Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Home exchange comparison resource suggestion

Home Base Holidays was contacted recently by a comparison website, with a link to home exchange services comparison data, and the suggestion that 'your readers will love it because it lets you search for and compare exchange websites by the number of listings, exchange types offered, membership fee and more.' As well as some puzzling omissions/inclusions in the sites compared, the 'and more' didn't really cover anything that would be very useful for first time home exchangers to help them choose the best service for their needs.

We sent the following suggestions for extending the information provided (but have not had a reply):

1.    Does the site show full contact details, i.e. can a site visitor or member call the office if they have a question or is there just an anonymous email contact form?

2.    Are you comparing like with like? Free listings sites may have many ‘members’ but many will not be actively looking for home swaps. A smaller number of up-to-date listings where members have shown their commitment to arranging exchanges by paying a modest membership fee is generally much more valuable.

3.    Membership options range from a few months to ‘lifetime’ so very difficult to compare. How many lifetime members are likely to be active?

4.    How up-to-date are listings? Can you see the join or renewal dates and expiry dates in all listings? Can you see years as well as months in exchange dates wanted? Are there many older listings with blanks where the exchange dates should be (this indicates that the exchange dates are over and members either aren’t looking for further exchanges at present or their listings are kept in circulation after expiry to bulk up the numbers of listings)?

5.    Encourage readers to look at the balance of listings, i.e. there may be a large number of listings overall but if there are many members in your area or country looking for swaps in the area or country of interest with a small number of listings, an overall large number of listings won’t mean your choice will be as good as it would be if you joined an agency with a better balance of listings.

6.    How long has the agency been in business? Many new agencies (the majority offering free listings) are started every year but many of the owners lose interest after a few months, leaving members arranging exchanges in limbo.

7.    Does the site provide a good deal of information on how to arrange exchanges, e.g. does it publish regular newsletters and/or a blog?

Some of the above points could easily be incorporated into a simple data comparison chart as used by the comparison website but, unfortunately, as with many decisions we all must make, some vital information on home exchange is difficult to show effectively in such a simplistic way.

2012 Olympics home exchange request: Sydney for London

   

'We are looking for an exchange to London (Zones 1/2 only) for a period from late April 2012 until about late September(up to 5 months) ...including the Olympics.  We have a stunning, brand new Hyde Park precinct apartment in central Sydney (and a wonderful beach house).  We need a minimum of 2 bedrooms and upscale standard. Car exchange preferred. - Dorothy K

We are a retired medical couple with more than 60 exchanges so far. We are addicted to travel and find living in someone else's home the best way to do it!' - Dorothy K

See Dorothy's full home exchange description and more stunning photos of her apartment in Sydney. London Home Base Holidays members, log on to view her home swap offer, 25220

Setting time frames for non-simultaneous home exchanges

Q: We have three 'on-going' non-simultaneous exchanges (we owe two weeks to a South African family, and one week to a couple in Ealing. We're owed one week by a couple in Greenwich). What length of time is 'reasonable' before exchangers feel they can say that their duty is completed and they will not be under any obligation to accept a return visit?

We went to Cape Town in November 2009 and we're now able to return the hospitality when they come here next June/July i.e. nearly 3 years! No problem with that - we want to help of course and we're glad they can come over, but what happens if, in the meantime, we sell our house or at least put it on the market? How obliged are we to delay this? Re. the Ealing exchangers: great exchange over two years ago and we got to know the couple well, but we still owe them a week and they haven't made a request. Again, no real problem and we'd like to reciprocate, but how long is it fair to wait? Re. Greenwich: we're owed a week from over a year ago but it's the couple's only home and they can't always get away for a holiday, so we would have to go there when they're away themselves. - John H.

A: From feedback from members who have had non-simultaneous home exchanges, most agree on both sets of dates for the exchanges before the first exchange takes place. If the members hosting (so to speak) the first exchange are unsure when they will be able to take up their side of the exchange, it’s best to at least try to pin them down to a period, say within two years, to do so when at the early stages of planning the non-simultaneous exchange. In this way, you won’t feel the obligation hanging over you indefinitely when other events or obligations (house move, illness, etc) could make fulfilling your side of the bargain difficult if left too long.

There may be reasons why the second exchange party can’t always take up their part  of the exchange within an originally agreed time frame and, of course, if you can still accommodate them later on (as you are with the South Africans), that’s great but, if ever time is moving on and members you owe an exchange to haven’t got back to you with dates, let them know if, as in your case, you are planning to put your house on the market and need to know if they can arrange their visit within a certain period. If they still can’t offer firm dates, then you shouldn’t feel obligated indefinitely or held back from selling your home.

In the case of an exchange owing to you, especially when exchanging to the family’s only home that limits the times it can be available, it’s probably best to just ask them to let you know whenever there are any times they are planning to be away and their home will be empty so that you can arrange your exchange during one of those periods that’s convenient for you. If the family can’t get away too often, this will limit your options but hopefully you will find a period (even if not for the full length of time that they enjoyed in your home) to have your break in Greenwich.

It’s hard to give any set ‘rules’ on how to organise non-simultaneous exchanges when these will vary so much depending on members’ circumstances but I hope this has given you some ideas on setting time frames for exchanges to take place when arranging further such exchanges.

