All I could think about was the exchange day and the removal van drive to Liverpool

All I had to think about was the exchange day and the removal van. It took 4 months to find somewhere I liked, where the other household liked my home too. The first viewing of the house went well.

Then I overslept on the morning of the exchange, so I was playing catch-up all day. Even when the other swappers had arrived, I was still running around boxing things up. Lol.

My advice

Here is what I'd tell anyone starting out, with a bit more on why each one matters.

Take good pictures

Show the best of your house or flat. Photos are the first thing people look at, and a listing without them is easy to scroll past. Tidy up, open the curtains and take pictures in daylight. Include the garden, the view, storage and anything that makes your home stand out.

Consider a multi-swap

If you can't find someone who wants your exact home, a three-way swap chain widens your options a lot. You move into home B, B's tenant moves into home C, and C's tenant moves into yours. Nobody has to want each other's home directly.

Read exchange profiles fully

Check the number of bedrooms, the area, and what each person is looking for before you message. It saves time on both sides and shows you're serious.

Use your networks

Tell friends, family and colleagues you're looking, and share your listing in local groups. Someone you know may know a tenant who wants to move your way.

Answer every message

Even a quick "no thanks" helps. People remember who replies, and a slow answer can lose you a good match.

Take care when arranging viewings

Meet at the property, and have someone with you if you can. Never pay anyone money to arrange a swap, and never pay or accept "key money": it is against the rules of a mutual exchange.

Keep your expectations real

No swap is perfect. Decide what you must have, such as the area, the number of bedrooms or a garden, and where you can be flexible.

Be patient

Four months is fairly typical. Some swaps come together in weeks and others take much longer. Keep your listing up to date while you wait.

List in more than one place

The more people who see your home, the better your chances. Keep your details the same everywhere, and take them down once you've swapped.

Plan exchange day properly

Learn from my morning. The day goes much more smoothly if you:

• pack everything except the essentials the day before;
• agree a time with the other household for handing over keys;
• take meter readings as you leave and as you arrive;
• keep a bag with the kettle, phone chargers, medicines and paperwork with you, not in the van;
• set two alarms.

Liverpool has a lot of people hoping to move. At 31 March 2025 there were 14,520 households on the city's housing register. Liverpool City Council no longer owns its own homes, so social lets there go through housing associations: 1,383 of their homes were let through council nominations in the year. For tenants who already have a social home, swapping is often far quicker than waiting.

Moving to Liverpool? Read what it's like to live in Liverpool and see the landlord profile for Liverpool City Council, or browse every place guide.