Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

How to be the perfect home swap host

Choosing to home swap is an exciting decision that opens you up to a new and very rewarding way to travel. Make sure when arranging your swaps that you make every effort to be a welcoming and caring host to your home exchange guests. Organisation as well as communication is important, but also to go the extra mile for your guests. Here is a list of tips how to be the perfect home swap host.

Write personalised inquiries

Read other profiles carefully and only write personalised messages with a brief explanation why you specifically want to stay at their home. In this way you are more likely to receive promising replies.

Be honest and responsible

Since you are agreeing to swap homes with your exchange guests it is important to be fully open and very reponsible - the last thing you want for you or your exchange guests is to spend your vacations worrying about your home. So remember to communicate, ask and answer any questions that arrise. Clean clean clean! Make sure that your home is clean and tidy for your guests and that you leave their home clean and tidy for their return. 

Get clear with your expectations and requirements

Communication is the key for every successful home swap to avoid any misunderstanding and disappointment. You should be clear with your expectations and your requirements. Make sure to spend plenty of time planning your swaps and stay in regular contact with your swap partners via email, phone and Skype. 

Surprise your guests with welcome present

It doesn’t have to be expensive or excessive fancy, but it is a nice touch to leave your guests a little something for their arrival. This is how you already trigger a smile on your guest’s face and maintain a happy relationship. For example you ca buy a bottle of wine or a bag of your favourite biscuits. Your guests will also appreciate if you just leave food such as bread, milk and snacks in the fridge that they can enjoy after a long journey.

Create a welcome folder

Include a welcome folder with information about your home and facilities, maps and local attractions, transport details and emergency numbers. 

Double check if pets are an option for both parties

If you've agreed to provide pet care or your swap partners have agreed to look after your pets, make sure that everything is clear to both parties before you travel. Have a clear conversation up front and leave a guide with all instructions at your home for a little help on the way.

To browse through thousands of attractive home swap holiday offers then check out the Home Base Holidays website (www.homebase-hols.com) - everything from city centre apartments to country homes. 

New website: helping you find your perfect home swap

We hope you'll love the new updated Home Base Holidays website (www.homebase-hols.com). There will be a little bit of adjusting but we think you'll agree that it's a huge improvement. Some of the new features include: 

• Search: Smart filters enable you to quickly find homes and locations to suit your needs. 
• Swap agreements: A new "Swap agreements" tool.
• Trip reports: Record your exchange experiences to share with others.
• High resolution home photos: Larger and unlimited images.
• Messaging system: An updated, user friendly messaging system.
• Saved searches / swap match alerts: Receive notification emails when there are new homes added that match your saved searches.
• Add additional homes free: Add a second (or third) home for free!
• Profile page: Personalise your offer - add your photo and details about those in your travelling party.

How to find your perfect home swap vacation

There are plenty of reasons why a home swap is a fantastic way to spend your next vacation. The first step is to set add your home to the home swap site, add as much details of your home, area and personal description. Make sure to also add photos to your listing to make your home swap offer stand out. Next, it is time to search for your perfect home swap partners. There are few things to think about before booking your flight and packing your bags. Here are five helpful tips to have the best and smooth home swap experience. 

Start early

To find the ideal home swap partner can take some time. After all you are looking for someone you can trust and you feel comfortable with. Also you may want to go on vacation on specific dates, so the earlier you start preparing your home swap the less stressful it will be. Give yourself plenty of time to find home swap members who match your requirements and remember it's important to discuss every detail of your proposed swap with them so that you are both sure what you're agreeing to.

It takes some upfront work

With so many properties in many different countries it takes time and some effort to find your ideal match. Be proactive! Spend time browse through the listing to find homes and locations that interest you and check their swap requirements to see if you are a match. Be upfront but do contact any members with 'feeler' message to gauge their interest in a potential exchange.

Flexibility is the key

Always keep in mind that home swapping is very different from booking a hotel. You don’t just book an available room and then show up – with a home swap the more flexible you can be with your dates and destinations the more exciting options you will have availble to you.To guarantee both parties a successful home swap you have to be open for discussions, negotiations and rearrangements.

Be patient with replies

You’ve excitedly sent your home swap inquiries but... now nobodies responded? Don’t worry. It might be that some members are away travelling (possibly on a home swap vacation!) and don’t have the time or access to reply to your messages. So be patient, if you haven't heard back in a week or two it can't hurt to send a follow up message to any members of particular interest to you.

Give it a test trial

To learn how home swapping works and to get a feel for it, it is a good idea to start small before you leave for your big home swap vacation.You could try arranging a weekend away in your own country - perhaps if you live in the city a weekend swap to the country? This way you will gain more confident and take one step closer to becoming a home swap expert!

Choose from thousands of tempting home swap vacation offers by visiting the Home Base Holidays website (www.homebase-hols.com).

Make your home swap listing stand out

With so many home swap offers to choose from it can sometimes seem hard to make your offer stand out in order for you to receive attractive inquiries. Read our tips how to help make your property stand out and so really make the most of your home swap membership.

Include a profile picture

It is really nice to see the person behind the listed property - it helps give a more personal touch which in turn helps to build trust. All members wants to have someone stay at their own place they feel comfortable with. You can almost compare home swap platforms with dating sites. After all you not only swap homes but also lifestyles and that is why not only the home but also the owners must be a perfect fit.

Add a little personal description

Not only a profile picture is important, also a little personal description to show your potential home swap partners who you and your family are. You can include job titles and favourite hobbies. That way other members can instantly find out if you are a good fit.

Upload good photos of your home and area

This really is crucial to make your home exchange offer stand out. Choose a really good photo of your home as your listings main photo. Make sure that the photos you take are framed to show your home at its best. Also provide a natural light to let your pictures look more professional. Consider hiring a photographer or renting a professional camera to take great shots. Also don't forget to tidy up! There is nothing worse than seeing photos of cluttered messy rooms. 

Write about your home & area

The good quality photos will attract visitors to your listing but make sure to give them good detail of your home and local area. Include a small description about your home and to write about the things you really love about your place and to introduce your potential home swap guests with features and special amenities. The text is also a great way to present your neighbourhood and surrounding spots to visit. Make sure to always be totally honest!

Leave some decisions open

Some people have specific travel dates and destinations. However if you have the option it really is good to be as flexible as possible when looking for your home swap vacation. Being open to dates and destinations opens you up to to receiving potentially interesting and exciting travel offers you may otherwise not have thought of.

Be proactive

It is great to make the most of your listing so that it stands out. However we always recommend that you still continue to be as proactive as possible, contacting other members rather than sitting back and waiting for people to contact you. Arranging a swap takes a bit of work... but it really is worth it!

Add your home today

To find out more on home to find your perfect home exchange holiday and browse through thousands of tempting offers - visit the Home Base Holidays website (www.homebase-hols.com).