Arrange a home exchange in the English countryside to attend the 2012 London Olympics

'We are interested in swapping our home in Dorking Surrey during the Olympics; just a 10 minute taxi ride to Dorking train station from our home. Trains run to London Waterloo or Victoria every half hour in 55 minutes.  Our home (above) is in a beautiful part of Surrey, a gated community set in 9 acres of natural parkland.' -  June & Bruce Thompson, 'very happy home swappers'.

Home Base Holidays spokesperson, Lois Sealey, comments:

'We are seeing a growing interest in exchanges to London during the Olympics next summer - perhaps as visitors with tickets to the Games already start to make plans and see the high cost of hotel rooms at this time. Although there are hundreds of home exchange offers in London via Home Base Holidays, many areas outside of the city are also easily accessible to London by public transport.'

Check out June and Bruce's attractive home swap offer in Dorking and enjoy the best of both worlds.

 

Home exchange 2012 Olympics: escape busy London for idyllic rural France

Long time Home Base Holidays member, Cathy Jacquet, writes:

'In reply to your article in the newsletter about the Olympics next summer, we are indeed looking for a home swap since we have managed to get tickets for some events. We're therefore looking for someone who would like to escape London for the peace and quiet of Etang la Ville - a pretty village just 15 minutes from Versailles, and 24 kilometres west of Paris with excellent train connections into the heart of the city (takes 35 minutes) or drive in which is totally painless during the summer! Our house can accommodate 6 people quite easily and also has a lovely large garden for relaxing after a tiring day's sightseeing.

We are experienced swappers and look forward to hearing from any interested Londoners.'

With many home exchange members in London and nearby, Cathy should have no problem finding members who would be delighted to leave the hustle and bustle of the city and relax in the French countryside during the Olympics. See Cathy's full home swap offer in Etang la Ville, and do contact her if you are interested in a home exchange to rural France next summer (members: log on and view by ID, 23587).

Large home exchange party? Finding homes that accommodate 10+

Q: We need quite a large home to sleep 10 of us in my own and my sister's family who will be coming to England for a family reunion in 2012. My own home will sleep five comfortably (seven at a pinch). Will anyone with a home large enough for us want to swap homes for our smaller property in Perth?

A: You can find the homes most likely to be suitable for your large group by using the Detailed Options search, selecting 10 from the drop down list beside 'Homes which accommodate'. Choose England (and any other important criteria) and search. You will see the number of people in the exchange party in each listing in search results and so can choose those with five or less that you could accommodate in your own home.  

Samples of large homes in England currently offered for exchange:

Wotton-under-Edge, Gloucestershire: Situated in the lovely historic Cotswold town of Wotton-under-Edge. We have a large and beautiful modern home set in a large garden with magnificent views of the surrounding valley. Set on the edge of an 'area of outstanding natural beauty'. This is a sleepy little town with excellent facilities including shops, pubs, takeaways, Indian restaurant, independent local cinema, outdoor heated swimming pool, tennis courts nearby and local small arts centre that regularly puts on music/performances. The Cotswolds are on your doorstep for fabulous walks and the famous 'Cotswold Way' runs along the bottom of our lane. The exciting cities of Bath, Bristol and Cheltenham are all within easy reach. Oxford is an hour and a half away and London two hours by car. Bristol airport can be reached within 45 minutes. Full home exchange offer, 25956

Sherwood Forest, Nottinghamshire: Our home is a listed historic folly situated in a beautiful secluded private woodland in Sherwood Forest. The house is built of stone and has 6ft statues of Robin Hood, Little John, Friar Tuck, Maid Marion and Alan a Dale. It has many other interesting features. There is a large studio space within the grounds and for those who have problems with stairs there is a log cabin in the grounds.

The woodland has an abundance of wildlife, is close to a beautiful river and close to the Robin Hood attractions. Walking, cycling, riding, go carting and many more local attractions. Full home exchange offer, 23707

Sennen Cove, Cornwall: Tinker Taylor is a listed traditional thatched Cornish Cottage situated in an area of outstanding beauty in one of the last few unspoilt coves in Cornwall. It is also a popular surfing area with quiet tranquil coastal walks within the National Trust (Land’s End 1 mile). The heritage coastline makes this an unbeatable venue for many activities including walking, sea sports, golf and bird watching; or just relaxing if you prefer.

Penzance town is nearby where you can board boat or helicopter to the beautiful Isles of Scilly or travel there from nearby Land’s End airfield or on the local Skybus aircraft. Full home exchange offer, 25788

Clayton, West Sussex: We live in a 100 year old property, set in 21 acres of private woodland in the South Downs National Park, minutes off the South Downs Way. We have 7 large bedrooms and can accommodate 15 comfortably.

There is a large trampoline, 3 tree houses, 3 ponds and a zip wire in our garden/woods. There are many interesting features in the house and there are wood burning stoves throughout. The master bedroom has a solid oak four poster bed, wood burner and en-suite.

We are situated 6 miles north of Brighton and just a few minutes car ride from Hassocks station, which is on the main line to London. Full home exchange offer, 25607