Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Tips from experienced exchangers (100+ home swaps!)

John & Marilyn's beautiful 17th century cottage in Cumbria

Home Base Holidays members, John and Marilyn, started home exchanging over 40 years ago and have now completed well over 100 h0me swap holidays (a record that must take some beating!). They share below some tips for happy home swapping.

---

Tips for happy home swap holidays: Good communication: Make sure to get to know who you are swapping with and discuss and agree all details of the exchange. Good communication adds to the trust and makes everything go so much smoother.  Meet your guests: If possible meet your guests so you can get to know them in person as well as exchanging keys. If not possible, leave them a welcome letter and perhaps a bottle of wine. Why not agree beforehand to leave milk, bread, etc for each other? Welcome folder/home book: Prepare a "Home Book" containing practical information on your home and appliances. Include such details as where to find the fuse box, stopcock, operate the TV, when the dustbins are emptied, etc; useful telephone numbers....doctor, dentist, plumber, electrician, your own mobile numbers and those of helpful neighbours can be included too. (Before swapping send your own and neighbours numbers plus location of a spare key, so that your guests can keep a copy with them in case of emergency). Leave up to date tourist leaflets, maps, guide books, train and bus timetables.  Leave a small gift: The 'Home Book' can be part of a welcome pack with some essential items for your guests such as tea, coffee, milk, snacks. It's also a nice touch to leave a small gift for your guests such as a local treat or a bottle of wine. Clean and tidy: Make sure that your home is clean and welcoming for your guests arrival (fresh bedding and clean towels). When leaving their home ensure you have agreed where to leave keys & what to do with used linen. Obviously, make sure to leave your guests home as clean and tidy as when your arrived. Leave a thank you letter: Last but not least, leave your guests a "thank you" letter and post a trip report on the website.

---

John & Marilyn's cottage in Cumbria:  John & Marilyn's home is a delightful 17th century sandstone cottage located in a pretty village near Appleby, Cumbria. Appleby lies in the Eden Valley, an ideal location for discovering the Lake District, the Yorkshire Dales, and across the border into Scotland (all less than an hour's drive). If you prefer outdoor activities there are great walks from the front door, riding stables in the village, a swimming pool and sports centre 2 miles away, a golf course, and of course water sports on the beautiful Lakes.

View John & Marilyn's home swap offer in Eden Valley, Cumbria

BLACK FRIDAY: 25% Sale | Home swap holidays for 2023

BLACK FRIDAY SALE: sign up to Home Base Holiday and start planning a home exchange holiday for 2023. Use the BLACKFRIDAY discount code to save 25% on 6-month and 1-year memberships.    

---

25% discount code: BLACKFRIDAY (valid until the 3rd December 2022)

---

To take up the Black Friday offer:

1. Go to the Home Base Holidays website
2. Select either a 6-month or 1-year membership
3. On the checkout page enter promotional code: BLACKFRIDAY 
4. Add your home swap offer (details of your home and where you want to visit)

---

Start planning your home swaps for 2023

Browse home exchange holiday offers

---

Join today: home exchange holidays for 2023 Join Home Base Holidays - select either a 6-month or 1-year membership (use the BLACKFRIDAY code for a 25% discount).

3 easy steps for creating a home exchange user guide

Guest blog post: Janis Fisher Chan is a writer, editor and passionate traveller who loves home exchanging. If you love travel and love getting a real feel for your destination, Janis encourages you to give home swapping a try!

---

I have special fondness for home exchange partners who anticipate what my husband and I might need to know about their home. Too often, we’ve been left on our own to figure out how to coax warm air from the heater or use the fancy new appliances, where to put the garbage, or what to do when the toilet makes that terrible coughing sound.

 

Be the kind of host we love by writing a great home user guide. A user guide not only helps guests enjoy their stay, it conveys a clear message: “We want you to enjoy your stay!”. It has the added benefit of helping to keep you from being bombarded by texts and phone calls while you’re exploring the Galapagos or touring the lights of Paris.

 

Here are 3 easy steps for creating a great home user guide for your home exchange guests. Once you’ve written and assembled the guide, all you’ll need to do is update it when something changes.

