If you are interested in home swapping, the first step is to register with a home swap service, for which there is generally an annual fee, usually between $100 and $300. The internet has definitely made this easier – a search for “home swap” or “home exchange” will bring up dozens of results. When searching for a suitable agency, keep in mind some of the following: How many home listings does the agency have, and how up to date are they. Check the listings carefully to make sure they are clear and comprehensive. Can the company be easily reached by telephone if you have questions or concerns? Read through the companies’ small print and their particular policies.
Do some research as to not only which country you might want to stay in, but what kind of neighborhood and home. One of the appeals of this type of vacation is that you can live in a completely different environment for a short while – if you live in the suburbs, swap homes with an apartment dweller for a week. Many people post detailed descriptions of their home as well as photographs and testimonials from previous happy swappers. Try to plan ahead – if you want your swap to take place in the summer, you should be doing the research in the fall.
Marketing Your Own Home
You may not think you live in an exciting town or part of the country – most of us take the place we live for granted, only appreciating it when we have guests to show around. If you list your home with an agency, approach it in much the same way as you would if you were actually selling their house. Think about what you might want to know and what might be important to you if you were about to spend a week in a stranger’s house on the other side of the world. A potential swapper might like to know the square footage of your home, number of bedrooms and bathrooms, size of yard or garden and facilities such as dishwasher, shower, etc.
Apart from your home, your neighborhood and surrounding area will be of interest as well. Whether you live in a large city or in the heart of the countryside, you have something to offer a visitor. Some people include a list of nearby attractions, or places easily reachable in a day. Proximity to shops, restaurants, medical facilities and a major airport is something you may want to indicate.
Keep in mind the importance of day to day living. If someone is living in your home, you may want to leave instructions for how the TV, washing machine, shower, etc works. These things may be unfamiliar to someone who is used to the anonymity of chain hotels. Some people go as far as to list TV channels and instructions on how to use the VCR! Some swappers even make sure a relative or neighbor is on hand during the period of the swap in case of any problems or questions. The more information and detail you include, the easier it will be to find someone to swap with and make it a success.