MS Holidays : House Exchanges

seven-day-weekend

Norma_Desmond wrote:

I've always hummed and haaed about house swapping; I just don't like the idea of total strangers in the house, AND I'm terrified that I would spill red wine on THEIR white carpets

Ah, well that's the delight of exchanging within Spain, no-one HAS any carpets! :rotfl:

Rachie_B

seven-day-weekend wrote:

Rachie_B wrote:

sadly not
we are in Bridgend which is 13 miles from Cardiff in one direction, and 13 miles from swansea in the other lol

We got married in the Gower though

35k wow !

Had we have bought it the year before it would have been about £15k, but in between us discovering the area and actually buying, the village was featured on 'A Place in The Sun' and all the prices went up.:rotfl: :rotfl:

lol

i love watching a place in the sun !

seven-day-weekend

I use to enjoy watching it in the UK, but can't get it now as we don't have Sky.

When I go to my home in the UK, our son has Telewest and I watch 'Homes under the Hammer' on about three different channels one after the other.

I even watched it at Birmingham Airport once whilst waiting for our flight.

MY son is seriously worried about me.

*flutterby*

I am totally addicted to this site now and as soon as I've got some spare cash will be signing up...

Does it still feel like your on holiday when you're in someone elses house?

Surely there must be other people who use MSE who've done this sort of thing before? Anyone...???

seven-day-weekend

Yes it felt as though we were on holiday renting a house but without having to pay!

seven-day-weekend

*flutterby* wrote:

I am totally addicted to this site now and as soon as I've got some spare cash will be signing up...
Does it still feel like your on holiday when you're in someone elses house?

Surely there must be other people who use MSE who've done this sort of thing before? Anyone...???

I think my husband said you get six months free.....

cannyscot_2

We have exchanged about 10 times plus hospitality visits to s family we became friendly with. It is really good if you have kids as the children love getting a new set of toys. It is more relaxed while you are there but the downside is you have to leave your house in good order and with children that can be hard work. we use the money we would spend on holiday accomodation to get jobs done on the house and the looming holiday todate to kick us into action to spruce the place up.


We did have one bad experience due to a family not quite understanding that you have to tidy and clean and make sure the house is clean and welcoming.

but we have learnt now-from an exchange we did in London to set the ground rules re the car and what we expect and will do in terms of housework cleaning ie beding -what do you expect, grass cutting, state you leave the car ie cleaned or not etc


The best bit has been meeting proper people and having at least 2 holidays where we met absolutely no english people at all -oh and i suppose it can be very very cheap. A holiday in a nice Italian house rather than squashed in a one hotel room.


A lot of people say they worry about their stuff when we mention it-we do lock some stuff in a cupboard as it is our documents but generally that is all.


The other thing is that their are lots and lots of very normal houses , 1 bed flats etc as long as you are upfront-if you are remodelling the garden-doing an extension just be honest and tell folk upfront. You would be very suprised where people want to visit -lots of folk just want to come to the UK and experience UK life and talk English -let their children mix with other nationalities and talk English.

richardw

Norma_Desmond wrote:

I've always hummed and haaed about house swapping; I just don't like the idea of total strangers in the house, AND I'm terrified that I would spill red wine on THEIR white carpets

and probably the insurance company would not pay a claim, check all your insurance policies before house swapping.

cannyscot_2

Swapping people tend not to have white carpets and be aware that people do sometimes break/make a mess just as they do in their own house.
Your insurance and theirs cover it as long as you inform your insurance co. I'm not very precious about y house so that helps and you have to do your homework ie talk to each other and agree stuff. If you are worried swap with some italians -the ones I have swapped with leave the house cleaner than when they came -they polished the pans so much the paint came off but not in a bad way.

kez1234

did anyone ever see the tv drama about house swapping scared me to death, i would never do it after that, the man sold the house all furniture, the cars the lot,