Travel the Home Exchange Way

Home Exchange Articles in 2009 by Experienced Home Swappers

One of the great bonuses of editing Home Swappers newsletter is the interaction with many Home Base Holidays members and subscribers. Most issues of the newsletter (six a year) include a feature article written by a member on their personal home swap experiences. If you’re thinking that might be the equivalent of ‘Would you like to look at my holiday snaps?’, it’s not at all! Each article is unique, covering different aspects of swapping homes and its benefits. This provides a range of perspectives on home swapping by experienced exchangers  of varying ages, nationalities and lifestyles.

 

Home exchange feature stories published in Home Swappers in 2009:

Top Ten Tips from Very Experienced Home Exchangers  - '60+ Exchanges.....as you see we are completely captivated by home exchange holidays and constantly remind friends what a wonderful concept this is.’ Read in full.

Helping 'Virgin-swappers', Insurance Issues and Tips –‘ Because we have enjoyed such wonderful swaps to Perth, Sydney and the Sunshine Coast, and as our couple are "virgin-swappers", I want to make this a happy experience for them. Read in full.

Expat Living in Amsterdam: House-swap that Delivered the Goods – ‘Slowly the email enquiries started trickling in. A couple from London suggested a week-long swap. Their apartment was within a stone's throw of London Bridge. Nursing first-timers' butterflies my better half, Frank, and I rolled our wheelie suitcases towards our swap address.’ The photo is of Angela and Frank while on an exchange holiday in France in 2009. Read in full

Unique Homes Available for Exchange –  Maybe you know the expression, 'Were you born in a barn?', used to scold a child for leaving the house door open. From looking through several Home Base Holidays listings, quite a few members might have been born in a barn - or in a pub, a church ...! Here's a few samples of unique homes available for exchange. Read in full.

Regular Home Swaps... and the Dogs Came Too - ‘Imagine our surprise when he turned up with just a very small grip which could only have held a couple of shirts and change of underwear for a 2 week visit! Our car was crammed as if we were going to Siberia!’ Read in full.

What's really Involved in Home Exchange – ‘House exchange, on the face of it, sounds both exotic and practical. However initially my husband disagreed. He thought it a thoroughly bad idea, akin to leaving your front door ajar or buying second-hand shoes.’ Read in full.

 

No Cats Please! Allergies and Other Vital Information for Your Home Exchange Offer

It may seem obvious but, when compiling information about your own home and area for your descriptive listing, it’s easy to forget to mention some of the vital details in a home that can make some exchange offers impossible to consider, e.g. you have a severe allergy to cats (and no help that the cat won’t be in residence at the time of the exchange), you have a very active toddler and so need a home that’s as safe as possible, you don’t drive and need to be near good public transport, a family member can’t manage stairs or needs wheelchair accessibility.

Although no one wants to make a whole load of demands in an exchange offer (and look much too fussy), it’s much better to be upfront within your descriptive listing about anything that could make or break an exchange deal, to avoid wasting both your time and that of other exchangers who aren’t so likely to send you an offer if it’s clear their home is not going to suit your cruciall needs.   I know I’ve covered this topic in the past but was reminded of it when reading the description in a Home Base Holidays member’s recent renewal listing (including this seasonal image):  

San Francisco area, California – ‘Come relax in sunny California! We can offer our lovely two story family-friendly detached home (2200 sq ft) on a quiet private road. It is located in the San Francisco Bay Area (Castro Valley)..... We are allergic to cats so unfortunately homes with cats won't work.’  

See the very detailed home exchange offer and more photos, He14552

Home Swappers: the Home Exchange Newsletter, Dec09/Jan10

The new issue of Home Swappers Newsletter is now available. Topics:

• 20% Discount on Home Base Holidays Membership
• What’s Really Involved in Home Exchange?
• CHECtravel Special $5 Membership Offer
• Check List/Guest Information Folder
• Tips for Arranging Swaps at Short Notice
• Home Base Holidays Members in the Media

Read articles in this issue in full and previous issues of Home Swappers Newsletter, in the Newsletter Archive. Subscribe to receive the newsletter as published.

Bill Bryson Quote Could Aptly Describe the Home Exchange Travel Experience

‘I thought this little quote by Bill Bryson (the famous travel writer) was very apt for home exchangers:

"To my mind, the greatest reward and luxury of travel is to be able to experience everyday things as if for the first time, to be in a position in which almost nothing is so familiar it is taken for granted".

