Travel the Home Exchange Way

First home swap holiday: preparing for your guests arrival

Q: We're getting very excited to go on our first home exchange this August during the school holidays! I just have a couple of quick questions that I was unsure about (I didn't want to keep messaging the other member with so many small queries!). Firstly, should we make up the beds with clean bedding or is it better to leave the clean linen next to the beds? Also, do you recomment that we tell the other family that they are welcome to use our towels, soap, shampoo, kitchen condiments etc. or is it assumed that they will (also for us when we're in their home)? I want to make sure that we are good home exchangers and so don't want to make any first time faux pas!

- Eva (Edinburgh, Scotland)

A: Unless agreed otherwise with your home exchange guests, it is always best to make up the beds with clean linen so that they are ready for their arrival. It's a good idea to leave additional clean bedding plus extra towels - if it is not obvious where these are stored, include this in your 'Welcome Folder' (see below).

Most members will have a little clear-out of their fridge / cupboards prior to an exchange so that it looks clean, welcoming and there is space for your guests to store some items. It's good however to leave a few basic provisions such as fresh milk, butter, bread, sugar, tea, coffee etc. 

Make sure to leave toilet paper, soap and hand sanitizer for your guests. Most home exchangers will bring their own personal items such as shampoo and shower gel; but do let your guests know if you are happy for them to use any of yours (you can also include this information in your Welcome Folder).

Never be afraid to raise what may seem small queries with your home exchange guests; asking questions in the planning stage helps to avoid any misunderstandings during an exchange. For example, if you mention that you are happy for your guests to help themselves to food, that will likely prompt them to offer the same to you!

Welcome Folder: create a welcome pack for your guest's arrival in which you include information about your home (e.g. how to set the alarm, where items are stored, etc) and local information (e.g. tourist leaflets, restaurant menus, public transport info, taxi numbers, emergency numbers, etc). Along with the welcome pack, you could include a small treat/delicacy from your area - this is always a lovely way to start a home swap!

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Some recent home swap offers available through Home Base Holidays

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• Search home exchange holiday offers

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Start home swapping: sign up for free! Join Home Base Holidays - either select a two-week free trial or 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 home swap holiday during your Home Base Holidays membership.

A fantastic home swap: our first break after lockdown

Home Base Holidays members, Karen & Chris, had an excellent swap in Swanage

"Our first break away this year, as lockdown started to ease, and it couldn't have been better! The flat in Swanage is newly refurbished, light, bright and airy, spacious for two people, very comfortable and well equipped with everything you could need, and Sebastian's art works to admire on the walls! The sea and beach view from the huge bay window is amazing, and when you can tear yourself away the beach is just steps away, with a great cafe at the other end - just enough of a walk to work up an appetite for breakfast or a thirst for a late afternoon drink! The weather was fantastic for April, so we fully appreciated the location. Swanage has a range of interesting shops and galleries to browse, but feels quite a compact town so you can easily walk straight into beautiful, rural areas along the coast path. Sebastian was a great host - communication was easy and we were able to meet briefly on our arrival in Swanage. He and Lisa took great care of our cottage and cats and left everything very clean and tidy. A fantastic home swap!" - Karen & Chris (Watlington, Oxfordshire, England)

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Highlight from the home swap:

1. Super newly refurbished apartment by the beach!
2. Stunning sea view from bay window
3. Breakfast at the nearby beach cafe each day

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Photos from Karen & Chris's home swap in Swanage

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Meet the Home Base Holidays members:

Member HE39026: Karen & Chris  Karen and Chris are both recently retired and are looking for exchanges within the UK and Europe. They are more than happy to look after any pets and to make sure your plants are watered, etc.. and are looking for people who would also be happy to do that for them in return. View their home swap offer in Oxfordshire

 

Member HE18816: Sebastian & Lisa  Sebastian and Lisa are experienced home exchangers having completed fifteen wonderful home swaps. Sebastian is a self employed artist, art festival manager and teacher. Lisa is a piano and ballet teacher and spent 10 years touring as a dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet. View their home swap offer in Swanage

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Colourful beach huts in Swanage, Dorset

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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.

Top 10: things to do at the end of a home exchange

First home swap holiday? For many first time swappers, preparing for a home exchange holiday can feel a little daunting. In addition to getting your home ready for your guests, it's also knowing what is expected at the end of the exchange. We've put together a quick checklist of recommended things to do at the end of your home exchange holiday. 