---

Step 1. Decide what “must-have” content to include

Think about what guests need to know to live comfortably in your home and handle any problems that might come up. Must-have content typically includes:

 

• A short, friendly note welcoming guests to your home
• The home’s street address and telephone number (if there’s a landline) along with instructions for accessing the voicemail
• How guests can reach you while they are staying in your home
• The password or code for your security system, if any, and how to turn it and off
• The Wifi password and what to do if it goes downInstructions for sorting the recycling, where to find the garbage cans, and where to put the cans on pickup day
  What to do if the power goes out, the plumbing backs up, the heater or water heater won’t go on, they lose their keys, or something else serious happens
• Phone numbers for the fire department, police, hospital, pharmacy, emergency plumber

Tip: Also post this information prominently on the door of the fridge

• Instructions for sorting the recycling, where to find the garbage cans, and where to put the cans on pickup day
• What to do if the power goes out, the plumbing backs up, the heater or water heater won’t go on, they lose their keys, or something else serious happens

Tip: Have someone nearby who can step in to help

• Instructions and/or manuals for the appliances, heater/air conditioner, TV, DVD player, cable box, sound system, barbecue, and other equipment
• Cautions (“The toilet in the front bathroom backs up easily so be gentle”; “Please do not lock the door between the stairs and the back hall – we don’t have a key”; “the drawer in the kitchen table falls out easily so be careful when you open it”)
• Rules (“Please do not play the TV or music loudly after 10:00 at night”; “Please do not smoke in the house or on the property”; “Please park only in our assigned space, #288”)
• What guests should do when they leave (“Please replace the toilet paper and cleaning supplies”; “Strip the beds and put the sheets in the washer”; “Leave us some milk, eggs, butter, and bread”)

---

Step 2. Decide what nice-to-have information to include

A big part of traveling is the fun of exploring a new area, but it’s also nice to have a local’s point of view. Help guests have a great experience by being a “virtual tourist guide,” with suggestions for places they might not find in their travel books.

 

• Where to shop: grocery stores, farmers’ markets, malls, bookstores, boutiques
• How to get around: maps of the area along with bus, train, and ferry information and schedules along with phone numbers for taxi and airport shuttle services
• Where to play: parks, playgrounds, swimming pools, gyms, beaches, golf courses, tennis courts, hiking trails, ski slopes, and other recreational facilities
• Where to eat: a selection of cafes, bars and restaurants they might enjoy

Tip: Collect menus from places you like and leave them for your guests

• What to see: local attractions such as museums, art galleries, nature preserves, sports arenas, universities, and more

Tip: Leave tourist guides, brochures and other information your guests might find useful

---

Step 3. Write and assemble your home user guide

Make your home user guide easy to read. Use lists and headings to help guests quickly find specific information. Keep sentences and paragraphs to a minimum. To assemble the guide, you can staple the pages of instructions and suggestions together and put the maps, menus, and brochures in a basket or put everything in a binder or folder with pockets.

Tip: E-mail guests a copy of the written part of the guide so they can look it over before they arrive.

---

Join Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Enjoy free holiday accommodation by arranging a home swap. Sign up to Home Base Holidays

---

We had a fantastic home swap holiday in Abruzzo, Italy

Views from the villa nestled between the Adriatic coast and the Gran Sasso mountain ranges

Home swap in Abruzzo, Italy: lovely villa with stunning views "What a fantastic location for a home swap holiday! This was our first time visiting Abruzzo but we will definitely be back. The mountain views from the villa's terrace were stunning. We picked fresh figs and grapes from the garden for our daily breakfast. Such a treat. Plus there were plenty of excellent restaurants within very easy reach. The area itself is simply stunning and we loved exploring. Just half an hour drive and we were visiting amazing hill top villages or the lovely coastline. Just a little further drive and we were in the mountains. Thank you so much for such a wondeful holiday in Italy!"   - Chris & Graham (Yorkshire Dales, England)

Our home swap highlights: Fantastic views from the terrace Close to the beach and the mountains Explore the hilltop villages and discovering lovely places to eat

 

Photos from the home swap in Elice, Italy

• 
• 
• 
• 

---

    Members' home swap holiday offers:

Yorkshire Dales, England (HE39799) 18th century Yorkshire farmhouse. Located between the spa town of Ilkley and the market town of Skipton on the edge of the Yorkshire Dales. View Home Base Holidays offer	Elice, Abruzzo, Italy (HE31329) Pretty 3-bedroom villa with stunning views. Located in Elice, nestled between the Adriatic coast and the majestic Gran Sasso mountain ranges. View Home Base Holidays offer

---

Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Brush up on your home exchange etiquette | Travel tips

Guest blog post: Janis Fisher Chan is a writer, editor and passionate traveller who loves home exchanging. If you love travel and love getting a real feel for your destination, Janis encourages you to give home swapping a try!

