Sometimes work means moving to another country for a period, from a couple of weeks for a particular project to a year on sabbatical for academics. This can be expensive if you rent accommodation for a lengthy period and so, arranging a home swap is a great money saver. 'Real' homes, as opposed to typical rental properties, are likely to be much better equipped too. Another benefit is having the reassurance of your own home being lived in and cared for while you are away. The following are examples of Home Base Holidays members swapping their homes for work reasons:
Spain to UK: 'We are a Catalan-Italian couple. Toni is an illustrator and wildlife artist from Barcelona while Valentina is a journalist from Tuscany, now fully dedicated to our children.
Toni has some projects going on in the UK and we both have been living and studying in the UK and feel like going back again. We also want our kids to improve their English and have a first full immersion experience.
This will be our first home exchange experience. We are very happy to think that someone will be enjoying our place with care and respect, while we are doing the same in theirs.' See the family's home swap offer, a three storey, stone walled house in an unspoiled small village in rural Girona, north-east Catalonia.
Newcastle upon Tyne, UK to Perth, Australia: 'We are both university professors (Newcastle University) who are moving to fractional posts in 2013-14. Peter has a long-term research project at UWA and Kim is finishing a book so we are looking for a quiet house or apartment in WA, preferably in South Fremantle (which we know well).' See the couple's charming small house for exchange; ten minutes' walk from the centre of the fascinating city of Newcastle.
Have you ever had a home exchange for work reasons?
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