Tips For A Successful Home Exchange
Zoe Hine
As the tough times look like they will get tougher, people are finding new ways to dodge the credit crunch.
One money-saving technique that has seen an incredible surge in numbers is the concept of home exchange.
Home exchange is the practice whereby someone swaps their home with someone else's home for a holiday. Say goodbye to hotel bills and lots of expensive eating out, many people are preferring to find a 'home away from home' with comfy sofas to relax on, fully-equipped kitchens to cook meals in and pretty gardens to sip wine in at the end of a day out exploring their surrounds. Home swapping enables people to keep more money in their wallet whilst experiencing a city through the eyes of a local, steering clear of the tourist traps and going 'loco' instead.
However for those people who have not tried it, there will be many questions in relation to how it works and why you would trust a stranger in your home. Here is a top ten list of tips for having a successful home exchange:
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Trust: People who pay money to join a home exchange club and take the time to list their property on websites are usually serious about embarking on a home exchange. Many home exchange clubs will enable you to communicate with prospective swappers via a secure online messaging system and for you to be able to gauge the type of people you are looking to swap with as well as iron out any questions that you may have. Remember, you will be staying in their home as well so the trust works both ways. To boost the sense of trust, some people prefer to join up to a club that offers sign-up by profession, so they can find and swap with like-minded people who work in their own professional field and/or who are also expats.
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Honesty: When you list your property with a home exchange company, be as honest, open and accurate about your home and area as possible. You would not want any surprises on your holiday and the same is expected by your fellow exchangers. Include lots of photos to ensure you give a clear picture of what your exchangers will expect when they arrive. Some exchange clubs offer members the chance to leave honest feedback after a swap (for example, some offer an eBay-type rating system) which helps future swappers decide what property and people to exchange with next time. |
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Nominate an Agent: Nominate a family member, neighbour or friend to act as an agent for added peace of mind. Your agent is your "on the ground" person, who can keep an eye on your home and be available if your guests have any problems/questions during their stay. An agent can hand over the house and/or car keys and in some cases welcome the exchangers at your home or the airport. |
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An Open Mind: If you are open-minded about where and when you want to go, you may be pleasantly surprised. As we all know, sometimes embarking on life with an open mind can lead to those interesting and exciting new experiences. However it is completely understandable if you have a particular city in mind or have those tickets to an event for that weekend you want to swap. |
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Communication: Once you find a home in which you are interested in exchanging, start communicating with that owner and asking them as many questions as you need to feel comfortable: Who are they? What do they expect to get out of their home exchange? Have they home exchanged before? Confirm when you plan to arrive and leave, whether any vehicles are included in the swap and do you have any pets that will be staying at home and need looking after. |
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House Book: Your house book contains all useful information such as emergency telephone numbers, how appliances work and those little quirks about your home (such as a temperamental boiler, a stubborn lock on the back door and so on). Make sure you complete your house book as fully as possible. Be clear about what is out of bounds (for example, if house guests are allowed?), whether the swap includes use of the telephone, and other such potentially-sensitive issues. It is also a good idea to collect local takeaway menus and to recommend those little-known places in your area. |
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Exchange Contracts: Once both parties are happy about their swap arrangements, be sure to exchange written agreements that match what has been agreed online or via telephone. Some home swappers even exchange copies of each other's respective travel documents. |
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Clean and Organise Your Home: Not only will it make the stay of your fellow swappers more pleasurable, but it is usually a cathartic experience for you too and helps you to clear your head and enjoy your own getaway. Give your home a good tidy and clear out space in your wardrobe and drawers. Stock up on toilet rolls and clean an extra set of bedding. On the money you save on hotel bills, why not get a cleaner to come in and give your home a spruce before you leave and also before you return. |
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Get Insurance: Give your home insurance provider a call and explain that you will have guests staying in your home. Ensure you have necessary cover for accidental damage if you want to go that extra mile. If you are swapping vehicles as well, call your vehicle insurance provider and add those designated drivers to your insurance (provided they have drivers' licences that you and your insurance provider are satisfied with). Your exchange partners may be happy to cover the extra costs of the insurance (or at least do the same for you at their end) if in the long run it saves them money on car hire. |
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Respect: Treat your fellow home exchanger's home with the same respect, or even more, as if it were your own. Leave their home in the same condition as you found it, and in the unlikely event of you breaking or damaging anything, be upfront about it and offer to pay for a replacement/repair. Some swappers like to leave a little welcome/thank you gift which can be a warm welcome for a tired traveller and a welcome home for when you return. |
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| Zoe Hine is the founder and director of Swap My City Pad, a home exchange website offering people the chance to continue indulging their habit for weekends away, but with zero accommodation costs and the opportunity to live as a citizen, as opposed to a tourist, in a foreign city. Prior to starting her own business, Zoe worked as a compliance officer in the City for 8 years. Zoe's experience of expat life has come from tagging along with her parents,who have been serial expats for the past 18 years, living in various far-flung corners of the world, including the Gulf and Malaysia. |
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August 2010 |
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