---

Many house swappers have strong views on home exchange etiquette. This isn’t surprising: if you are inviting strangers to stay in your home while you’re away, you might have some opinions about how they should behave. Unfortunately these opinions aren’t always expressed clearly, which can lead to misunderstandings and disappointment.

 

If you are planning to do a home exchange it’s important to think about how you will set up your house and what you will do at the home of your swap partner. From the responses you write to each inquiry, to leaving gifts for your swappers, to cleaning the sheets, there’s a lot for the conscientious swapper to consider. While you won’t agree on everything, you can make sure to discuss and agree on the important things in advance. Here’s my guide to home exchange etiquette: important aspects of home exchange prep and behaviour.

---

1. Cleanliness: agree what to do at the start and end of a swap

Leave your home tidy and clean for your swap partners. When they arrive there should be clean sheets on the bed and clean towels in the bathrooms. There shouldn’t be dirty dishes or rotting food. Basically think about what you would like to come home to, and make sure the place is up to that standard for your guests. And if you are comfortable in what most people would consider a messy home, be sure to disclose that to potential swap partners. No judgments, just be clear about your standards so people aren’t disappointed.

 

Establish in advance how you will handle end-of-trip cleaning. You can both clean the home you swap to, or you can both clean your own homes. Many people like to agree to hire their own cleaning services. But be sure to establish some basic expectations for how the homes will be left (dirty towels and sheets in the laundry basket, all dishes cleaned, everything tidied up). And never be that person who leaves your swap house a mess! It’s just rude to leave dirty dishes in the sink and trash sitting out. Tidy up, even if you aren’t expected to do a deep cleaning.

 

Check out the Checklist on how to prepare your home for a swap

---

2. Exchanging Keys: decide how to swap keys

Talk about how you plan to exchange keys well in advance. If you want to use the mail to send keys you’ll need enough time to come up with a backup plan if they get lost in transit. Always leave a spare set of keys with someone in town, just in case your swap partner somehow gets locked out.

 

Also be sure to discuss how to return keys at the end of the exchange. I have people leave the keys through my mail slot after locking the door. But if this isn’t possible you might want to have them mailed back, or left with a neighbor.

 

For more information, check out Exchanging keys before a home swap holiday

---

3. House Guide: provide useful information for your guests

Make a user guide to your house. Include instructions on how to operate everything. Don’t assume your visitor can read the Swedish instructions on the washer! At a minimum you should explain where to find and how to use these things: dishwasher, TV, wifi, laundry, garbage (including how to take it out), kitchen appliances, heat/AC, shared outdoors space, extra towels/sheets, empty drawers and hangers for their use, bikes and vehicles if available.

My home guide is room by room, hopefully making it easier for people to flip to the kitchen section if they are inspired to learn how to use my juicer or want to run the dishwasher.

In your home guide you can also include information on anything special you want your guests to do before they leave: Should they put dirty sheets in the hamper? Should they take out the garbage?

Include a section on the neighborhood: where they can find the closest grocery store, local coffee shops, restaurants and bars, and how to get to public transportation.

I suggest also including a city guide. Provide information about anything you think your visitors might enjoy. I have a list of favorite restaurants and bars, some great walks to take for views of the city, and some of the more popular tourist activities, as well as a section on places to visit for a day trip or a few days outside of the city. I also ask my swap partners if there’s anything special they want to do so that I can add to my guide.

Lastly, leave out some maps of the area if you have any. Most people use their phones to navigate, but for those who don’t have a data plan that covers other countries, paper maps can be very useful.

For more information, check out 3 easy steps for creating a home swap welcome guide

---

4. Arrival dates and times: agree your swap dates

Discuss and agree on arrival dates and times for each of you. Make sure there’s no unintended overlap. And inform your neighbors about the guests who will be staying in your home while you are away. You don’t want them calling the cops thinking that you have a break in.

---

5. Gifts: leaving a gift can be a nice personal touch

Many people like to leave gifts for their home exchange guests. I have to admit I sometimes forget, but it is nice to do, and I aspire to leave gifts for every swap. When I’m doing a simultaneous swap I leave something local: wine or chocolate. When I’m traveling around doing multiple swaps, I bring along a small souvenir from my city and a few nice postcards. I can write a thank you note on the postcard with a picture of something iconic from my home town, and leave the gift. Even just a magnet or bar of local chocolate is a nice thought.

