Arranging A Home Exchange
Setting Up Your Listing
Arranging An Exchange
Deciding on Exchange Type
Exchange Arranged, Now What?
Now that you have decided which club is best for you, it is time to consider how to get the most use from your home exchange club membership.
Setting up your listing:
Photos: Almost all home exchange clubs recommend adding as many pictures as possible to your listing. Make sure that your photos include interior shots, showing the master bedroom, living area and kitchen, at a minimum. Depending on the home exchange site, some will only take a very small file (a huge variable in different exchange clubs) so be sure to set your camera at a low resolution. Because uploading digital photos are still a mystery to some folks, several of the home exchange clubs offer alternative methods such as emailing. An excellent series on taking pictures for home exchange listings is available on the Home Base Holidays blog, Travel the Home Exchange Way.
Videos: Some agencies now support uploaded videos. Take movies of your house and neighborhood and your exchange partner will feel right at home when he arrives!
Written Description: Think of your listing as an advertisement, where you are trying to “sell” others on your home. The more descriptive you are about the tourist and community interests in your area, your home and family, the more interest you will generate. If you live in a non-touristy area, play up all the small, fun things to do in your area, or areas close enough for day trips. Things that may seem mundane to you, may be exciting to another. Perhaps a visit to a near-by farm might be fun for a city dweller. Maybe the library has readings or activities for kids.
- If you plan to join more than one home exchange, create your listing on a word processing document and just copy and paste.
- Many sites have check lists to allow for detailed listings.
Arranging an exchange:
Exchanges can occur in two ways. Either a potential exchanger contacts you or you contact the swapper.
Contacts from others: Sometimes contacts come from unexpected places that you never thought of visiting. This may be the chance to visit one of those places.
It is always polite to respond to contacts from others, even if the exchange is not possible.
Contacting others:
Making a connection that works takes time and effort. The more swappers that you contact, the better your chances of arranging an exchange. Allow plenty of time to find a match, realizing that lead time is important for vacation planning. Most home exchange clubs suggest four to six months. It is important to know that all home exchange members may not be interested in your location or home for one reason or another. Some will respond; some will not. It often takes many tries to get the right match (hmmm…this is starting to sound like a dating service!)
- Make a list of all the places that you are interested in visiting, possible dates and length of stay. It is important to remain flexible until you see what is available. OR
- Take advantage of reverse search. Sometimes it is fun, if you do not have a destination in mind, to use the reverse search feature. This allows you to find exchangers from around the world who are interested in coming to your area. It might lead to some exciting vacation possibilities. Also, it does enhance the possibility of finding a match sooner, as there is already an interest in your location.
- If you are interested in a prime destination during peak travel times, make your offer stand out. If your home exchange club has a contact form, change the heading from the generic one to something specific and enticing. Add your name to the signature. Tell a little about yourself and your accommodations in the message as well as your interests for the exchange. Keep it simple and friendly.
- This correspondence may involve several emails. Rarely do both parties agree immediately.
- Some exchange sites recommend references, ideally other exchange partners if the trader has swapped in the past. However, we have never asked for references and have never had a problem in more than twenty exchanges.
- Be prepared for some rejection. Expect no more than 15-20% response to your emails at best. One potential home exchanger contacted us while we were just getting our listing up – we had not posted photos yet. They were interested in an exchange until they looked at the photos and then wrote back to say that they were backing out because it was “not an even exchange.” Ugh.
Last Minute Exchanges: Sometimes circumstances dictate a last minute exchange. Or perhaps (gasp!) you are a procrastinator. Several exchange clubs offer opportunities for last minute swaps or have forums to post those kinds of trades.
Deciding on an exchange type:- Many exchangers have second or vacation homes. In those cases, a non-simultaneous exchange may be possible, where exchanges take place at different times.
- Hospitality exchanges work for some who might like to have the security of staying with another family, perhaps in another country.
Exchange arranged, now what?
The scary part: Maybe it’s just me, but that period after the exchange is arranged and the tickets are purchased (if it’s an exchange that requires air travel) is nail biting time. With non-refundable tickets, it is a leap of faith to buy the ticket before your partner does. I like the deal signed, sealed and delivered with both partners having tickets. When that happens, I let out a BIG sigh of relief. (As an aside, a back out has never occurred for us, but it’s still scary). Effective March 1, 2009, our sister site CHECtravel offers Trip Cancellation and Damage Waiver insurance to protect again that scary part. It covers you if either you or your exchange partner has ot cancel!
Commitment: Home exchange is all about honesty, trust and committment. It is very important to always be honest about your home, so that there are no surprises. Backing out of an exchange after arrangements have been made is not an option. Always be aware that there is another swapper involved! Home exchange contracts work to help clarify intentions. CHECtravel, our sister site is a good site to join if you worry about committment.
Preparing Your Home for a Home Exchange