Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

A New Year's Resolution for Home Exchangers: Respond to All Exchange Offers in 2006

Happy New Year everyone! Last year I believe my suggested New Year's resolution to home swappers was focussed on 'the early bird catches the worm', i.e. the most successful home exchangers usually start looking for suitable swaps months before their planned vacation dates. Joining early is still a very good resolution but, this year, we'll focus on the importance of responding to all exchange offers. Even if you can't consider an exchange offer, a prompt reply with a simple 'no thanks' is greatly appreciated - you don't need to explain why you aren't interested!

It's really encouraging to see that some Home Base Holidays members now include a promise to answer all exchange offer messages in their own listings. One such, are recent renewal members from Australia who live on Queensland's Gold Coast (magnificant beaches & tourist attractions):

'We would be interested in an exchange to New Zealand, USA, Canada or Rio and are open to offers from other interesting places. Non-simultaneous exchanges and "within Australia" exchanges also considered! We would even consider hospitality exchanges where we stay with you and you stay with us...making transport and sight-seeing so much easier. Open to offers and will reply to all enquiries.' See the full details of this exchange offer and more photos, HE14532

England - Australia Test Cricket: Home Swap in Perth for Third Ashes Test Match

At major international sporting events hotel accommodation will often be in short supply and very expensive (see earlier post on swapping homes during the 2006 Open Golf Championship). Arranging a home exchange is not only a great way to save money for those who want to attend an event but also means that homes available for exchange in the location will be in demand. Local residents who want to 'escape' during this period will often receive a number of home swap offers from fans of the sport.

Renewing Home Base Holidays members from York, England, are planning well ahead for a home exchange in Australia next December:

'Marion & I are planning to be in Perth during mid Dec. 2006 to see the England Cricket team play in the 3rd Ashes test & would like to spend an extended holiday in the area. Ideally this period would include Christmas & New Year so we are looking for someone who would like to be in Yorkshire/England for the festive season, visiting family & friends maybe.'

In return for a home in Perth, the couple, who are experienced home exchangers, offer their three bedroom bungalow in a village close to York, 'where you'll be walking on 2000 years of history.' The photo is of York Minster. See their full exchange offer, HE17547

Home Exchange Article: Journalist Hooked on Home Swapping

Nick Jenkins, a journalist with the Press Association, who wrote an article on home exchange holidays a few months ago (see post, 'Home sweet Rome? Home exchanging works through trust and respect'), has recently renewed his membership with Home Base Holidays:

'I have to say we have become very enthusiastic exchangers now after only two goes at it. Even apart from my feature, we have become quite evangelistic about the whole thing and try to get everyone interested whenever conversations turn to holidays! Can't understand why we didn't try it years ago...' - Nick

Nick lives in South London with wife, Fiona, and two daughters ('their rooms would especially appeal to other girls who like pink!') The Jenkins' home would also appeal to another musical family as they have a grand piano, synthesiser, bass guitar, violins, viola and cello. See their current exchange offer, HE14125.

Merry Christmas and Happy Home Swapping in 2006

Happy holidays to all, whether you are spending Christmas at home or are perhaps on a home exchange in a very different climate to your norm.

Call Home Exchange Members for Free Via the Internet

Email has made an enormous difference to the way most home swaps are now arranged. Those who have been swapping homes for years will remember the laborious process of communicating with potential home exchange partners abroad pre-Internet. Generally this involved spending a considerable amount on sending packages of information by airmail, a long wait for responses, and much to-ing and fro-ing of letters, and a few expensive phone calls, to complete the arrangements. Now it is so cheap and quick to contact other members by email - in fact, some people are disappointed if they don't receive instant replies to their exchange offers!

However useful email is for sharing information, there is still nothing quite like having a one to one conversation. Although regular international calls are much cheaper than a few years ago, many members will still hesitate to call someone they don't know because of the cost and in case they catch them at an awkward time (and there are still some people who don't think of time differences when calling abroad. Waking someone up in the middle of the night is not a good plan if you're trying to persuade them to consider your exchange offer!)

A Home Base Holidays member from Colorado, who renewed his membership this week, is the first we've noticed who has suggested using a free Internet phone service to talk about his home and exchange offer and this is a great idea:

'If you would like to talk about the property at no cost we are listed with Skype; send us an email to arrange the time.'

(Note: Skype is 'a little program for making free calls over the internet to anyone else who also has Skype').

The house, 40 minutes from Boulder, sounds lovely and the owner paints a very enticing picture:

'Fresh mountain air with stream below the house. Listen to the stream while enjoying a peaceful meal on the deck ...'

Read the full exchange offer and see more photos, HE14507. By the way, this house swap includes Razzle Dazzle, 'a lovable Maine Coon cat who likes to sit in your lap'. That's not him in the picture but rather a bobcat kitten that came through the back yard - Razzle Dazzle is a bit smaller!

Having Your Own Space: Swap Homes When Visiting Family Abroad

Families - we love them but sometimes you can have too much of a good thing! This is particularly true for the many dual nationality marriages and partnerships, which often means trips back home to visit family for longer periods than if they lived nearby. This is exactly the motivation for arranging a home exchange for recent Home Base Holidays members in New Zealand:

'We are a professional NZ/UK couple with one young child. We are looking for an exchange which will allow us to visit "home" in the UK, without having to be on top of the relatives the whole time!'

There are bound to be many UK home exchangers who will be pleased to swap homes for the family's attractive home in Auckland:

'Our house would be great for exploring beautiful Auckland, the city of sails. It's a quiet, warm and sunny 3 bedroom townhouse, with a northfacing deck (peaceful valley view). We are in walking distance (20 mins) of Newmarket, a main shopping area with cinemas, restaurants, pubs, museum etc. Our nearest beach is Mission Bay (10 mins in car) - great for children, but there are many beaches to chose from - the gentle east coast or the more wild west coast is 1 hr. away by car (including Kare Kare, as featured in the film "The Piano". From here we can easily go diving, fishing, explore vineyards, catch the ferry to local islands, visit many beautiful beaches, take in local culture, including Maori culture.' See full exchange offer, HE17516.