The Best Website for House Swaps? My HomeExchange Review

Accommodation will at all times be one in every of your greatest journey bills…however what if it wasn’t? What for those who may scale back the price of your lodging to zero whereas nonetheless having fun with the comforts of residence?

That’s what home swaps promise.

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

But as journey costs skyrocketed post-COVID, an increasing number of folks have turned again to accommodate swaps as a way of saving cash whereas they journey whereas nonetheless getting a neighborhood expertise (however with out the trouble of an Airbnb).

House swaps are precisely what they sound like. You join, listing your property, after which swap with another person in one other metropolis. They keep in your home and also you keep of their place.

The greatest and hottest platform for swaps is HomeExchange.

And, on this publish, I’ll go over every thing you could know to get began with a home swap and allow you to determine if HomeExchange is best for you.

What is HomeExchange?

Founded in 1992, HomeExchange is a community that facilitates swapping houses with one other individual or household. The firm truly began as a mail-ordered printed listing earlier than shifting on-line. Today, there are over 200,000 members in over 155 nations. It’s the largest and hottest home swap platform.

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

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

Once you try this, you’re prepared to begin in search of trade alternatives.

You can discover residence trade alternatives by merely shopping the web site (there’s a useful map operate so you’ll be able to see the place alternatives are) or narrowing your search through the use of the web site’s filters. You can filter by the variety of bedrooms, if it’s pet pleasant, accessibility, and facilities (like swimming swimming pools).

When you discover a residence you’re desirous about, all you could do is attain out through HomeExchange’s safe messaging system, specific your curiosity, and get the dialog rolling.

There are two varieties of exchanges: what HomeExchange calls “The Classic Exchange” and an “Exchange with GuestPoints”.

Classic Exchange
The Classic Exchange might be what you consider if you consider a house trade: you keep in somebody’s residence, and in trade, they keep in yours. This might be on the identical time or at totally different occasions, however the primary level is that it’s reciprocal.

But what if you wish to keep in somebody’s residence and so they’re not desirous about coming to yours? That’s the place GuestPoints (GP) are available in.

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

If you need to keep someplace that doesn’t need to do a basic trade, you may give them GP to remain of their residence. They can then use these factors to remain in another person’s residence.

The variety of factors required varies per keep, but it surely’s usually between 100-320 GP per evening. That means together with your bonus welcome factors you’ll be capable of give the platform a strive straight away!

Is HomeExchange Safe?

Staying in a stranger’s home can really feel odd. I get it. But utilizing HomeExchange may be very secure. Much like websites like Airbnb, customers must confirm their id and submit proof of tackle and create a profile, so you’ll be able to see pictures of the place you might be staying earlier than you go.

Additionally, it’s important to pay a $500 USD deposit if you ebook a house. That implies that for those who unintentionally break one thing within the residence you might be renting, the house owner can use that deposit to get well the associated fee. HomeExchange additionally contains injury protection as much as $1,000,000 USD, which suggests you actually don’t want to fret about injury to your home.

Additionally, HomeExchange has a Compliance Guarantee that states that if the lodging doesn’t meet the preliminary residence description, they are going to provide an alternate answer.

On high of that, in case your swap cancels final minute, HomeExchange will present compensation of as much as $840 USD/week for those who can not discover a alternative.

But maybe most significantly, each visitor on HomeExchange can also be a number. That imbues the system with mutual respect and belief. Members deal with houses how they need their very own residence 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. They even have 24/7 assist in case you will have questions or run into an issue or emergency.

What I Liked About HomeExchange

For me, the primary draw for utilizing HomeExchange is that it allows you to reside like a neighborhood. It’s like a mixture between Airbnb and Couchsurfing. Homeowners can share their favourite issues to see and do, provide you with personalised solutions on the place to eat, and a lot extra. You’re capable of get every kind of insider suggestions and recommendation that you simply wouldn’t in any other case, and I feel that’s very important for getting off the overwhelmed path and deepening your travels.

Another nice perk is their non-public Facebook group. It’s one other superior strategy to join with fellow vacationers and get journey suggestions and recommendation that you simply gained’t discover elsewhere. I’m an enormous fan of journey Facebook teams as you’ll be able to actually get a ton of nice suggestions and data from them.

Also, for those who 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 feel new members who don’t journey a ton will actually respect.

Plus, I additionally love that houses can be found in 155 totally different nations and there are over 200,000 members so that you do get a variety of choices. There’s 24/7 buyer assist and they’ll allow you to out financially in case your swap cancels so that you aren’t left within the lurch and caught in a brand new metropolis!

Frequently Asked Questions About Home Exchange

Can I do a house trade if I hire (not personal) my place?
Yes! You simply must 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?
Yes! Just remember to listing your pets and their wants in your profile. If you will have pets that shall be staying at residence, remember to element their wants and talk clearly with the member who could also be staying there. If you reside with pets however they’re touring with you, you’ll nonetheless need to listing their presence in case of allergy symptoms. If you need to journey someplace and keep in one other member’s residence together with your pet, once more you could be clear about this when arranging a possible trade.

Can I host folks in my spare room as an trade?
Yes. Just remember to point out that that is the scenario in your itemizing by choosing “private room” fairly than “whole unit.” Also, 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’ll find that many hosts do set their very own minimums (usually 3-7 days). If you’re touring for an trade although, you’ll possible discover you’ll need to keep at the least that lengthy!

HomeExchange is a superb platform for individuals who need the perks and comforts of a personal residence in a neighborhood neighborhood however on a finances. Additionally, it is a nice strategy to join with a household. I feel sharing a house creates a way of intimacy and also you may make some associates out of it. It’s like grownup Couchsurfing and I made a variety of associates once I used that.

It’s a cool platform that may assist you will have extra distinctive, inexpensive travels whereas additionally connecting you to attention-grabbing locals who can share their suggestions and insider recommendation.

Click right here to study extra and join right this moment!