 

There are some who go to great lengths with the welcome gifts: asking what foods their swappers eat and stocking the fridge for them, baking, and buying gifts. I think this is super nice, but it’s definitely not necessary. Truthfully I would probably feel a bit guilty if someone did this for me when I just bought a bottle of wine for them.

 

Q&A: should I leave a gift when home exchanging?

---

6. Communication: the key to successful home swapping

Aside from the gifts, everything else I list above should be discussed in advance to make sure you’re on the same page about what is required before and during your home exchange. I also think it’s best to agree that you will check in when you each arrive, just to let the other person know you got there safely and are in the house.

 

You may also want to set some ground rules for communication while you are doing the exchange. You might agree to reach out to each other if you need help with anything, and talk about how you will do that (via SMS, email, phone calls, etc.).

 

I’ve heard a few stories of people who were peppered with constant questions from their swappers about things that were covered in the instruction booklet they left, so much so that it was interfering with their vacation. There’s not much you can do beyond politely asking your swap partners to read the instructions before pestering you, but talking about communication in advance may help you ensure you both have the same expectations.

 

And lastly, it’s good home exchange etiquette to let your swap partners know when you’ve left their home.

 

Check out Home exchange holidays: tips for good communication

---

7. Formal exchange agreements: finalise your home swap

If you want to formalize your plans, you can use the exchange agreements that are available through the home swap website. 

 

These provide a good basis for discussing the important elements of the swap and some formality to your agreement around what will happen before and during the swap.

---

Join Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Looking for a much needed break? Arrange free holiday accommodation by choosing to swap homes rather than book hotels or holiday rentals. View the latest home exchange vacation offers then sign up to Home Base Holidays.

---

Swap homes and enjoy a budget friendly holiday

Looking for a budget friendly break? Try a home swap holiday

We're all starting to feel the pinch with the cost of food, taxes, mortgages and energy bills all going the wrong way. Many of us are having to look at cost saving ideas and ditch many of the non-essentials.

But what about holidays? Everyone needs a break and after the last few years, we're probably in need of a holiday more than ever. The good news is that by arranging a home swap holiday rather than booking a hotel or rental, you can enjoy a fabulous holiday but at a fraction of the cost. By swapping homes your accommodation is free - therefore, it's not uncommon for home swappers to cut the cost of their getaways by over 90%.

---

Swap homes: arrange free holiday accommodation

 

Cut the cost of your holiday by swapping homes

What is a home swap holiday?

Home swapping is where you agree with someone living in a destination you'd like to visit to exchange homes for the duration of your holidays. You can arrange an exchange for anything from a weekend getaway, a 2-week holiday or even a 6+ month longer term swap.

 

Additional cost savings (cars, bikes, meals...)

Forget cramped hotel rooms - nothing beats the space and comforts of staying in a real home. You'll have the space and convenience of a 'home from home' - you'll have full use of a fully equipped kitchen and laundry facilities. Preparing your own breakfasts or a packed lunch for a day out exploring is an excellent way to make additional savings. 

 

Cars and bikes: Many home swappers are also happy to exchange cars / offer use of their bikes during a swap, giving you more flexibility and even more cost savings.

 

"I used the Home Base Holidays website to arrange a home swap holiday in London. I had a wonderful time and saved a lot of money by cooking a few meals at 'home' (I liked shopping at the local food markets and little shops) - this meant I could afford to splurge once in a while on excellent meals out."  - Arthur

 

How to arrange a home swap holiday? 

First sign up to a home swap club such as the London based, Home Base Holidays. On signing up, you will go through quick steps to add your offer (details about your home and where/when you want to go on holiday). You can then browse offers and start contacting members to plan your home swap holiday.  

 

Home Base Holidays has a step-by-step guide to help arrange your home swap holiday. You'll also find lots of home exchange travel tips and advice here on the blog.

 

We love to hear from people interested in home swapping - please contact us with any questions.

---

Home swap holiday offers for 2022 / 2023:

Paris, France	Insch, Scotland	Lake District, England	Symi Island, Greece

---

Looking for a autumn / winter break? Browse home swap holiday offers

---

Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.