House-swapping.

Kathy220559

Hi

Has anyone any experience of house-swapping for holidays. I have often thought about doing it but it seems a bit scary.

Can anyone recommend any good companies that do this sort of thing.

TBeckett100

i think you would worry about your house too much whilst your away. Will they be raiding your drawers? will they have sold your house or even worse, moved half the family in?

kb36

Check out this thread from a few weeks ago which has some useful info about where to find an agency - if you have any questions let me know I've swapped many times before!


http://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/showthread.html?t=735167&highlight=house+swapping

Kathy220559

I will thank you...have really really done this? Is it as good as it sounds?

kb36

Yes it really is as good as it sounds! I would recommend it without hesitation as a great way to holiday more cheaply and more frequently!

Kathy220559

Damn, I just read the whole 'other' thread and now realise we are not allowed to talk about it on here, or PM either. I would love to have heard about your experiences.

kb36

I think we can talk about house swapping in general on here - it was the idea of setting up a house swap site between MSE forum members that was not allowed. The swapping of personal details was the bit that wasn't acceptable and goes against forum rules of privacy but you can pm me for any info you require or do it through the boards. I think that is perfectly acceptable!

Kathy220559

Any information you give me would be great..what sites you use etc. Also, I am looking to swap in the USA initially and cannot get my head around why anyone would want to swap their gorgeous house over there for my little 3 bed semi.

kb36

If you go to www.knowyourtrade.com and check out their 'find a club' section you can scroll down and select clubs using various different criteria such as base country and cost etc. It would be a good idea for you to find a club with a large amount of listings in the country you wish to travel to - the USA - in your case. If you choose a free club you really have nothing to lose whilst you test the water for a potential swap.

You would be amazed by who may want to swap with you - we have a modest terrace in London and have around 5 offers a week. Make an effort with your advert, describe it in detail and add photos as these will really increase your chances of finding something appropriate. I think that most swappers feel that a little 3 bed semi beats a miniscule hotel room and appreciate the fact that it costs relatively little to organise. People WILL want to swap with you!

fitorbust

We have successfully done 10 or so swaps over the past 10 years - mainly in America and Canada and enjoyed every one. There is a lot of work goes into the preparation, emails and contact aswell as preparing the house for guests, but we have really enjoyed some amazing places (and cars) for the price of a flight.

We used a website called homelink international, and I think they have a web site www.homelink.org.uk
There is a charge to be a member, but you have access to a lot of listings from people who have also invested that charge too.

I am quite a nosy person, but staying in someone's house gives you a real insight into their lives without having to nosy in their private affairs. I have never felt the need to snoop, and frankly don't care if they do in our house - we probobly won't see them again.

I think the Americans are happy to swap here as with the dollar being so weak it makes their trip here a lot cheaper.

I would highly recommend it if you want the sort of holiday where you live as one of the locals, and find your own entertainment. We spent last year remodelling our house so are planning a swap next year to Vancouver Island. We are swapping with the daughter of some people we swapped with a few years ago as we met and really hit it off. So you also make friends if you want and that can lead to further swaps.

Best of luck!

Lesley

Sam_Bee

This link was sent to me today:

http://www.guardianhomeexchange.co.uk/

It's got backing from The Guardian, so i'd tend to trust it, but no direct experience myself, but might be worth investigating.