The Best Website for House Swaps? My HomeExchange Review

Lodging will all the time be certainly one of your largest journey bills…however what if it wasn’t? What if you happen to might cut back the price of your lodging to zero whereas nonetheless having fun with the comforts of house?

That’s what home swaps promise.

Home swaps have been round for many years. It was your entire premise of the film The Vacation (starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet). They grew to become all the fashion however then have been quickly eclipsed by websites like Airbnb.

However as journey costs skyrocketed post-COVID, increasingly more folks have turned again to deal with swaps as a method of saving cash whereas they journey whereas nonetheless getting an area expertise (however with out the effort of an Airbnb).

Home swaps are precisely what they sound like. You enroll, checklist your house, after which swap with another person in one other metropolis. They keep in your home and also you keep of their place.

The largest and hottest platform for swaps is HomeExchange.

And, on this publish, I’ll go over every thing it’s good to know to get began with a home swap and show you how to resolve if HomeExchange is best for you.

What’s HomeExchange?

Based in 1992, HomeExchange is a community that facilitates swapping properties with one other particular person or household. The corporate truly began as a mail-ordered printed listing earlier than shifting on-line. At this time, there are over 200,000 members in over 155 nations. It’s the most important and hottest home swap platform.

Presently, it prices $220 USD per 12 months for limitless swaps.

It’s straightforward to make use of too. You simply need to make a free account, fill in your profile (together with loads of pictures and detailed descriptions of your house), confirm your id, and pay the charge.

When you do this, you’re prepared to begin searching for trade alternatives.

Yow will discover house trade alternatives by merely looking the web site (there’s a helpful map operate so you possibly can see the place alternatives are) or narrowing your search by utilizing the web site’s filters. You may filter by the variety of bedrooms, if it’s pet pleasant, accessibility, and facilities (like swimming swimming pools).

Whenever you discover a house you’re concerned with, all it’s good to do is attain out by way of HomeExchange’s safe messaging system, categorical your curiosity, and get the dialog rolling.

There are two forms of exchanges: what HomeExchange calls “The Traditional Trade” and an “Trade with GuestPoints”.

Traditional Trade
The Traditional Trade might be what you consider whenever you consider a house trade: you keep in somebody’s house, and in trade, they keep in yours. This may be on the identical time or at completely different instances, however the principle level is that it’s reciprocal.

However what if you wish to keep in somebody’s house they usually’re not concerned with coming to yours? That’s the place GuestPoints (GP) are available.

What are GuestPoints?
GuestPoints (GP) are HomeExchange’s level system. You’ll get 500 whenever you enroll and also you earn extra by internet hosting members at your house.

If you wish to keep someplace that doesn’t wish to do a traditional trade, you can provide them GP to remain of their house. They’ll then use these factors to remain in another person’s house.

The variety of factors required varies per keep, but it surely’s typically between 100-320 GP per evening. Meaning along with your bonus welcome factors you’ll have the ability to give the platform a strive instantly!

Is HomeExchange Secure?

Staying in a stranger’s home can really feel odd. I get it. However utilizing HomeExchange could be very secure. Very like websites like Airbnb, customers need to confirm their id and submit proof of handle and create a profile, so you possibly can see pictures of the place you might be staying earlier than you go.

Moreover, it’s important to pay a $500 USD deposit whenever you ebook a house. That implies that if you happen to unintentionally break one thing within the house you might be renting, the house owner can use that deposit to get well the fee. HomeExchange additionally consists of harm protection as much as $1,000,000 USD, which implies you actually don’t want to fret about harm to your own home.

Moreover, HomeExchange has a Compliance Assure that states that if the lodging doesn’t meet the preliminary house description, they are going to provide another answer.

On high of that, in case your swap cancels final minute, HomeExchange will present compensation of as much as $840 USD/week if you happen to can’t discover a alternative.

However maybe most significantly, each visitor on HomeExchange can also be a number. That imbues the system with mutual respect and belief. Members deal with properties how they need their very own house to be handled, which ensures that the group stays respectful and thoughtful.

So, briefly, it’s a secure platform that you should utilize with confidence. Additionally they have 24/7 help in case you’ve questions or run into an issue or emergency.

What I Appreciated About HomeExchange

For me, the principle draw for utilizing HomeExchange is that it enables you to stay like an area. It’s like a mixture between Airbnb and Couchsurfing. Owners can share their favourite issues to see and do, offer you personalised recommendations on the place to eat, and a lot extra. You’re in a position to get all types of insider ideas and recommendation that you simply wouldn’t in any other case, and I believe that’s very important for getting off the overwhelmed path and deepening your travels.

One other nice perk is their personal Fb group. It’s one other superior method to join with fellow vacationers and get journey ideas and recommendation that you simply received’t discover elsewhere. I’m an enormous fan of journey Fb teams as you possibly can actually get a ton of nice ideas and information from them.

Additionally, if you happen to don’t discover a swap in your first 12 months, HomeExchange waives the charge for the second 12 months. That’s a pleasant bonus and one thing that I believe new members who don’t journey a ton will actually admire.

Plus, I additionally love that properties can be found in 155 completely different nations and there are over 200,000 members so that you do get numerous choices. There’s 24/7 buyer help and they’re going to show you how to out financially in case your swap cancels so that you aren’t left within the lurch and caught in a brand new metropolis!

Regularly Requested Questions About Dwelling Trade

Can I do a house trade if I lease (not personal) my place?
Sure! You simply have to confirm the visitor coverage in your rental settlement/lease. When doubtful, let your landlord know so there aren’t any surprises.

Can I do a house trade if I’ve pets?
Sure! Simply be sure you checklist your pets and their wants in your profile. In case you have pets that shall be staying at house, be sure you element their wants and talk clearly with the member who could also be staying there. In the event you stay with pets however they’re touring with you, you’ll nonetheless wish to checklist their presence in case of allergic reactions. If you wish to journey someplace and keep in one other member’s house along with your pet, once more it’s good to be clear about this when arranging a possible trade.

Can I host folks in my spare room as an trade?
Sure. Simply be sure you point out that that is the scenario in your itemizing by deciding on “personal room” slightly than “entire unit.” Additionally, talk clearly when arranging the trade so everybody is aware of what they’re signing up for!

Is there a minimal variety of nights required for an trade?
There isn’t any site-wide minimal variety of nights, although you can find that many hosts do set their very own minimums (typically 3-7 days). In the event you’re touring for an trade although, you’ll possible discover you’ll wish to keep a minimum of that lengthy!

HomeExchange is a superb platform for individuals who need the perks and comforts of a personal house in an area neighborhood however on a price range. Moreover, it is a nice method to join with a household. I believe sharing a house creates a way of intimacy and also you would possibly make some mates out of it. It’s like grownup Couchsurfing and I made numerous mates after I used that.

It’s a cool platform that may assist you’ve extra distinctive, reasonably priced travels whereas additionally connecting you to attention-grabbing locals who can share their ideas and insider recommendation.

Click here to learn more and sign up today!