Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

When Home Exchangers Leave Early

K., a regular Travel the Home Exchange Way reader, has been feeding me with some great ideas for topics to cover from her recent home exchange experiences, sadly not the best of swaps it seems.

'Just to update you - Maggie (our neighbour who looks after our swappers) went to the house this morning to take them some freshly picked ceps (wild mushrooms). When she got to the house, our US exchangers were packing their car ready to leave (a week early). They told her they were leaving because the house was too rural for them. They also mentioned they had left another (Italian) swap home early because it "wasn't what they expected". (We took a little comfort from that - though did feel for the Italian exchangers!). We've never had a swapper leave early before so not sure what the protocol is in this situation - i.e for a return swap. Maybe this could be subject matter for another blog entry!' - K.

K's recent exchange partners do sound a little strange (Note: they aren't Home Base Holidays members!) as I'm sure it would be clear from K.'s exchange listing description that her home was in a very rural area in France. As this couple had left another home early too, it does seem that they have a problem adapting to anywhere that isn't exactly as they anticipated - not a good character trait for home exchangers!

Unless a home and area are completely not as described, or the exchangers who decide to leave a home early have some really genuine grievance, it seems reasonable to expect that they keep their end of the bargain, i.e. as K. had arranged a non-simultaneous exchange, the same dates and length as agreed for her return swap (that is, if she still wants to take it).

Home Exchange: Different Homes, Lifestyles - and Expectations

A quote from a regular reader:

'We have an American couple staying at our French home at the moment. Our house is an eighteenth century house in SW France - very pretty with a pigeonnier tower - but rural...and very french. By contrast, their home is a very large modern house with all mod cons!

We have had a few hiccups so far. We bought a PC and set up a broadband internet account and arranged a "free" international phone dialling package for them (so they could work from the house / keep in contact with home). But, we have no satellite TV channels and there are rural smells in the garden - we are in the country and there are cows in the field opposite. Other exchangers / visitors (Europeans) have loved the house and setting but I'm not sure its quite what this couple are used to!! i.e different expectations / norms.

Maybe you could include on the blog something on different lifestyles in different countries and different expectations?? Country is different than a town, American home standards are different than European - that sort of thing.' - K.

I was delighted to have a regular correspondence recently with K., an experienced home exchanger (she's now my Facebook friend). K's latest exchange highlights the need for anyone arranging an exchange to be sure that the home and location is what you want before agreeing to go ahead - especially if it will involve your exchange hosts going out of their way to accommodate your special needs, and at some expense, as in this case. It does seem odd that anyone exchanging to a rural area in any country wouldn't realise that farm animals and the accompanying country smells could well be part of the deal - I don't think manure is any sweeter smelling in the USA than Europe! And what an 18th C. home may possibly lack in mod cons, it will more than make up for in character.

Generally people choose home exchange for the very reason that it gives the chance to try out a different lifestyle and get to know a local area. It seems, though, there are people (thankfully, few) who must expect a replica of their own lifestyles no matter how different the home and location. It makes you wonder why such people ever bother to leave home!

Vive la différence! Does anyone else have experiences of exchanging homes with people with very different expectations to the reality on offer?

Home Well Equipped for Toddlers? Show it in Pictures!

If you have school age children and are arranging a home swap, it's a great idea to get them directly involved in the exchange arrangements, corresponding with any similar aged children in the family. By the time the day arrives to travel, the children are likely to be as excited as you are to arrive and start exploring their new surroundings in your exchnage home.

But, if your children are too young to be actively involved, you may be anxious that they will be able to settle in an unfamiliar bedroom and that the home will be safe and geared to children's needs. What better way to demonstrate to other anxious parents of toddlers that your own home will suit their needs just fine than to show your child's bedroom and toys in some of the photos you choose for your home exchange listing? A lucky little girl (maybe not a 15 year old boy!) is bound to be delighted when she discovers her bedroom in this attractive home in Corfe Mullen, Dorset, England:

Well maintained, fully equipped 3 bedroom house in a quiet town; 15 minute drive to nearest beach/shopping complex, 30 minutes to Bournemouth Town centre.

House has 1 bath, ground floor WC, large lounge, large balcony, patio area with BBQ, small play area with play house, slide etc. Subject to insurance conditions, exchange may be able to include a new Nissan Note, including 2 children's car seats if needed. See more photos (including the beautiful Dorset coast) and the full home exchange offer, HE21401

'The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread' - Pass it On!

'We have just returned from our third home exchange this year (6th since joining!) and have had the most fantastic holiday each time. We think your website is the best thing since sliced bread!' kind regards, Sebastian

It was great to hear from Sebastian just after his brother, Luke, had joined Home Base Holidays on his recommendation - word of mouth is always the best publicity!