I will hopefully be able to re-join Home Base Holidays within 6 months as my eldest will finally move out and the home exchange idea will finally be able to come to fruition for us. Regards, Julie’  Good quote, Julie! You have also described a situation that can make it difficult to exchange homes, i.e. when grown-up ‘boomerang’ kids are living at home and won’t be going on holiday with you. We look forward to welcoming you back soon.

‘The Holiday’ – Bad for the Home Exchange Community?

The film, ‘The Holiday’ a fun, light weight comedy is over three years old now and so generally vanished into the mists of obscurity. As the plot was loosely based around a home swap, occasionally it still crops up in comments, such as  in one by Salli on a recent post (Reasons to Plan a Home Exchange Well in Advance):  

‘We think the film 'The Holiday' has not been good for the home exchange community and that a lot of newer exchangers just see it as a cheap means of travel.’

 Salli, after having several very successful home swaps, had been disappointed by two recent exchange experiences and so it’s understandable that  she may feel the quality of exchangers has deteriorated. If Salli has arranged exchanges through a long established, paid membership home exchange service, it’s likely that she has just been very unfortunate in her choice of recent exchange partners or perhaps, as sometimes happens after a number of very positive experiences, had become a little less careful before agreeing to go ahead with recent exchanges. Most people who might see home exchange as merely a cheap way of travelling will also avoid paying even a modest membership fee to gain access to members genuinely committed to arranging exchanges. Another good reason to treat ‘free’ listings sites with caution and a degree of scepticism whatever the claims of member numbers?   Although the film, ‘The Holiday’, is an unrealistic portrayal of how exchanges are arranged (no sane person would instantly agree to an exchange, then hop on a plane across the Atlantic the very next day with no clear idea about the home or area they were going to!), it probably did introduce more people to the home swapping concept (a good thing) but I doubt it was influential enough to have changed the make-up of the genuine home exchange community. What certainly has happened in the last few months as a result of the global economic downturn has undoubtedly made more people look at ways to cut costs on holidays and travel. Home exchange fits into this very well (no accommodation costs – a big saving) but, only a minority would consider swapping homes for cost saving reasons alone.

What do you think? Are you an experienced home exchanger? If so, have you noticed any changes in the attitudes of fellow exchangers to reasons for swapping homes over the last few months?

Home Exchange Check Lists/Forms and Guest Information Folders

Q: Hello, we're looking at doing our first home swap, and I was trying to find some sort of checklist/form where I can write where everything is kept and how things work? Any recommendations? Regards Lisa

 

A: Hi Lisa, In the Home Base Holidays Guidelines for Arranging an Exchange scroll down to Stage Four: Preparing for Your Exchange Guests for a reminder of information to leave for your exchange guests.

 

You might also find the trader companion form published by Know Your Trade useful to print off and adapt to record all the relevant information. 

As any checklists/forms can only be quite general and may not cover everything in your own home, go through your home carefully, one room at a time, so you don’t forget any vital information. Leave instruction books for appliances and central heating (air conditioning, security system, etc) but still include simple instructions in your information folder – the manual will never include, ‘If the green light flashes, give the washing machine door a good, firm push’ but that’s the sort of practical information (i.e. your individual household quirks) that will save your guests a lot of trial and error when using your equipment.

Start your checklist/folder well in advance of your first exchange so you can add to it as something else pops into your head. Once you’ve done it, for future exchanges it will be much easier as all you will need to do is ensure the information is up-to-date.

Tips for Arranging a Last Minute Home Exchange

Starting a search for home exchange partners well in advance of your exchange dates is always recommended but sometimes, as in the request published on Tuesday for a Christmas exchange to Sussex or London, time is not on your side. If you are looking for a last minute swap, here are a few tips which should increase your chances:

•  Be as open as you can be on exact destinations. If you are planning an exchange to be near friends or family, ideally you will want to find a home very close by. But, if this is too limiting, look at the surrounding area and extend your search as widely as possible.  
  
• Don’t restrict your search to members who specifically request your city or country. You will see that many Home Base Holidays members are ‘open’ on destinations they will consider and often flexible on dates so such members are certainly worth contacting if their offers are of interest.  
• Be pro-active – don’t wait to be contacted with exchange offers.  
  
