The Best Website for House Swaps? My HomeExchange Review

Lodging will at all times be one in every of your largest journey bills…however what if it wasn’t? What should you may cut back the price of your lodging to zero whereas nonetheless having fun with the comforts of residence?

That’s what home swaps promise.

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

However as journey costs skyrocketed post-COVID, increasingly individuals have turned again to accommodate swaps as a method of saving cash whereas they journey whereas nonetheless getting an area expertise (however with out the trouble of an Airbnb).

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

The largest and hottest platform for swaps is HomeExchange.

And, on this put up, I’ll go over every part you could know to get began with a home swap and provide help to resolve if HomeExchange is best for you.

What’s HomeExchange?

Based in 1992, HomeExchange is a community that facilitates swapping properties with one other particular person or household. The corporate really began as a mail-ordered printed listing earlier than shifting on-line. Right now, there are over 200,000 members in over 155 nations. It’s the most important and hottest home swap platform.

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

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

When you try this, you’re prepared to start out on the lookout for alternate alternatives.

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

While you discover a residence you’re fascinated by, all you could do is attain out through HomeExchange’s safe messaging system, categorical your curiosity, and get the dialog rolling.

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

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

However what if you wish to keep in somebody’s residence and so they’re not fascinated by 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 house.

If you wish to keep someplace that doesn’t wish to do a traditional alternate, you can provide them GP to remain of their residence. They will 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. Meaning along with your bonus welcome factors you’ll have the ability to give the platform a strive immediately!

Is HomeExchange Secure?

Staying in a stranger’s home can really feel odd. I get it. However utilizing HomeExchange could be very secure. Very similar to websites like Airbnb, customers should confirm their identification and submit proof of tackle and create a profile, so you’ll be able to see pictures of the place you’re staying earlier than you go.

Moreover, it’s a must to pay a $500 USD deposit if you e-book a house. That implies that should you by accident break one thing within the residence you’re renting, the house owner can use that deposit to get well the associated fee. HomeExchange additionally contains harm protection as much as $1,000,000 USD, which suggests you actually don’t want to fret about harm to your own home.

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

On prime of that, in case your swap cancels final minute, HomeExchange will present compensation of as much as $840 USD/week should you can’t discover a substitute.

However maybe most significantly, each visitor on HomeExchange can be a bunch. That imbues the system with mutual respect and belief. Members deal with properties how they need their very own residence to be handled, which ensures that the neighborhood stays respectful and thoughtful.

So, in brief, it’s a secure platform that you should use with confidence. In addition they have 24/7 help in case you’ve got questions or run into an issue or emergency.

What I Preferred About HomeExchange

For me, the principle draw for utilizing HomeExchange is that it helps you to dwell like an area. It’s like a combination between Airbnb and Couchsurfing. Householders can share their favourite issues to see and do, offer you customized solutions on the place to eat, and a lot extra. You’re capable of get every kind of insider ideas 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.

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

Additionally, should you don’t discover a swap in your first 12 months, HomeExchange waives the payment 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 recognize.

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

Incessantly Requested Questions About House Trade

Can I do a house alternate if I hire (not personal) my place?
Sure! You simply must confirm the visitor coverage in your rental settlement/lease. When unsure, let your landlord know so there aren’t any surprises.

Can I do a house alternate if I’ve pets?
Sure! Simply make sure you record your pets and their wants in your profile. You probably have pets that will likely be staying at residence, make sure you element their wants and talk clearly with the member who could also be staying there. In the event you dwell with pets however they’re touring with you, you’ll nonetheless wish to record their presence in case of allergic reactions. If you wish to journey someplace and keep in one other member’s residence along with your pet, once more you could be clear about this when arranging a possible alternate.

Can I host individuals in my spare room as an alternate?
Sure. Simply make sure you point out that that is the state of affairs in your itemizing by choosing “non-public room” quite than “entire unit.” Additionally, talk clearly when arranging the alternate so everybody is aware of what they’re signing up for!

Is there a minimal variety of nights required for an alternate?
There isn’t a site-wide minimal variety of nights, although you will discover that many hosts do set their very own minimums (usually 3-7 days). In the event you’re touring for an alternate although, you’ll probably discover you’ll wish to keep no less than that lengthy!

HomeExchange is a superb platform for individuals who need the perks and comforts of a non-public residence in an area neighborhood however on a finances. Moreover, it is a nice technique to join with a household. I feel sharing a house creates a way of intimacy and also you may make some mates out of it. It’s like grownup Couchsurfing and I made lots of mates after I used that.

It’s a cool platform that may assist you’ve got extra distinctive, reasonably priced travels whereas additionally connecting you to fascinating locals who can share their ideas and insider recommendation.

Click here to learn more and sign up today!