Why Swap Your Wife When You Can Swap Your House?

by Siobhan Cowen

 

 

Although tempted to write another article about food because it is so delicious in Italy, I was inspired by a movie a recently watched. In the movie, two women decide to get away from their relationship issues by exchanging homes over Christmas holidays. I thought it would be interesting to look further in depth into this low cost travel accommodation arrangement. House swapping is private arrangement where two “homeowners” live at each other’s houses for a set period of time to save on lodging fees while on vacation.

 

There are many different variations on house swapping depending on your personal situation. There are house swaps for families with children, for singles, for couples, for people with pets, etc. You can also choose whether or not you wish to swap your vehicle as well. Exchanging homes is obviously not for everyone and if you are adverse to the idea of someone else touching your things and sleeping in your bed, it is definitely not for you. However, there can be some great benefits to house swapping including: having your home cared for while you’re away (your precious ficus will be watered), a more cultural experience (you live as people in your location actually do and do not just stay in a generic hotel), flexibility and freedom (you can save even more money preparing meals – this can also be important for people with dietary restrictions and health issues who cannot eat at restaurants), and the list goes on.

 

With popularity growing, house swapping sites have popped up all over the net. Some are worldwide, some specialize in different regions, some have sections for pets and families, some are free and some are not. The one I saw featured in the movie and has over 17,000 listings is HomeExchange.com. The site does involve you incurring a membership fee of $99.95 US for the year or $140.00 US for 2 years. However, they do include a guarantee if you do not complete an exchange within the first year the second is free. There is also an optional GOLD membership for $500 a year which lists only very high end properties. The listings on this site are very detailed and well laid out. Another site I came across was Geenee.com and is currently offering free memberships to the site for a limited time. The site is extremely attractive and has a very nice search tool. Featured cities are able to be easily searched down to neighbourhoods within the city. They also include area information and have a nice community section with forums about exchanges. Other sites worth checking out are Home Xchange Vacation, Home Link, and INTER Vac.

 

Here are some tips for the house-swapping neophite. Make absolutely, triple-check sure, that you know where the house keys will be and if there any tricks to getting in or alarm codes to punch in. Make sure you ask that manuals be left for you on how to use all the appliances and electronics if possible and do the same for those staying in your home. Changing the clock on their VCR might be 10 times as difficult for you to figure out in another country, although a little flashing 12:00 never hurt anyone, you don’t want cause any damage to any of their things by not knowing how to operate them. 

 

You will most likely be using each other’s telephone and will probably want to call long distance; arrange ahead of time how this will be dealt with to avoid any hard feelings. If there are any living things, such as pets or plants, remember to leave clear written instructions on their care. Make a list of important phone numbers for your guest including emergency numbers and the numbers of repair people (I’d suggest the number for the best Chinese takeout and pizza place too). 

 

If making a car swap as well, leave copies of the registration and insurance (before agreeing to this make sure they will be covered under your insurance). It is also nice if the car has any quirks or peculiarities to let your fellow exchangers know and be sure to ask about theirs, not all cars are created equal. If swapping for a long period of time, it may be a good idea to take your car in for a tune-up beforehand. Paying your bills ahead of time as well as stopping or redirecting your mail for the duration or your trip are good ideas too. The sites I listed previously have a lot more tips and go into more discussion about how the process actually works, so if you are interested in doing a home exchange then there is a myriad of sources for more information for you.

 

My tip to you is a derivation of the Golden Rule: Do unto others' homes as you would have them do unto yours. Remember: someone is at your house too and you know what they say about Karma…

 

Happy travels,

 

Siobhan