Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

One year to go until the London 2012 Olympics - time to plan a home exchange!

It is amazing to watch the main Olympic park in East London take shape over the last few months. With most of the main buildings already finished, and the area around being transformed into a new, large park, it's really beginning to feel that the Games are not far off now.

Home Base Holidays members have been quick off the mark to offer homes within easy reach of the various venues for home exchange during all or part of the periods of the Olympics and Paralympics.

Now is definitely a great time to start planning a home swap to London or any of the other venue locations. As Home Base Holidays is based in London and has been running a home exchange service since 1985, membership gives you access to the largest choice of up-to-date home exchange offers in London and throughout Britain during the Olympics. Note: a keyword search for 'Olympics' and 'Olympic Games' is a handy way to start searching for possible exchange partners during London 2012 but do also search generally on London or other venue locations for increased choice.

Samples of some of the homes available for exchange during the Olympics:

A house (pictured) in Camden, very central, yet with pare terre garden, balcony and roof terrace! Ship's stair to roof, but not a ladder. Easy access. walking distance to The Roundhouse and key music venues. Direct bus/tube routes to theatres of West End, the City etc. transport connections. Roof access means this is not suitable for very young children. Full home exchange offer, 23046

An apartment in the heart of London's fashionable East End, less than a minute from Tube lines which will take you all across the city. Close to the markets, bars and restaurants of Brick Lane and Shoreditch, London's most arty area, also a short hop from the Olympic Park and 15 mins walk to a beautiful park or lovely canal walks. Full home exchange offer, 25954

It's hard to believe our extended semi-detached house is in London: it's on an unmade road opposite a beautiful stretch of Epping Forest, with a lake. We are in Highams Park, 25 minutes (10 miles) from Central London on the commuter train (four an hour - station eight minutes walk) and there are tube links too. Woodford golf course is 15 minutes walk. Full home exchange offer, 25566

Lovely semi detached 3 bedroom house with off-street parking on the quietest of roads and, unusual for London, the house has a 30 metre long rear garden. Less than 50 metres from a wonderful park with tennis courts and good play facilities for young children. Plus 10 minutes walk away Crystal Palace Park with a 50 metre swimming pool amongst numerous other sport and recreational facilities. The area is an attractive and very safe residential suburb of London. Easy 10 minute walk to rail station and then regular trains into London (18 minutes to London Bridge and the Underground). Direct rail link to Olympic Park. Full home exchange offer, 23955

Quintessential English village set in the heart of the Surrey Hills. A designated area of outstanding natural beauty. A Converted Victorian Mansion (pictures above) into private individual residencies. Our home has a Superb quiet corner position, situated on first floor (top floor) with stairs & lift/elevator. A gated community set in natural grounds of nine acres. Nestled at the foot of the North Downs the area is very popular with walkers, cyclists & horse riders. Our village will form part of the London 2012 Olympic cycle race for both the men and ladies competition. Full home exchange offer, 22544

Victorian Cottage in the Historic town of Dorchester. Quiet setting, and perfect to explore the Jurassic Coast and rural Dorset. Good transport links to Bath, Bristol, Exeter,and South Coast. London 2.5 hours Seaside is 6 miles, with exceptional coastal walks, lovely beaches and sailing. Easy walk to local pubs, restaurants. We have enjoyed successful exchanges. Happy to consider swops if anyone is wanting to visit this area for the 2012 Sailing Olympics. Full home exchange offer, 24197

 

Who lives in a house like this? Unusual homes available for home exchange, #3

This is the last in our current series of sample unusual homes available for exchange. There are lots more - check out the home exchange offers at Home Base Holidays.

Warehouse

London, England:  Modern conversion in beautiful old warehouse (photo above). Open plan with mezzanine level. In fashionable Broadway market area of East London. Locally there is a wonderful organic food market, vintage clothes and book shops, great cafes with endless good coffee and cakes galore! Classic pubs for a pint and trendy bars for a cocktail all within 5 minutes walk. Full home exchange offer, 25221

Stable

Castle Douglas, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland: Parton Stables is a unique Georgian stable building, beautifully converted and finished for cosy and stylish country living. Located in rural Galloway. Glasgow is 1.5 hours by road and Edinburgh 2.5 hours. Built around 1840, the house is secluded within a mature wooded estate on the banks of beautiful Loch Ken. It is centrally heated but has also a wood-burning stove in the sitting room which is easy and creates a lovely ambience. Full home exchange offer, 23201

 