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Top 10: things to do at the end of a home swap holiday Tidy and clean: before leaving your host's home, make sure to give it a clean and tidy so that you leave it in as good (if not better!) condition than when you arrived. It shouldn't take long to clean and tidy, however, some members agree with their home swap hosts to have a cleaner to come in at the end of the swap. Change the bedding and towels: unless agreed otherwise with your hosts, it's always best practice to change the bed sheets and duvet covers before leaving the home - your home swap hosts will likely be tired after their travels and will appreciate the effort.  Feed pets / water plants: if you've agreed to provide pet care during your stay, make sure that you follow the care instructions left by your hosts so that their furry/feathered friends have plenty of fresh water and food when you leave at the end of the swap. Also, if you've agreed to water house / garden plants, give them one last sprinkle of water before you leave. Replace household essentials: most home swappers will be completely fine with you using household items such as cleaning products, toilet paper, olive oil, etc. However, it's always good to replace essential items you've used; I mean ...there's nothing worse than coming back from your holiday to find you're out of loo roll! Turn off appliances: double check that you've not left appliances such as ovens, hobs or electric heaters on before leaving the home. Check doors are locked / alarm set: make sure to double check that all doors and windows are locked. If the house has an alarm, make sure to set it before you leave.   Be honest: accidents can happen to the best of us and so, if you accidentally broke something during your stay, let your hosts know, and either agree to replace the item or compensate for the cost. Remember, you've already saved a huge amount of money by choosing to swap homes. Leave a gift: if you've had a good home exchange, it's a really nice touch to leave a thank you note and small gift for your home swap hosts. It doesn't need to be anything fancy, maybe some flowers or a bottle of wine ...just something to show your appreciation. Send a thank you message: when you returned from your holiday, send your home swap hosts a thank you message. Tell them what you loved about their home and location. If you had a less positive experience (thankfully these are very rare!), give it a few days so that you don't say anything you'll regret and then, once you've had time to rest and reflect, you can then decide whether to discuss the issue(s) with the member.  Leave a review: trip report reviews left by members help build trust. Therefore, when you return from your holiday, login to your Home Base Holidays account and leave your home swap hosts a review of your stay.

 

Small selection of recent Home Base Holidays offers

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>> Browse home exchange holiday offers

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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.

Our home swap: the perfect post-lockdown tonic!

Sophie and Bill enjoyed a perfect post-lockdown home swap

"The moment we could after lockdown, we headed to Garway Hill for a home exchange with Corinne & Colin. Their attractive Edwardian house and large gardens lie in a beautiful, remote valley with wonderful views across to Wales. We were lucky, as the sun shone every day we were there and so we were able to enjoy fabulous walks from the door. We know the area quite well and there is much to see & do in the area: the characterful towns of Monmouth, Hay-on-Wye, Abergavenny and Hereford are all within easy reach and we were able to make another visit to the amazing Kilpeck church. Corrine & Colin were perfect exchange partners; they looked after our house perfectly and even cared for our cat. Would we exchange with them again? Like a shot!" - Sophie & Bill (Bradford-on-Avon, England)

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Highlight from the home swap:

1. The view from the top of Garway Hill
2. The comfort of Corrine & Colin's house
3. The stunning, unspoiled countryside, with newborn lambs everywhere!

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Perfect post-lockdown staycation in Garway Hill

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Meet the Home Base Holidays members:

Member HE39837: Sophie & Bill  Sophie is a professional musician who gives recitals internationally and teaches from home; Bill teaches at a local secondary school. They have a very friendly cat, Darcie, who has something of an international fan-club, built up through their house swaps over the years! View their home swap offer in Bradford-on-Avon

 

Member HE39186: Corrine & Colin  Corrine & Colin love the countryside and exploring other places and cultures. They are also interested in short city breaks when they feel like an injection of shops and galleries and museums. View their home swap offer in Garway Hill

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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.

Best location: home swap staycation in central London

Best location: Julia and David's home is in central London's Marylebone

"We had such a wonderful home exchange in Julia and David's central London apartment. We absolutely loved the flat and the location, it really was the best location ever - smack bang in Marylebone ...it really would be hard to find a better place to stay! Julia was in touch throughout and gave tons of local tips and great advice. Her flat was immaculate and so was ours when she and her hubby left it. Our neighbours fell in love with them, as did our cats, who were very well cared for. Staying in such a lovely central London location for free meant that we had lots of spare money to spend on restaurants, river boat trips, etc - and we made full use of this! We are very lucky people to have had this opportunity. Thank you so much to Julia and David for a wonderful swap in London!" - Diana & Alexander (Loch Long, Scotland)

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Highlight from the home exchange:

1. Our home swap partners, Julie and David, were extremely lovely
2. Unbeatable location and such a stylish clean, quiet and comfortable apartment
3. London ...of course!