Both brothers have wonderful large houses (both accommodating up to 10 people) to offer for exchange in different counties in England. First up, Sebastian's home in Swanage, Dorset:

We live in a large, recently renovated, Victorian, seaside family house set in a lovely location overlooking Swanage Bay with views to the Isle of Wight. Our house has many period features, stripped wooden floors, original fireplaces and our eclectic collection of art! It is on three storeys and is near the top of a hill. You will get plenty of exercise! Up-right grand piano and a collection of other musical instruments and hundreds of books.

Swanage is a thriving seaside resort with wonderful beaches, a pier, a steam railway to Corfe Castle, a theatre, pubs and restaurants. It is an excellent base for swimming, sailing, fishing, rock-climbing and diving. There are beautiful coastal walks along the Jurrasic Coast (a World Heritage site), with clifftop paths, secluded coves for fossil hunting and rock-pools all on the doorstep. Five minutes walk to the award-winning beach, town centre ,interesting shops, galleries, parks and mountain-biking paths. Stunning Dorset countryside, Historic Castles, Country Houses and idyllic villages to explore nearby. Bath, Salisbury, Stonehenge, Shaftsbury within 2 hours drive. Oxford and London: 3 hours. See www.virtual-swanage.co.uk for more about Swanage. The picture above shows Durlston Castle and Anvil Point lighthouse, which are a short walk from the back of our house. See the full home exchange offer and more photos, HE18816

And Luke's home in Chichester, West Sussex:

A fine Grade 2* detached Georgian house in the Cathedral city of Chichester in southern England. It has many period features: open fireplaces, sash windows, shutters, roll-top baths. The formal dining room easily seats 10, the country-style kitchen diner has an AGA and dishwasher. There is a very pretty lawned walled garden. Only 95 minutes to London Victoria by train. Goodwood races, Festival of Speed, & Revival are within 2 miles. Chichester Festival Theatre, Pallant House Gallery, Museums, great shopping, bars & restaurants all within 5 minutes walk. Sailing and West Wittering sandy beach 6 miles distant, as are the wonderful South Downs countryside. London, Brighton, Portsmouth & Southampton are easy day trips (stn 5 mins). See the full home exchange offer and more photos, HE21408

Home Exchange Guests Bitten by Fleas?

Flea infestation is a subject that probably doesn't crop up much during discussions between members arranging home swaps! But, if pets, especially cats, are normal residents in a home, fleas are just a fact of life that most pet owners will have to treat once in awhile. It is in no way a reflection on the cleanliness of a home but must be dealt with to stop a bigger problem.

I'm sure if there's any hint of a flea on a cat just before home exchange guests are due to arrive, most people will make sure the cat is treated so it's unlikely to be a problem that guests will have to deal with. But, best to be prepared - leave treatment and instructions for use - just in case.

Unfortunately, fleas don't stay on cats and so carpets and soft furnishings will often need treatment too. If left untreated, and especially if your cat is going to be looked after elsewhere during the exchange, hungry fleas, robbed of their main source of food, will probably be ready to leap on your guests as soon as they step through the door - not nice to think they will feel they've literally arrived at a flea pit! In drastic cases, guests may even need to move out for a couple of days while the home is fumigated. Best to avoid this scenario by being prepared in advance. I found a couple of good articles which I hope may be of use to anyone with cats, one on Pawprints and Purrs, Inc. - 'Flea Control in Cats' and the other, on About.com, 'Don't Flee the Flea!'

Home Exchange Experiences Can Lead to Lifestyle Changes

An article,'Holiday property: Make your home your passport', giving a slightly different slant on the home exchange idea, was published recently in the Property section of the Telegraph. Long time Home Base Holidays members, Sheila and David Hoffman, kindly took the time to answer the journalist's questions about their exchange experiences. A quote:

'The couple may be retired and in their mid-70s but since the Millennium they have embarked on no fewer than 25 home exchanges, swapping their three-bedroom home with people who want to stay in London for anything from a week to two months.

In just eight years, the Hoffmans have frequently visited relatives in Australia, held a golden wedding anniversary party in Manhattan and enjoyed holidays in the Netherlands, Denmark, Italy, France and San Francisco. Staying in someone else's home, not only do they avoid expensive hotels, but they can get under the skin of the community they visit.'

Sheila commented:

'When we started we lived in a large house but we swapped with so many apartments that we realised how convenient that lifestyle was. So we downsized into a flat here in Pinner.'

I knew that the Hoffmans lived in a large family home when they were first members but Sheila's comment on the couple's experiences of swapping to smaller homes is interesting for two reasons - it proves the point that you don't need to exchange like for like in terms of home size (something new members with small, modest apartments are sometimes concerned about) but also that you can pick up some good ideas from the way other people live and adopt them yourself, in this case, downsizing.

The Hoffman's home:

Modern apartment in Mediaeval Pinner. By Tube 25 minutes to Central London. Enjoy the convenience of easy access to central London yet be back amid a more relaxed, peaceful setting in time for tea. Harrow School is a mile away. Heathrow airport is easily accessible. Windsor Castle is quite near. See the full home exchange offer, HE4721.