Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Round up summary of popular home exchange posts in 2011

These are just a few of the most read posts published on Travel the Home Exchange Way during the last year:

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

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.

 

 

 

 

 

Home exchange trip report: short break home swap close to home

'Who'd have thought that in the middle of October we'd be having a pre-dinner drink "al fresco"? We're sitting on Jean's beautiful canal-side terrace, our internet shopping stowed away, a fountain whispering in the piazza, (yes, we are in the UK) looking back on two years of home swapping.'

Guess who's coming to dinner? Photos that make home swap guests feel welcome, part 1

To avoid a home looking impersonal and sterile (your guests have chosen to live in a real home, not a cookie-cutter hotel room!), personal effects such as pictures, books, photos (and pets and family members) help make a home warm and inviting. And what is more inviting than a photo of a table set up for dinner or drinks on a terrace or garden?

 

High praise for home exchange holidays: the value of genuine testimonials

Testimonials on websites can give valuable reassurance to new visitors not familiar with the business. However, to be of value, testimonials must be genuine and from 'real' customers, not anonymous quotes without sources. Fortunately, with home exchange, it is easy to show the source of testimonials by including links to the current exchange offers of all members quoted.

Care wanted for 'Flower': Requesting pet care from home exchange guests

Leaving a much loved family pet at home in the care of home swap guests is much preferable for most pet owners to the alternative, expensive (and often stressful) option of boarding a pet in kennels or a cattery. One of the many advantages of home exchange is that, not only will your home be cared for while you are on vacation, but many home exchangers are very happy to care for resident pets.

 

Home exchange home security issues

People who take part in home swaps are very conscientious and won't leave your home vulnerable intentionally (they are trusting you to care for their home too) but it's easy to take for granted steps we take when securing our own homes. Take time to write a quick Locking Up reminder list and stick it near the front door.

Not just for vacations - more reasons for arranging a home exchange, part 1

A few weeks ago, we published a series of posts on some of the many reasons Home Base Holidays members give (apart from vacations) for arranging home swaps. Members are always finding new ways to benefit from home exchange and here are a few more:

• To take part in the New York marathon
• To make friends and see places beyond the superficial tourist level
• To go to a football match
• To be near a family member having medical treatment
• To celebrate retirement
• To attend drama school

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.

 

 

 

How to present a house for a home exchange

Generally home exchange members just clear enough space in wardrobes and cupboards to enable their exchange guests to unpack and store their clothes and belongings. Leave your home clean and tidy but, as your home doesn’t need to be ‘de-personalised’, there is no need to store anything except personal items or items of value or sentimental value that you would be concerned about.

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.

Large home exchange party? Finding homes that accommodate 10+

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?

Live 'the good life' on a home exchange to a Grade II listed farmhouse in Cornwall

Anyone with fond memories of 'The Good Life', a popular British comedy series in the late 1970s, could well be tempted to try out the good life on a home exchange to this wonderful home:

East Trethellan Farm is a Grade II listed farmhouse set in four acres in West Cornwall. Located in a tranquil spot, but with easy access to both north and south coasts. Our five bed house has been recently renovated and provides comfort alongside period features.

The house is located with three holiday cottages, which have been converted from redundant barns. The cottages will be fully managed in our absence. The grounds are ideal for family use - there are lots of different animals - Pygmy goats, ducks, chickens, rabbits, sheep etc (these will also be looked after in our absence), a play area, wooded area and fenced off wildlife pond.

See full home swap offer and view more photos, 26282

'Merry Christmas' 35% home exchange membership discount offer

We wish all our lovely Home Base Holidays members and visitors to our home exchange blog a very happy holiday season!

Immediately after Christmas we always notice a great increase in home exchange listings as members start dreaming of summer holidays and planning home swaps for the new year.

For the greatest choice of offers, it's always a good idea to join well ahead of the dates you want to exchange homes. To encourage early birds, we are offering new members the chance to join Home Base Holidays at a massive 35% discount for either one or two years. But hurry, this discount is only valid until 31 December 2011. To take advantage of the offer, join now, entering the code, XMAS35 in the promotional code box on the membership form.

Home exchange request: Melbourne for "middle" England

'We are two retired seniors - John and Elizabeth, who met while working in England for five years in the 1950s. We have many good friends there and have been back for periods in 1964, 1992, 2007 and 2010. We are looking for a base from which we can enjoy the countryside and visit friends - perhaps near the "middle" of England rather than near the South or East coasts. We don't need to be close to London as we will be staying there as another part of our trip. We do need a reliable car and somewhere to park it. We will be doing some multi-day trips around the UK, so do not want to be locked into pet or plant care. We are non-smokers.

 

We seek a home exchange of about four weeks, starting around mid September 2012. We will be away from our Melbourne home from mid August, so it would be available from then if you would like to stay there for more than the 4 week "exchange" period.

Our spacious modern home is on a 1-acre lot in Lower Plenty, a wooded suburb 12 miles NE of central Melbourne. Nearby are the River Yarra (which runs through the city) and a cricket ground with an extensive miniature railway.

The house has full zoned ducted central heating, and the kitchen and laundry are fully equipped. The large indigenous garden attracts many birds. Outdoor solar heated pool.'

See John and Elizabeth's full home exchange offer, and more photos, in Melbourne. Not a Home Base Holidays member? Join now to contact John and Elizabeth, and any other members whose listings are of interest, with your home swap offer (with no obligation until both parties are ready to agree to exchange).

 

Lovely resident (English) cats - another benefit of home exchange!

'Hi all members of Home Base Holidays,

I'm a member of this association since 2006. I've exchanged six times, with English and Austrian families, and the experiences have all been fabulous.

Last summer we exchanged to Edinburgh and my daughter told me that she wanted to repeat the experience as she enjoyed the Summer festival with street concerts. Her eyes wanted to capture every event and every group of young people singing and miming in the Royal Mile.

I may say something about pets: we've been in English houses with cats. We are not scientists but we've made a kind of homemade record about these animals and we think that English cats are very well bred and lovely animals, and we do like a house with cats, more than without: the houses we've been to on a home swap with a cat inside were the ones we liked most.' - Kind regards, Fina, L'Escala, Girona Spain

Note: the photo is of Fina's daughter, Lali, and the family guinea pigs

Fina's home exchange offer in L'Escala:

Ideal for families, our house is surrounded by a small garden with fruit trees, in a quiet area. 10 minute walk to beaches, 15 minute walk to the marina, 20 minute walk to the centre of the fishing village of L'Escala.

See Fina's full home swap offer and photos, including a cute one of the family member who is a Barcelona Football Club supporter!

 

Suggesting a home swap when a membership expires before exchange dates wanted

Q: I have found a place to request for a home exchange with my holiday house next year in July or August but his membership expires in February 2012. I am wondering if it is still ok. - Susan B.

A: It’s fine to contact a member whose membership is due to expire before the dates you want to swap homes. Most Home Base Holidays members join several months, even over a year, before the dates they want to exchange which means a membership may be due to expire before the exchange dates wanted. Many such members renew just before the expiry date but, even if they don’t, if you are in the process of arranging an exchange, you will have shared contact information by that stage so that you can continue communicating.

Important Note: All Home Base Holidays listings include both the date a member joined or renewed their membership and also the date their membership is due to expire. Both dates are very important to  show how current any home exchange offer is and how long it has been (and will continue to be) in circulation. As all listings are up-to-date, this avoids the disappointment of contacting many members only to find out their home exchange offer is no longer available or, worse, not to receive replies at all.

Browse current home exchange offers worldwide.