Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

How can I be sure homes offered for home exchange are as nice as described?

Home swap: stunning exchange offer in West Vancouver, Canada

Q: I have an apartment in the middle of downtown Boston, and might be interested in swapping with someone who could offer a similar accommodation in a city anywhere in the world. How can I be sure that the property listed is as nice as it's said to be? - Judy M.

A: Thanks for getting in touch and great to hear that you are considering swapping for the first time. Shown below are some tips to help make sure that your home swap accommodation is as described. 

• Most members include a number of photos of their home in their listings and these should give you a very good idea of what the home is like.
• It can give reassurance to a first-time home swapper to look for members who have had previous exchanges to ask them (if they are interested in your offer) to put you in touch with members they have swapped with; you will then be able to ask these members any questions you have about the home and area. Browse home swap offers; when you view full listings, you will often see ‘Experienced exchanger’ under ‘Meet the member’ on the right hand side of the listing; you will also sometimes find feedback from previous exchanges (click the ‘Swap reports’ link above the home description).
• Home exchange is built on trust between members that develops during usually a lengthy correspondence before both are happy to go ahead and agree an exchange (trust is two ways - until they get to know you, members may have concerns on whether your home is as nice as described too!). 
• It can help to limit your offer to members in similar circumstances to yourself too, e.g. if you don’t have young children and your home is not child-friendly, avoid the families with toddlers!
• If you have any concerns at all after corresponding with members with a view to a possible swap, don’t agree to the swap. 

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Interested in home swap vacations?

Rather than booking a hotel or holiday rental, arrange a home exchange through Home Base Holidays and enjoy free accommodation. 

• Search thousands of home exchange offers

Wonderful home swap in Rome and a wonderful host

Entrance to Louise's home in central Rome

"As this was a non simultaneous home exchange we had the pleasure of meeting Louise. She went out of her way to make us welcome, making it a real pleasure to stay in her beautiful and tasteful home in Rome.

 

Large, airy, comfortable rooms kept us cool, with a shady courtyard garden outside to sit in should we wish.

 

I have been to Rome many times, but this was a first home exchange there, so I was very happy to meet Louise and stay in her beautiful home."

- Marguerite (Yorkshire, England)

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Highlights of my home swap in Rome:

1. Nearby market, shops and restaurants
2. Good transport links
3. Meeting Louise

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Meet the members:   Louise's home swap in Rome Marguerite’s home swap in Harrogate

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Arrange free holiday accommodation

Rather than booking a hotel or holiday rental, arrange a home exchange through Home Base Holidays and enjoy free accommodation. 

• Search thousands of home exchange offers

So much more than a home swap – a new friend!

The Fountaine Inn in Linton where Marguerite and Sandra visited for lunch

Marguerite, a Home Base Holidays member and experienced home exchanger from Harrogate, Yorkshire, has recently shared this lovely story with us:

‘I have now been a member of Home Base Holidays for exactly one year. During that time I have had some wonderful home swap holidays, and have many more planned!

There was one thing happened this month which I had not expected when I joined the website, and that is that the very first person I exchanged with in London would become a very good friend. Thanks to our long conversations leading up to that first exchange, our mutual interest in history and historical buildings, we kept in touch. Sandra wished to visit Harrogate again, but this time we decided that instead of an exchange, she would come and stay for a few days.  We realised that, despite the many places she had already visited last year, and the unseen places I introduced her to, there is still so much more to learn about and see in North Yorkshire. So Sandra will certainly visit again, and thanks to her knowledge of London, I will have a wonderful guide next time I go. And there was of course, lots of chatter and some lovely meals, especially at The Fountaine Inn in Linton near Grassington, where Sandra bought me lunch, and we found that we were sat in a small cosy room with a log fire with about eight other people in different groups. Having discovered one couple lived near Bingley and had been dancing regularly at a local ballroom, we quickly discovered that three other people, plus myself, had all been dancing during our teenage years at the same dance hall, the Mecca in Bradford! Linton is not so close to Bradford that on a weekday lunchtime you would find so many different people with the same link! Very odd! The room was alive with nostalgia! After all,  I am going back more than fifty years, I shan't mention my age.....but, thanks to so many holidays and new friends met, I am certainly not feeling it!’

When asked if she happened to have a photo of herself and Sandra together, Marguerite replied:

‘Just back from Rome, a great exchange! As to a photo of myself and Sandra, we did intend to do it, but when at home with iPads handy, we spent so much time chatting we forgot! When out, neither of us are apt enough with iPhones etc I'm afraid so photos didn't happen. Next time we’ll make sure!’

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Meet the members:  

Marguerite (in photo) has a charming Victorian cottage next to the famous and beautiful 200 acre Stray and 10 minutes' walk to the centre of the beautiful Spa town of in Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Check out full details of her home exchange in Yorkshire.    Also, view Sandra's home swap offer in London

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Home swap holidays worldwide

As shown in the above post, home swapping can be such a rewarding way to travel. Arrange a home swap through Home Base Holidays and enjoy free accommodation. Search thousands of home swap accommodation offers

Memorable home exchange holiday in Copenhagen

Beautiful home swap in Copenhagen

"Just returned from a very successful and enjoyable home exchange in Copenhagen. The flat, in an elegant house in the fashionable Vesterbro district, is full of light and books, and decorated with impeccable Danish good taste.

We were able to explore the city on foot, or by bus, from the house. There are lots of restaurants, bars, and cool design shops, within a few minutes walk - and there's a large playground opposite which the children loved!

And to top it all, we had perfect weather (almost) every day. All-in-all a wonderfully memorable home exchange, and we hope to stay in contact!" - Tom (Paris, France)

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Highlights of our home swap in Copenhagen:

1. Wonderful flat in the centre of Copenhagen
2. Very friendly home swap hosts
3. Tivoli fairground, Nyhavn, the botanical gardens, Louisiana

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Meet the members:   Jørgen's (in photo) home swap in Copenhagen Tom’s home swap in Paris

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Arrange free holiday accommodation

Rather than booking a hotel or holiday rental, arrange a home exchange through Home Base Holidays and enjoy free accommodation. 

• Search thousands of home exchange offers

Related articles

Trip report: fantastic home swap in Los Angeles

Another wonderful Australian home exchange - Travel the Home Exchange Way

Fantastic first time home exchange in London

How do you choose a home exchange destination?

Q&A: Arranging a long term home swap?

Back-up arrangements when home swap guests look after cats

Home Swappers Newsletter: Summer home swaps

Ibiza home swap: stunning beach front apartment in Santa Eulalia

There's still time to find your home swap accommodation for the summer. Check out the latest issue of Home Swappers newsletter and find out how you can slash the cost of your summer holidays by choosing to swap homes rather than booking hotels or holiday rentals.

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In this issue of the Home Swappers newsletter:

• Main featured listing: Stunning beach front apartment in Santa Eulalia, Ibiza (see main photo above)
• Summer home swaps: Barcelona, Spain | London, England | Tuscany, Italy
• Travel checklist: preparing for a home swap holiday

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>>> View this issue of the Home Swappers newsletter

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Arrange free vacation accommodation

Rather than booking a hotel or vacation rental, arrange a home swap through Home Base Holidays and enjoy free accommodation. 

• Search thousands of home swap accommodation offers