Stay Free With House Swapping
Imagine paying nothing for your vacation lodging. With house swapping in more than 150 countries, it's possible
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/), my blog devoted to all of the things that make a house a home - decorating from the heart, living with intention, and savoring life's simple pleasures.
Houzz Contributor. You can also find me on Lolalina (http://www.lolalina.com/),... More »
With the cost of airfare, rental cars and hotels, a summer vacation can quickly exceed the budget. But what if you didn't need to stay in a hotel or even pay for a vacation rental? House swapping is another option.
This trend has been gaining steam, and now one of the most popular sites for house swapping, HomeExchange.com, has more than 42,000 listings in 150 countries. If this has piqued your curiosity, here's what you need to know to make a swap of your own.
This trend has been gaining steam, and now one of the most popular sites for house swapping, HomeExchange.com, has more than 42,000 listings in 150 countries. If this has piqued your curiosity, here's what you need to know to make a swap of your own.
| Why swap a house rather than stay in a hotel? Aside from saving significant money, staying in a house or apartment really gives you the flavor of an area. You can settle in and feel like a local rather than an outsider, and the homeowner you are swapping with will likely fill you in on all sorts of local secrets not in the guidebooks. Another big bonus for foodies is being able to use amazing local fresh foods to cook dinner at "home" instead of eating out for every meal. |
| Dream about where you want to go ... With home and apartment listings all over the globe, the world is your oyster. A seaside villa in Italy? A whitewashed house on a Greek island? Why not? ... but keep an open mind. While there are many international listings to choose from, you may be surprised and find something appealing a little closer to home. What about a beach house in Florida or North Carolina, or a sun-filled apartment in Los Angeles? |
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| But I just have a regular house in the suburbs. Who would want to rent that? If you are worried that no one will want to stay in your home, don't be. From what I have learned about the house-swapping community, you would be surprised at how well homes in "normal" towns do. Some folks are traveling on business or may have relatives in your area, so don't discount your house before you even begin. You might be surprised. |
| Play up your home's strengths. That said, it does pay to emphasize what is so great about your home specifically. Why should someone choose it over another in the same area? If you have a particularly spacious or recently remodeled kitchen, be sure to describe its features in detail and take good pictures in natural light. |
by Ben Herzog
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Learn how to "sell" your area. Pretend a relative is coming to visit. What would top your list of must-see local attractions? What do you enjoy about your neighborhood? Maybe there is a great café or farmer's market within walking distance, or a wonderful row of antiques shops, or a little-known gem of a museum. Shine the best possible light on your neighborhood to entice people who may know little about it.
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| Spruce up your outside zone. If you have a yard or patio, be sure to have somewhere for people to sit — and if you have a table for al fresco dining, all the better! There is nothing wrong with a little staging, so go ahead and set your table for dinner before snapping the photos to go with your home's listing. |
by Jill Sorensen
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Maximize sleeping space. Especially if you are swapping with a family, the number of people your home sleeps can be a deal breaker. Make it a selling point instead by squeezing in an extra twin bed or two, or swapping out a regular couch for a sleeper version.
by Kerrie L. Kelly
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What about my dog? Or my car? Or valuable stuff? Or ... ? There are a lot of ifs involved in setting up a house swap, and it is certainly not for everyone. That said, there are thousands of happy house swappers out there, and from the reporting on individual swapping sites, problems appear to be very rare. Because it is a reciprocal arrangement, most people will want to care for your home just as they hope you are caring for theirs. Just use your common sense and lock up anything very valuable or that you would be heartbroken to lose.
As for Fido, some house swappers make caring for pets part of the agreement, while others prefer to take the pups elsewhere while the house is being used. Roughly half of house swappers using HomeExchange.com include their car in the swap, but it's your call.
Ready to swap? Here are a few resources to check out:
As for Fido, some house swappers make caring for pets part of the agreement, while others prefer to take the pups elsewhere while the house is being used. Roughly half of house swappers using HomeExchange.com include their car in the swap, but it's your call.
Ready to swap? Here are a few resources to check out:
- HomeExchange.com. It guarantees you will find a swap, or you get another year free.
- Craigslist. Look under "housing," then "housing swap."
- Digsville. It also has a swap guarantee.
- Intervac. One of the very first house-swapping services, this site now offers more than 30,000 listings.
- HomeLink. Second-year-free guarantee; this site is another of the pioneers of this concept.
Comments
Bud Dietrich, AIA Thanks for the insight. House swapping is something we are definitely going to look into.
11 months ago · Like
midmodfan While we always rent vacation homes (or condos) and never stay in a hotel for more than one night, I could not deal with strangers in our own house. I envy everybody who is so generous, but I'm just not comfortable with it.
11 months ago · Like
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becky2010 We've used HomeExchange.com for a few swaps now, and have had nothing but wonderful experiences. It's a great way to travel.
11 months ago · Like
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Bette I was just talking about this on a much smaller scale last night. I live close to the beach. I love downtown LA. I could find a person that would love to spend the weekends at the beach while I explore the empty and cutural pocket of downtown. lt could be a relationship where one could feel more comfortable with the people staying in their homes.
11 months ago · Like
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CAROLE MEYER Yes! We just swapped our home in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico for a fabulous apartment in London. After London, we were on to Spain where we did another two week swap and then to Italy where we swapped for two more weeks with a fantastic Italian farmhouse. We have had really good experiences so far. It does save money and we have gotten to meet the owners of three wonderful places in Europe which has been an extra bonus! 
11 months ago · Like
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jagnicholas I am doing two home exchanges this summer: all of July in Ireland; all of August in Sweden. As far as valuables go, create a locked "owners" closet. This not only protects your cherished items, but protects exchangers from being accused of taking items that were never in the house. My exchanges were arranged through Homelink.org. I wouldn't use Craigslist unless you have a very flexible attitude about offering more than you receive. In most cases, whatever group you work with, exchanges are agreed upon after numerous emails discussing details & spelling out how predictable & unexpected occurrences will be handled. Also, each homeowner prepares a notebook with instructions about how the home (& car, if included) functions. Also, included are instructions on what to do in an emergency: if the electricity goes out or the TV quits, etc. Local maps with instructions related to shopping, sightseeing, entertainment are provided. In my experience, this is not something done in the snap-of-the-finger. Homes are prepared to the highest standard of cleanliness and comfort. Exchangers decide how food items in the home will be shared. I prepare a dinner meal for consumption the night of arrival. Before departing, exchangers are expected to restore the home to the same high standard of cleanliness and organization that greeted them upon arrival. In addition, agreements deal with subjects like replacement of products consumed: toilet paper, spices, cleaning supplies, etc. it is truly a very economical way to travel, but it's not for the sloppy, the irresponsible or lazy.
11 months ago · Like
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jagnicholas It's nice to hear that so many other folks enjoy this extraordinary experience. As "midmodfan" suggested, it's not for everyone. Safe travels everyone!
11 months ago · Like
Ideabook updated on June 28, 2012.
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