. Make sure you contact your insurance company first to make sure you are covered to let someone else use your vehicle (car).
2. Who pays for Gas for your car? You can leave the car tank full and request to have it filled again.
3. If you have phone service, Local Phone calls only. Some member’s setup PayPal accounts to transfer money if the phone is used to make long distance calls.

Useful forms:

RVResortExchange.com provides sample Exchange Forms. Feel free to use these as a base form and add to it to create your own exchange contract to meet your needs.

We have supplied these forms in two formats. MS Word and Adobe PDF. The MS Word forms you can open in Microsoft Word, edit as needed, and resave with your own file name. You can then send this to the other member to read / edit and return to you. The PDF form you can print out and add to by hand and then mail via the postal service.

These are just sample forms, feel free to use them with other members as you see fit. Make sure you cover areas that are important to you. If you want signatures feel free to leave the signature line in the form. Whatever you are comfortable with.

If you are exchanging vehicles it is recommended a separate specific exchange form be filled out for the vehicle exchange that covers all questions and how each situation would be resolved. 

RV Lot Exchange Agreement:
This agreement is a starting point for you to build your specific tailored home exchange contract from.

RV Lot Exchange Agreement:
Click here for the PDF version.
Click here for the MS Word version.

Vehicle (Car) Exchange Agreement:
This agreement is a starting point for you to build your specific tailored Vehicle contract from.

Vehicle (Car) Exchange Agreement:
Click here for the PDF version.
Click here for the MS Word version.

Remember RVResorteExchange.com is providing these sample forms, but you need to create the final agreement form that you are comfortable with. Also RVresortExchange.com offers a place for members to discuss home exchange, tips, forums, and feedback, but it is up to you to setup a RV Resort exchange that you are comfortable with.