Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

A ‘somewhat obsessively neat’ home exchange member

It’s very difficult to create  a rigid checklist of housework standards for Home Base Holidays members to select from as people can have quite radically different ideas on what constitutes high standards of cleanliness, tidiness and general decor. One member’s idea of slumming it may be another’s relaxed, casual lifestyle. However, most members give useful clues within their listing descriptions, from the ‘Our lovingly cared for home would only suit adults’ (might refer to possible dangers such as an unfenced pool or, just as likely, ‘We would be concerned about damage to our white carpets and antiques and so don't want exchange partners with young children’). And, another example: ‘We are a busy, active young family and so our house is comfortable and relaxed with lots of toys and books, but definitely not a show home!’

 

  

So, the laid back lifestylers will normally stay well clear when they see a member of an exchange party described as ‘somewhat obsessively neat’ as, however ideal the home and location, this seems most likely to be a miss-match; but, for those with similar attitudes to tidiness, the opposite will be true – you’ll be assured that the home is likely to be up to your own standards and so this is potentially a very good match of members.

 

 

However, do read this attractive home exchange offer in San Diego (photo of home shown) in full and you may be surprised to see that the obsessively neat member of the family is Samantha, age 3.5!

 

The family are looking forward to a lengthy home exchange in London where Samantha and her grandma will enjoy the playgrounds and parks while her parents are working. That is, if Samantha is not kept too busy tidying up her London home from home!

‘House swapping - is it for you?’: 612 ABC Brisbane - Audio Interview on Home Exchange

Listen to a recent interview on her home exchange experiences with Karen Reyment who spent a year house swapping in Europe ....’not just one home exchange but 12!’

 

Most new home exchangers won’t attempt a series of 12 in a row (which requires superb organisational skills) over a whole year but anyone new to the idea of swapping homes, especially if a little apprehensive, should find the interview very useful. Karen answers the questions many first timers have and also demonstrates the willingness to trust exchange partners that’s important to be a successful home exchanger.

 

Karen's description of her family's home exchanges over the course of a year should inspire more people to use home swapping to experience life in other countries without breaking the bank. And to tempt you – check out the most recent home exchange offers on Home Base Holidays.

'My first holiday ... in someone else's house': home exchange article in 'Essentials'

Home Base Holidays member, Sarah Laws, kindly agreed to be interviewed on her first home exchange experience for an article in the June issue of ‘Essentials’ magazine (now available on newsstands in the UK):

 

'Just wanted to say thanks for passing on our details to Essentials magazine - it's really exciting to know that we will be featured in the June issue! The children are particularly excited!' - Best wishes, Sarah

 

Sarah, her partner Rob, and two young sons (Ethan and Theo will be pleased to see their photo in the magazine!) exchanged their home, a Victorian semi-detached property on a quiet residential street in Hertford, England, with the Roberge family from Ottawa, Canada. A short quote from the article:

 

‘The house in Canada was perfect. It was comfortable and had a huge games room, which thrilled the boys. The neighbours popped in to say hello and some of their friends invited us for dinner. It made us feel really welcome.

 

The swap went brilliantly, our boys had a great time, and the Roberge family were very enthusiastic about their holiday, too. We had the comfort of a home, with the excitement of being somewhere new.’

 

Since their first home swap to Canada, Sarah and family have had another exchange, this time to Sweden, and are open to new exchange offers.

 

Herefordshire is a beautiful area. There is plenty to do, but the city has an unspoilt feel, and there are lots of hidden treasures to discover. (The oldest map in the world, for example!). The home is five minutes’ walk from the centre of the city, but also close to woods and mountains.

 

Check out their full home exchange offer and see more photos. Log on to view HE23640, if you are a Home Base Holidays member or, if not yet a member, join now.

A Family's One Year Round the World (home exchange) Tour

(Een Vlaamse familie maakt een reis rond de wereld gedurende een jaar)

  

 

New Home Base Holidays member, Peter Bracke, writes:

‘We are fervent swappers since 1992 and now on a RWT (Round the World Tour) for a whole year. This is our 10th month and we're in Australia in the Blue Mountains NSW.

 

We started home-exchanging in 1992 and did home-exchanges almost every year at least once with our house in Gent Belgium. Most of our exchanges in those years were with the USA. In 1997 we bought  an apartment in Paris  and suddenly our exchanges went a lot more smoothly as you can imagine.’

 

See the family’s home exchange offer in Paris (their Ghent listing will follow shortly – ‘Gent  or Ghent was voted third most authentic city in the world last year by National Geographic.’)

 

Follow the family's RWT home swapping adventures on daughter, Lara's blog (Volg hun huizenruil-avonturen op Lara's blog). Most of the entries are in Dutch but a recent post, Autumn in the Blue Mountains, is in English (photo above is from the slideshow). We are pleased to have the Bracke family as members and are sure they will find much interest in their exchange offers in Paris and Ghent. We look forward to following their continuing adventures in home exchange all over the world.