Holiday House Or Home Swaps For Mse Forum Users?

asset77 · 10 February 2008 at 2:59PM

Please forgive me is I am duplicating, but I have done a Forum search and can't find anything.

My idea is that for all of us moneysavers, affording holidays is just not possible. I know there are house swap organisations but they still cost money to link to the organising agency. If we just linked up together with no money involved, we could surely do house exchange holidays for those happy to holiday in the UK. I live in Cornwall and I know the average 4 berth caravan costs £500 in the high season - I wouldn't pay it! But I might like to house exchange and go to, say Ireland or Wales for a change.

What do other people think?

watchingthepennies_2 · 10 February 2008 at 4:59PM

Sounds a great idea. I think one of the main advantages of going through an agency is that they are impartial when rating a home. I've never used one but always liked the idea. I would just be so worried about security/ damages etc.

kb36 · 10 February 2008 at 5:44PM

Fab idea
Check out www.knowyourtrade.com
They review and rate home exchange clubs and tell you about free or cheapish clubs and the ins and outs of swapping. Many agencies don't rate homes but some sites have feedback from other swappers.
I for one would be up for swapping with anyone who fancies a holiday in London!
Great idea and the risks are minimal. You can put any valuable away in the loft or store with friends if you were worried about damage to items. In my experience (4 years of house swapping) people are extra careful with your possessions!!

asset77 · 10 February 2008 at 6:11PM

I think the damage risks are low because its homeowners swapping with homeowners so we are usually careful with things. Accidents can happen in one's own home but again they are rare - I would be extra careful in someone else's home.

When I started the thread I forgot to mention pets - I have cats and would hope a house-swapper would feed them! And of course I would feed the animals in whoever's home I swapped with. In my case I just can't afford a cattery so that's another reason for wanting to house swap.

ali99 · 10 February 2008 at 7:07PM

Excellent idea, I'm up for that. We have 3 small children and we are looking now into house exchanges to find other people with small kids who will have all the kit to save us carting it all around. We are hoping to do some UK swaps for weekends.
I did a forum search as well for house swaps and was suprised to find hardly anything - I think it is a great money saving idea.
Anyone got small kids and fancy a nice weekend in cheltenham??!
Ali

kb36 · 10 February 2008 at 7:20PM

I really think that the risks are 'perceived' rather than 'real'. What are you most worried about. You don't have to hide your valuables but if you would worry too much about the priceless tea set from Granny it would be best to store it and not have to worry!

richardw · 10 February 2008 at 7:23PM

Tigsteroonie wrote: »

worried about the risks involved.

and what about your insurance company?

asset77 · 10 February 2008 at 7:34PM

I've thought about this - if you are covered for accidental damage and you had friends visiting or staying, presumably anything broken could be claimed for. So surely you could claim on insurance for breakages? And in theory, an empty house (while you are away on holiday) is more at risk of burglary or other accidents (i.e. a leaking tap causing a flood) than a house-swapped occupied house.

But this is a forum for discussion so its good to have the insurance issue raised, and any other problems raised, so people can work out if its worth doing. I can see that the person with four cats and a dog to walk might find holidays difficult so it would be brilliant to house-swap in that situation.

There are some risks because we are all human but I had hoped that the 'like-mindedness' of the MSE forum people would help towards trusting others with our houses. It does seem to be a very positive site full of helpful people.

Tigsteroonie · 10 February 2008 at 7:40PM

Don't really have that much that is valuable - everything's been eBay'd to raise money before now!

But I would be concerned re: potential for identity theft. There's everything in my house that somebody would need to steal my identity (passport, birth certificate somewhere, banking details etc). And it's all scattered around the house, so it'd take some collecting together to secure in a locked chest.

Not sure about the insurance question. Guests are rarely in the house unaccompanied, and are also well-known to the owner. MSE forum members all go under pseudonyms!

asset77 · 10 February 2008 at 7:47PM

Interesting re the pseudonym MSE people - but I would imagine that any potential house swappers would start communicating by email and getting to know each other by their real names, and sorting out ground rules - like don't start selling anything you find on Ebay! (its become a habit with me - rediscover something in the loft and instantly sell it!).

In an ideal world as well, if you set up a house swap you could ask the neighbours to both welcome and, er, keep an eye on the swappers at the same time to make sure everything goes well.

kb36 · 10 February 2008 at 8:23PM

Insurance wise - my accidental cover is invalid when swappers are in my house and if something goes missing and there is no sign of forced entry then we are not covered. It varies from insurer to insurer though but do check it out. I just make a phone call before every swap and it's sorted!

Holiday House Or Home Swaps For Mse Forum Users?

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