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Julia & David's home in central London

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Diana & Alexander's home on the shores of Loch Long, Scotland

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Meet the members:

Diana & Alexander:  We are a tech teacher and mental health counsellor from Scotland. Our kids are all grown up and we are ready to explore the world. We are open to suggestions and can be spontaneous but will aim towards travelling during the Scottish school holidays. We have two lovely cats. View their home swap offer on the shore of Loch Long

 

Julia & David:  We are a British (English & Scottish) married couple. For UK and European city short trips/weekends we often travel as a couple although it would be ideal if we could arrange an occasional swap that accommodated the in-laws and both kids, particularly to Sydney where we have family. View their home swap offer in London

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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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.

Preparing for a summer home exchange holiday

With the UK starting to ease lockdown restrictions, many of us are now looking ahead to a (much needed!) summer holiday. Home swapping is a great way to enjoy a fabulous holiday this summer but at a fraction of the cost. Through Home Base Holidays you'll find many tempting home swap offers including country cottages, city apartments and homes by the coast. Shown below are a few tips to help you find and prepare for a summer swap.

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1. Add your home swap offer: sign up to Home Base Holidays

Sign up to Home Base Holidays so that you can add your home swap offer and then start contacting other members to discuss a swap. You'll include details about your home, location and when and where you are looking travel. 

Home Base Holidays has a two-week free trial to get you started. A full six month membership costs only £29 and there are no additional fees to pay. Sign up for free and start planning a summer swap!

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2. Be proactive: start contacting members to discuss a summer swap

The most successful home swappers are usually the most proactive. So, once you've added your home swap offer, don't just sit back and wait to be contacted; search home swap offers and spend some time sending out enquiry messages to members whose homes/locations look of interest.

Note: it's important to reply to all enquiry messages you receive even if just to say "Thank you, but the offer is not what I am looking for".

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3. Communications is key: discuss all details of the proposed swap

Communication really is key to successful home swapping and so be sure to discuss all details of the proposed home swap with the other member and don't be afraid to ask any questions that come to mind no matter how minor they seem. Thankfully, problems during a swap are extremely rare and the majority of issues reported tend to be things that could have been easily avoided with better communication (e.g. difference in house keeping styles, pet allergies, etc). Even once your swap has been agreed, stay in contact with your swap partner regularly in the lead up to your travel dates.

Schedule a phone / Skype call with the member you're planning a swap with - this can provide reassurance and give you a further chance to discuss details of the proposed swap.

 

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4. Preparing your home: clean and declutter

Home Base Holidays members understand that they are staying in a real home and not a show house but do make time to thoroughly clean and declutter your home prior to your guests' arrival so that your home is nice and welcoming. Ensure that your guests have enough sets of clean towels and sheets for their stay (prior to the swap, discuss and agree what to do with dirty towels and bedding). Clear some space in the bedroom, bathroom and kitchen so that your guests can unpack their luggage and have space to put away food during their stay.

Think about safety: Do you have smoke and carbon monoxide detectors fitted? Also, read our Covid cleaning guidelines.

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5. Welcome pack: put together a folder of useful information

Most Home Base Holidays members create a welcome pack for their guests' arrival. Include in your welcome pack information about local attractions and recommended restaurants, nearby transport, useful information about your home (e.g. how to turn on/off the alarm, etc), useful phone numbers (e.g. taxi firms) and emergency contact details (e.g. a friend/neighbour's number, an emergency plumber, etc).

This photo shows the Welcome pack and tourist information available to guests staying in Mario and Lorraine's home in Malta (member HE33093).  View their Home Base Holidays offer

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6. Insurance: contact your home insurance provider

Before agreeing a home swap, contact your home insurance company to confirm that your home is covered during the period of the home exchange. Most insurance companies will agree that your home is more secure occupied than if left empty as with most traditional holidays. However, do contact us if you have any difficulties agreeing cover for the period of your home swap.

Car swap? If you have also agreed to exchange cars it is essential to contact your car insurance company to ensure that your exchange guests will be covered on your insurance.

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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.