Travel the Home Exchange Way blog

Our home swap in Fife: sea views, beaches and puffins!

Sea view balcony, sandy beaches and... puffins!  "We had a wonderful two week home swap holiday in Jo and Keith’s lovely house in Fife. The location is excellent as it is so near to the beach, on a quiet street, but near local shops, cafes and pubs. Their home has a lovely balcony that overlooks the beach, we enjoyed breakfast on the balcony every day but one. The house is spotlessly clean and very well equipped. The notes that were left were an excellent guide to where to go and where to eat. It is this local knowledge that is so good with home swaps! There are so many places to visit locally – Kelley Castle, St Andrews and Cambo Gardens, with the outstanding event being the trip to the Isle of May and seeing thousands of Puffins. This area of Scotland is wonderful for a holiday that combines beautiful clean, sandy beaches, and plenty of interesting places to visit. We aren’t golfers but anyone wanting to play golf would be spoilt for choice! Jo and Keith were excellent at communicating and we would highly recommend this swap." - Jayne & Sean (Devon, England)

Our home swap highlights: Isle of May trip to see the Puffins Being so near to a beautiful sandy beach The balcony with views over the sea

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Photos from the home swap in Scotland

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Home Base Holidays members' offers:

Seaton, Devon, England (HE40343) Modern detached bungalow, by the sea with a lovely beach hut. View Home Base Holidays offer	Elie, Fife, Scotland (HE40697) Family sea viewhome located in the beautiful coastal village of Elie. 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.

WIN a Kindle! Home swap holiday photo competition

Send us your favourite photos taken on a home swap holiday to be in a with chance of winning an Amazon Kindle (worth £84.99) + a one-year Home Base Holidays home swap membership (worth £49). Three runners up entries will also win a one-year Home Base Holidays membership.

Choose photos that best encapsulate your experiences home swapping; perhaps an off-the-tourist-trail discovery or perhaps you and your family enjoying your hosts’ home / local neighbourhood.

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How to enter: If you're not yet a member, sign up to a Home Base Holidays membership Send your best home swap holiday photos to [email protected] Include a small description of the photos / experiences home swapping   Closing date: 1st October 2023 | Competition T&Cs

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Previous winning home swap photos:

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Join Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Swap homes and slash the cost of your next holiday by over 90%. Browse the latest home swap holiday offers and sign up to the Home Base Holidays free 2-week trial.

Tips to get your home ready for your home swap guests

Home swapping is such a fantastic rewarding way to travel. However, as with most things worth doing, it does take a bit of time and effort. First you have to add your home swap offer and then spend some time contacting other home swappers to discuss and agree a home swap holiday. Then, as the travel dates approach, you have to get your home ready for your guests. The question is, what do you need to do – and not do?

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Tip 1. Remember your home is not a hotel (just make sure it's welcoming for your guests)

Home swap guests know the difference between a home and a hotel. When people choose to stay in someone’s home, they understand that not everything will be perfect. So don’t waste time trying to make it perfect. It’s okay to aim for “good enough.”

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Tip 2. Focus on cleanliness (clean and declutter prior to your swap)

In my opinion, the one unforgivable sin is to greet your guests with a dirty home. If they want nothing else, your guests want the home to be clean. Scum on the bathtub, a gritty floor, soiled sheets, and an inch of dust on the windowsills is a real turnoff. Give everything a good scrub-down before guests arrive.

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Tip 3. Make sure it’s safe (fix any snags and niggles prior to your guest arrival)

 

A window that doesn’t open is one thing. A window frame that falls onto your hands when you think it’s open is another. You don’t need to repaint your walls (unless they’re disgustingly dirty) or replace a shabby sofa (unless the springs are poking out) but replace or remove that rug you keep tripping over and the lamp that sparks every time you turn it on.

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Tip 4. Provide the basics (towels, toilet rolls, bedding, etc)

 

It’s annoying to arrive at your home exchange accommodation to find only one towel per person, not enough blankets for all the beds, no coffeepot or frying pan, only three plates, no hand soap, and only one nearly empty roll of toilet paper. Help guests enjoy their stay by providing the basic things they will need.

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Tip 5. Clear away the clutter (leave room for your guests to unpack)

 

Your guests won’t expect empty closets and shelves, but they will need room for their clothes and personal items. In fact, getting your home ready for guests is a great motivator to create some space by clearing away some of the clutter that’s accumulated while your back was turned. Who knows – you might like it!

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Join Home Base Holidays: start home swapping Arrange free holiday accommodation by choosing to swap homes rather than book hotels or holiday rentals. View the latest home exchange holiday offers then sign up to Home Base Holidays.

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