homeswaps ???

symikins

anyone done this your views pse thanks xx

chocolateteddy

I belong to a houseswap register run by the NCT(families only) It is brilliant for just under £30 a year subscription you can swap as many times as you like, subject to finding someone who wants to swap with you that is!!
We have swapped 8 times over the last 6 years can't beat it for having a cheap holiday. There is a certain amount of trust but I speak to the people we are thinking of swapping with and follow my gut instinct. We have had great holidays in britain this year we are off to middlesex for 2 weeks as we have annual pass for merlin group so with no accomodation fees will be a cheap holiday and so much better as when you go self catering there are never the kitchen bits you need to cook it is just brilliant especially for young families we swap highchairs, cots, no need to take loads of toys as the children love playing with someone elses!. We have also made some good friends along the way.
HTH

kb36

House swapping is a fab way to travel on a budget. We have three organised for this year, Brittany, Paris and the South of France and rarely travel any other way now apart from the odd weekend break. My kids experience life in another country from a different angle and we feel that the advantages are massive. Some house swap sites let you join for free and most provide good info about what it entails!
Check out www.knowyourtrade.com for impartial advice about the myriad of agencies out there. If you have a destination in mind you could pick a site with the most listings in that country or one that is free to register to test the water. Honestly if you can brave your first you will never look back. let me know if there is anything else you want to know......

Bellio

I have been thinking about doing this, it seems the cheapest way to holiday abroad. Thing Is I cant really see anyone wanting to swap houses with me where I live. Its kind of " Who wants to holiday here " sort of thing. Not that its a bad area or a rubbish house. I have a 4 bed Victorian townhouse in a lovely market town in County Durham. But who wants to come here !! Where as I would go bloody anywhere abroad !!!

delwynshd

Im from Gateshead, why would you think that nobody would want to come to Durham? Its a lovely city there is alot of tourists come here all year round

Del

Bellio wrote: »

I have been thinking about doing this, it seems the cheapest way to holiday abroad. Thing Is I cant really see anyone wanting to swap houses with me where I live. Its kind of " Who wants to holiday here " sort of thing. Not that its a bad area or a rubbish house. I have a 4 bed Victorian townhouse in a lovely market town in County Durham. But who wants to come here !! Where as I would go bloody anywhere abroad !!!

sturll

delwynsholidaydeals wrote: »

Im from Gateshead, why would you think that nobody would want to come to Durham? Its a lovely city there is alot of tourists come here all year round

Del

People might want to come to Durham, but considering you have Scotland up the road, the Lakes to the West and the Dales down the road - the vast majority of people would be better going else where.

delwynshd

That is your view

There is alot to do in the surrounding areas of Durham I personally think

sturll wrote: »

People might want to come to Durham, but considering you have Scotland up the road, the Lakes to the West and the Dales down the road - the vast majority of people would be better going else where.

clairbear_3

Initially this sounds a good idea but Id probably spend a fortnight sprucing up my place then another fortnight rifling thru draws removing personal documents/items.
What happens if your guests burn the house down,steal your identity etc etc
CB
PS County Durham is a luvvly place dont knock it

kb36

clairbear wrote: »

Initially this sounds a good idea but Id probably spend a fortnight sprucing up my place then another fortnight rifling thru draws removing personal documents/items.
What happens if your guests burn the house down,steal your identity etc etc
CB
PS County Durham is a luvvly place dont knock it

Your guests burning your house down is the same as you burning your house down. Inconvenient - yes, highly unlikely - yes! I must admit we take the minimum of precautions regarding identity theft and stash papers/documents in the loft (hope our swappers aren't reading this).

I also admit to having the best clean ever of our gaff before a swap but find this quite a good process all round, a bit like a spring clean. The worst that has ever happened to us was a family melting our electric kettle on the hob but seeing as it has meant 8 bargain holidays it is well worth the risk (albeit perceived!)

thriftykatie

My daughter and I did this on several occasions when she was younger (11-15 years)

We live in a very small two bedroomed cottage but in a lovely area and convenient for transport into London. I was always honest about our home (lots of photos) and gave detailed descriptions and our swappers were never disappointed. We have stayed in some amazing places and always felt we got the better part of the deal, but we had alot to offer too.

We only had one disappointing swap when the couple drank alot of our good wine (silly us - didn't think to mention that wine wasn't part of the deal, and it was on top on the kitchen cabinet in a wine rack so didn't think they would be climbing up to get it!). They also mucked up our computer and damaged the bath, but it was our fault for not putting everything in writing: our previous swaps had been extremely successful without too much 'you can do this' and 'you can't do this'. We lost a bit of money on that one but even considering that it was still cheaper than doing the same holiday and paying out for a hotel.

With subsequent swaps I put everything in writing but also explained it was not a lack of trust in them but because of a previous bad experience.

The various websites will give you guidelines on how to do everything. One thing that worked really well for us was that I spent alot of time before our first visitors preparing a handbook giving details about the house, area, trips, neighbours, contact numbers, tourist leaflets, shopping etc etc -it took hours to do but it only needed doing once and everyone commented on how useful it was.

I could wax lyrical about what a great way of holidaying it is but will stop here and just say - go in with your eyes wide open and be prepared, but have the holiday of a lifetime! Oh - and depending where you go, be ready to be seen as a bit of a novelty by your holiday neighbours - but also to make new friends.

MrsPorridge

Hi,

I'm thinking of doing this, can anyone recommend a good company? I have googled it and there are quite a few.

Would it be possible to lock one of the rooms with valuables/computers in? (idea is to lock the spare bedroom up where the computers are)?

thanks