Cattle Barn

Cockermouth, Cumbria, England: Our home is a beautifully restored semi detached cattle barn from the 19th century, situated in the village of Gilcrux on the edge of the Lake District. It's an "upside down house" with original features, a large open plan living space on the 1st floor and 2 double/2 single bedrooms downstairs. Outside is a large garden with fruit trees and decking over a shallow brook. It's also home to our 3 chickens so plenty of fresh eggs for breakfast! Full home exchange offer, 25243

 

 

Baptist Chapel

Barnstaple, Devon, England:  We live in the village of Swimbridge which is in North Devon. Heavenly House is a former Baptist Chapel set slightly back from, and above, the village street with a graveyard in front and a large garden at the rear. We converted the chapel in 2001 and have made a beautiful and interesting family home with much character. N.B We don't have a T.V! Full home exchange offer, 24011

Cotton Mill

Manchester, England: Our apartment is in a converted cotton mill which is full of character. It is unique in that it has a mezzanine floor above the kitchen which serves as a second bedroom. Situated in the heart of vibrant Manchester, it is within easy walking distance of major train and bus stations, city centre shopping, a variety of restaurants, pubs, clubs and cafes. Full home exchange offer, 24057

 

 

Featured Home Swap in Singapore

This lovely heritage Shophouse in vibrant and central Chinatown. Architecturally re-designed and renovated interior with lots of sunny, large rooms (3000sq ft+). You will have a live-in helper who can clean, iron, shop and cook for you as and when required. Easy access to Sentosa (small island off Singapore) and 1 hour ferry ride to Bintan and Nikoi islands (tropical island paradise, part of Indonesian archipelago). Singapore has fantastic food, nightlife shopping, golfing and tennis.

Accommodates: 6 (3 bedrooms)

Exchange Request:  UK, Europe, Open

View full Home Exchange Offer...

Who lives in a house like this? Unusual homes available for home exchange, #2

Following on from the post published on 12th July, here are some more samples of unusual homes available for home exchange:

Ramparts

Cairanne, Provence, France: a village house built into the 12th century ramparts constructed by the Knights Templar. It is full of character and charm, renovated in 2007 to modern standards. On three floors, it is airy and spacious, and has wonderful views of vineyards and mountains. It is located in a charming village with a butcher, baker, grocer, newsagent, hairdresser, post office, cafe and restaurant. A paradise for walkers and rock climbers. Wine-tasting in Cairanne itself and nearby Vacqueras, Gigondas and Chateau Neuf du Pape. The Roman sites of Vaison la Romaine, Orange, Glanum and Avignon are within easy reach. Opera in Vaison and Orange during the summer when there are jazz and classical concerts non-stop in the Cairanne area. Full home exchange offer, 24902

Schoolhouse

Wiltshire, England: The Old School House is a compact delightful rural property based in Bromham nr the market town of Devizes. Devizes is about 30 miles to Bath and Bristol. It is a typical English small local village. There are some amazing walks and some fabulous pubs with one in the village you can walk to. Full home exchange offer, 25715

Priory

Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England: 15th century Priory built by monks of LLanthony. Fully modernised! Set in Cheltenham centre for the Cotswolds area of outstanding natural beauty. One hour Oxford, Bristol. Good links London 3 hours. Full home exchange offer, 25208

Houseboat

London (Hampton Court): We live on a beautiful floating home on Taggs Island on the River Thames. The house was designed to our own specification and we moved in in 2007. It is light and sunny in the summer, warm and cosy in the winter (underfloor heating). There is a garden for sunbathing and eating al fresco, a superb open top deck with gas BBQ and dining table (terrific sunsets) and a fabulous hot tub heated year round.

There is nothing better than messing about on a boat on the river in the summer(our boat is moored alongside our home), Bushy Park, home to herds of wild deer, is located directly opposite the house for picnics and walks and the Thames River towpath is a traffic free path for cycling and walking for miles (ie to Windsor or central London). Hampton Court Palace is a 10 minute walk from our home, Wimbledon is close by for tennis fans, central London is just 30 minutes by train and there are plenty of restaurants and pubs nearby. Full home exchange offer, 24992

Pub

Hoveringham, Nottinghamshire, England: We live in Hoveringham, a fantastic village in rural Nottinghamshire, in a converted pub with 3 bedrooms and a large open plan living area. The house sits next to the River Trent and the views are simply stunning. We are surrounded by farms and wildlife is abundant along the river - herons, sparrow hawks, swans, geese, ducks and oyster catchers to name but a few. Full home exchange offer, 25614

 

Who lives in a house like this? Unusual homes available for home exchange, #1

British readers may remember 'Through the Key-hole', a TV series a few years ago that had the catch phrase, 'who lives in a house like this?'. It's fascinating to browse home exchange offers on Home Base Holidays as a surprising number of homes listed for exchange are unique in some way. Don't get alarmed that several British members appear to live in barns. Read the descriptions and you'll see, from all the mod cons, that it's been a long time since any of these barns were used as cow sheds!