• Check the Last Minute Offers and Newest Offers (last 30 days) lists often (from your member area you will be able to contact any members immediately). 
• As well as giving a good description, also include information on any events or activities that might specifically interest members swapping with you, especially if you are looking for a swap over Christmas or another holiday when there may be many special local events.  
• It would be really helpful if you can  suggest airlines, which airports they fly to/from and an idea of the cost of tickets/availability for the period needed – anything to save some time and give members you contact a better idea of how feasible it would be to take up your last minute offer, would be useful to include both within your listing description and in messages you send.  
• If you can,  suggest the option of a non-simultaneous exchange (i.e. their home or holiday home may be available for the dates you want and, if you can offer your home later on for dates that are convenient for your exchange guests, that should increase your choices).  
• Add your offer to the separate Last Minute Offers list (note: you won’t be able to do this until you have been a Home Base Holidays member for one week. During the first week, you should be very busy browsing listings, contacting members with your offer and responding to replies).  
  
• Contact us to let us know if you need help finding a last minute exchange so your offer can be publicised here on the blog and in the next issue of the newsletter.  
• Don’t cut corners with arrangements for last minute exchanges and don’t accept an offer until you’re sure the home and location are suitable and the people compatible.  

Leave a comment below if you have more tips on how to increase the chances of arranging an exchange when time is tight.

Christmas Home Exchange Offer - North Carolina for Sussex or London

Last week we published Cathy's post, Reasons to Plan a Home Exchange Well in Advance. Cathy gave very sound advice on why it’s always wise to start making plans, especially for international home exchanges, several months before the period wanted  (more opportunities for  finding a suitable exchange, time to get to know exchange partners and time for both parties to find the best flight deals); but there will always be people who need to arrange exchanges at short notice for a variety of reasons.

  Most people who move far away from home (often, like I did, when young and carefree) at some point face the worries of frequent long trips back home to visit elderly relatives as their health deteriorates or, sadly, they are left bereaved. This is just the situation a new Home Base Holidays member from North Carolina finds herself in. Sarah wrote before joining:

‘I have been back three times to England already this year, due to tragic circumstances, and now am looking to return for Christmas so that my husband and I and our 3 adult children can spend Christmas with my recently, unexpectedly widowed sister in law.’

 Although Sarah has a very desirable home/location to offer, it would have been unfair to give her an overly optimistic view on her chances of arranging an exchange to England (Sussex or London) over the Christmas period. However, as Home Base Holidays (and our partner site, Guardian home exchange) have many current, active members in both locations, Sarah (who wisely joined the same day and started contacting members to suggest an exchange) should still have a good chance of finding a last minute Christmas swap and, as she is also interested in exchanges later on next year, it was well worth her joining now. Her exchange offer:

Burnsville, North Carolina -  Beautiful newly constructed wood home in nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains on 6 acres of wooded land. 3 bedrooms with 4th in open loft with spectacular views: rural retreat with golf, fishing and hiking. South Toe river area is known internationally for its arts & crafts. Close to Penland School of the Arts, Blue Ridge Parkway and an easy one hour drive to Asheville and the Biltmore Estate.

Possibility of use of Asheville townhouse as well for longer stay. Asheville area known for mountain biking, kayaking and rafting. The film "Last of the Mohicans" filmed in the area. Unexpected family circumstances mean we are looking last minute for an exchange for the 2009/10 Christmas period, but also open to longer swap in summer of 2010. See the full home exchange offer and more photos, HE23483   Home Base Holidays members: log on to contact Sarah (HE23483). Non-members: Join now.

Look out for Tips for Last Minute Home Exchanges on Friday.

Home Exchange Offers: Dates, Dates, Dates – Confused?

It’s been a couple of years since I last addressed the very important topic of dates to look out for when browsing home exchange offers. As this still, understandably, causes confusion, it’s time to look again at this crucial issue.

 

There can be so many types of dates to keep straight - and it doesn't help that the format for showing dates (day, month, year) varies in different countries. I hope this helps:

 

Dates Available - these are the dates that a member wants to arrange an exchange and are generally shown as ranges of dates, e.g. Mar 10 - June 10 would indicate that the member wants an exchange sometime between March and June 2010 (the length of exchange is shown separately). A listing may show more than one range of dates as members can often consider exchanges at different times during the year. When a member can be flexible on dates, Dates Available will be shown as 'Open to Offers'.

