Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Travel Q&A: is my home okay for a home swap holiday?

Q: I've been browsing offers on the Home Base Holidays website and am very interested in the idea of arranging a home swap holiday. It looks such a great idea but, as this would be my first swap, I am a little bit unsure of what people will be expecting of my home. My home is a 2-bedroom apartment in North London, it's not overly fancy or anything but I think it's a very nice comfortable space and has excellent public transport options nearby making it ideal for getting around London. Does my apartment sound suitable for swapping? Also, it's where I live and so has all my clothes and personal belongings, etc  - am I meant to remove these items / hide them away prior to a swap?

- Alan (London, England)

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A: It's great that you’re interested in home swapping! Although Home Base Holidays does have quite a few second/holiday homes available for swapping, the vast majority of properties are just like yours - homes that are lived in full time. Therefore, being real lived-in homes, they will be fully furnished and contain personal items, kitchen stuff and in some cases things such as kids toys, cots, etc. Home swappers will expect to be staying in a real home rather than a holiday rental or hotel room. Therefore, there's absolutely no need to remove your personal belongings, just make sure that your home is clean, tidy and welcoming for your guest's arrival. 

However, it's always good to clear a little space in your wardrobe so that your home swap guests have space to hang their clothes rather than living out of their suitcases (they won't likely need a lot of space if swapping for a short period). Make sure to also provide clean bedding and towels. It's also recommended to clear out the clutter from your fridge but it's nice to leave some basic foodstuffs such as tea, coffee, milk, bread and butter so that your guests have this for their arrival. 

 

Welcome folder: prior to a swap, spend some time putting together a home swap welcome folder for your guests; use this to explain how things work in your home (e.g. heating, alarm, locking doors, etc), tips for local attractions, recommendations for nearby cafes and restaurants, transport information and emergency numbers. 

 

For peace of mind, some home swappers use a lockable room or take advantage of friends/family nearby to store items that they would not want available during an exchange (e.g. work laptop or items of sentimental value).

 

House insurance: it’s very rare that we hear of problems during an exchange but it’s important to contact your house insurers to confirm your policy will cover the period your guests will be staying (we can also point you in the direction of reasonably price top up insurance for home swappers).

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Understandably, it can be quite a daunting planning your first home swap holiday but we're always here to help in any way we can! Contact us with any questions

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Budget friendly break? By swapping homes you can cut the cost of your holiday by over 90%. View the latest home exchange holiday offers and sign up to Home Base Holidays

Family holiday: fabulous home swap in the North Downs

Our home swap family holiday exploring the North Downs "We swapped homes and enjoyed a fabulous and very budget friendly family holiday. We stayed in a pretty village on the edge of the North Downs - this place is so special and beautiful. Our hosts, Geoff & Anne, couldn't have been more helpful; they even sourced a big bundle of toys for our 1 year old and 3 year old grandsons ...as we all know, if the kids are happy, so is everyone else! Their garden is huge and is a fabulous mix of well manicured flower beds as well as areas of wild flower trails to explore. The location was perfect and there is a lovely little tea room and small supermarket just down the hill. Many thanks Geoff & Anne, thank you for letting us swap to your wonderful house." - Paul (Murcia, Spain)

Our home swap highlights: Our grandsons loved exploring their huge beautiful garden Spacious home with so much character Located on edge of a pretty and leafy village with good facilities

Photos from the home exchange

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Home Base Holidays members' offers:

Penthouse in Los Urrutias, Spain (HE35491) Beachfront apartment in the lovely village of Los Urrutias on the Mar Menor. View Home Base Holidays offer	On the edge of the North Downs (HE31860) Lovely house and garden on the edge of the village overlooking the North Downs. View Home Base Holidays offer

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Home Base Holidays: join for free and start home swapping Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial or select a full membership (6-month membership is just £29 and 1-year at £49). Home swap guarantee: second year free if you do not arrange a swap during your membership.

Prepare a welcome pack for your home swap guests

If you're getting ready for a home swap holiday it's important to make sure that your home is clean and welcoming for your guests arrival.

 

In addition to preparing your home, it's a really nice touch to spend some time putting together a welcome pack for your home swap guests. You can use the welcome pack to list useful information and travel tips for your guests.

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What to include in your welcome pack:

• Local attractions: maps, city guides, brochures on popular attractions... all of these things are very helpful to your guests.
• Takeaway menus: leave a few menus from local takeaways that you recommend.
• Household appliances: instructions for operating appliances and heating / air-conditioning.
• WiFi: provide your WiFi name and password.
• Security: explain any specific security measures that must be taken in your home (e.g. how to set the alarm).
• Bedding and towels: give the location of extra bedding and linen
• Plants and pets: if required, provide instructions for caring for your household / garden plants and any pet care details.
• Services: provide details of things such as rubbish collections, milk delivery, etc
• Laundry: explain what to do with laundry (bedding and towels) at the end of the swap
• Keys: give details of what to do with the keys at the end of the swap
• Useful phone numbers: taxi firms and emergency contact details (e.g. a friend/neighbour's number, an emergency plumber, etc).

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Leave a small welcome gift for your guests:

Many home swappers also like to leave a small gift for their guests. Your gift doesn't need to be much but even the smallest and simplest gesture can leave such a lovely impression.

For example, you might leave a bottle of wine or a tasty treat next to your welcome pack. It's nice to try to choose items that are locally made or have a story that connects them to your home or neighbourhood - your guests will appreciate the personal touch.

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Useful household items:

It's also nice to leave out some household items that might be useful for your home swap guests' stay. These could include:

• A universal power adapter
• Phone chargers / cables
• Hair dryer
• Umbrella

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Start planning a home swap holiday Sign up to Home Base Holidays two-week free trial and start planning your home swap holiday accommodation. Search the latest home swap holiday offers