As there are lots of great homes that suit the category of 'unusual', this is the first of three posts, giving a few examples - do check them out and, if you are not already a home swap member, hopefully you'll be tempted to join Home Base Holidays!

Mansion

Waldershare Park, Kent, England: Waldershare House (above) is an 18C, Queen Anne Mansion on the 2000 acre country estate of the Earl of Guilford. Our 2nd floor apartment (lift) covers the top floor of the left wing and has panoramic views across the estate. There is a residents garden from which you can walk for miles over the North Downs. Full home exchange offer, 21493

Converted Cider House

Ross on Wye, Herefordshire, England: Our house is a detached converted cider house in a very beautiful valley near the market town of Ross on Wye. Ross has all necessary shops. We are next to the Royal Forest of Dean and close to the beautiful Wye valley. We are also within easy driving distance of the Cotswolds, the Malverns and the Brecon Beacons. Full home exchange offer, 21140

Skittles Alley

Devon, England: Rouen Cottage is one of a few properties converted from the historic Mucky Duck Inn. Bijou (it was the skittles alley!) but modern and well equipped. Very quiet rural location on edge of Dartmoor, adjacent to National Trust Lydford Gorge woodland walks and waterfalls. Full home exchange offer, 20389

 

 

Stable

Biddenham, Bedfordshire, England: Our house is a stone conversion of a single-storey stable block with an attached hay loft, originally built in the 18th century. It is in a peaceful village setting yet only 40 minutes by train from London and approximately halfway between Oxford and Cambridge. There is a thatched village pub and restaurant nearby. Full home exchange offer, 25738

 

 

Boat

Liverpool, England: a fabulous dutch barge currently moored in Liverpool marina. It has all mod cons - washer/drier, dishwasher, central heating, multi-fuel burner, king size bed, shower, bath etc. It is located in the heart of Liverpool, a 10 minute walk away from the new Arena and Albert dock. Full home exchange offer, 24905

 

Home exchange: addressing those 'awkward' questions

The early messages between home exchange members are very important in enabling both to ask and answer questions as they occur (and generally get a feeling on their compatibility) without, at this stage, a firm commitment to exchange. Email has speeded up initial communication greatly but time and care should still be taken to minimise any possibility of misunderstandings later on.

Once both parties to an exchange agree to swap homes, they will continue to correspond to finalise all details in the run-up to the exchange. If flights are involved, it's a good idea to book tickets at the same time and share confirmation of the bookings - this is a reassurance to both of a mutual commitment to go ahead with the exchange. At this stage, it's definitely unacceptable to cancel an agreed swap (barring unforeseen circumstances such as a death or serious illness in the family).

So, back to the topic of broaching 'awkward' questions. Anything that could (but shouldn't if raised with sensitivity) potentially be taken as a negative comment on an exchange partners' home or area comes under the 'awkward' category. It's best that any such questions are addressed as early as possible rather than after an exchange has been agreed and plans are at an advanced stage, or worse, not addressed at all and possibly causing last minute wobbles.

If, for example, you live very close to a major airport or busy road, pre-empt any likely concerns such as noise or pollution by addressing these in your listing (plus, of course, including photos so that potential exchange partners have a good idea of your home and location). You may be used to noise levels that visitors from quieter areas might find too disturbing. But, perhaps your home is triple glazed or bedrooms are away from the road, minimising the impact of noise. As with all aspects of describing your home and area - be honest!

Another cause of concern might be real or perceived levels of crime in an inner city area. Although living in a rural area is no guarantee that exchange guests won't ever be victims of crime, country dwellers may feel apprehensive before visiting a large city where crime (or perceived crime levels) are a worry.

Even if you live in a rural idyll, the bull in a field next to your garden could seem very menacing indeed to a city dweller who might be afraid to use public footpaths near your home unless reassured this is safe. Or an area may be prone to natural disasters such as tornadoes or floods. There can be 'what if' questions wherever you live or exchange to.

If your potentially awkward questions have not been addressed in your exchange partners' listing, go ahead and ask about any concerns you have (in a courteous way of course). And, if you are on the receiving end of such questions? Don't take it personally but rather address concerns honestly and with practical suggestions. After all, you live in your area and, if there are any reasons for taking sensible precautions (whether against pickpockets, menacing bulls, tornadoes, noise, travelling by public transport, etc, etc), pass on the benefit of your experience. Ultimately, though, the adults in exchange parties must take full responsibility for their own, and their children's, health and safety while taking part in an exchange.

Over to you, experienced home exchangers - how have you handled any tricky questions that have cropped up when arranging an exchange?