 

What to look out for: Dates Available, when shown as a range of dates, should always include the year. If only months are shown, there's no way of knowing if the member wants an exchange this year, next year or had wanted an exchange last year – or even in 2006. *Important: if you see a blank space rather than a range of dates or ‘open to offers’, this generally means that the dates the member wanted to exchange are now past. This doesn’t necessarily mean that such a member won’t be interested in future exchanges (often members forget to update dates) but, too many listings showing no dates is likely to mean that many listings are very old and are there to ‘bulk out’ the numbers. Don’t be fooled by this old trick!

 

Join or Registration Date - this is the date a member joined or renewed and is important as it clearly shows how long the listing has already been in circulation. You should be able to see this date in all listings.

 

Expiry Date - this is the date a membership will expire and, if not renewed on or before this date, should no longer be displayed. This is a very important date as, in conjunction with the Join date, it enables you to see at a glance how long any listing is in circulation.

 

What to look out for: no listings with expired membership dates should be shown. Members are generally most active in looking for exchanges during the first few weeks of their membership and very long membership periods can mean that many listings in circulation are no longer available. It is for this reason that the longest Home Base Holidays membership period is two years.

 

Note: join and expiry dates are details that you should be able to see in all listings before joining. Without this basic information, you have no means of telling how up-to-date listings are, and, if this is the case, total numbers quoted are next to useless.

 

Listing Updated - Home Base Holidays members can update their listings whenever needed. The last date a listing was updated is not included in listings to reduce confusion. Some members will need to update offers often while others won’t and so this date is not crucial like Join and Expiry dates.

 

What to look out for: don't confuse Listing Updated with the Join/Registration date. ‘Listing Updated’ merely means that the member (or site owner) has changed the listing in some way on that date.

 

Most Recent Listings - these are listings of members who have joined or renewed recently (the time frame, e.g. ‘in the last month’ should be clearly indicated). To be fair to all members, it’s best if search results are organised showing the newest listings first (far better than alphabetically by city – great if you live in Bath, not so good if you live in York!) You should be able to re-organise search results in a number of ways according to your needs.

 

What to look out for: listings, described as new, should not be a mixture of new and older listings that have merely been updated unless this is clearly indicated. The separate New Listings on Home Base Holidays are members who have joined or renewed in the last 30 days, listed in order of joining with the newest listings at the top of search results.

 

Last Minute Offers/Hot List: members who are looking for exchanges soon, usually within the next three months.

 

Reasons to Plan a Home Exchange Well in Advance

'home exchangers are a fraternity which involves trust'

Cathy, very experienced home exchanger from Auckland (and also the Home Base Holidays representative in New Zealand), offers sound advice:

 “We have been getting offers of exchange only a couple of months out from the planned exchange.  I penned the following in response to the latest one which is only one month out i.e. I received it on the weekend and they already have their flights etc and want to exchange in December…  

"Thank you for your contact regarding exchange in December.  Unfortunately the timing does not suit us.   

For your information we, along with most exchangers (particularly for long haul exchanges), arrange an exchange 6 – 12 months in advance, in fact we have had a couple where we have confirmed 18 months in advance.  The reason behind this is;  

• For long haul travel it gives us time to book flights well in advance to get the best price
  
• gives us time to get to know the people we are exchanging with via email
  
• we never book our flights until we have a confirmed exchange
  
• takes away the urgency of finding an exchange in a short period of time and/or you are wanting to exchange in 2 or 3 towns/countries  
  

We are experienced exchangers having exchanged all over the world and they have been marvelous experiences and also we have made lifelong friends with our exchangers.  As one of our exchangers succinctly puts it – ‘home exchangers are a fraternity which involves trust…’   This trust needs time to develop - when one is having strangers come and live in one’s home, with everything that goes to make a home, whilst one is not there you are placing a lot of faith and trust in those people.  It is quite different from a holiday home/apartment when they don’t normally have the treasures that go to make a home.” 

See Cathy’s full home exchange offer in Mission Bay, Auckland, HE12437. Note: Cathy’s home will be available during, and conveniently located for, the Rugby World Cup in 2011. Don’t leave it too long to contact her with your exchange offer if you want to exchange homes at this time!