house swap experiences
I'm hoping to do multiple one-week house swaps next summer - Italy, France, Germany. I've poked around on the boards and don't see any topics, advice or beware notes about house swaps. Does anyone have experiences they could share? Thanks! (I have a very nice house in a desirable location near Canadian Rockies and dinosaur sites - want something equally nice!)
Nelly
Calgary 10/8/09
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Nelly,
I'd be a bit nervous about that type of arrangement. I've heard a few "nasty stories" from people that have tried it, and were less than pleased with the experience.
Hopefully one of the group here will have some information for you.
Cheers!
We just did our 5th house exchange this past summer, and I am a great fan of this method of travel. I have a few suggestions for you. First of all, I think you won't find too many people who are interested in just a week. Most want 2 weeks or more. Even co-ordinating two exchanges seems complicated to me. We have used intervac.com, homelink.org, and homeexchange.com. All operate pretty much in the same manner. I suggest you go to their sites and browse their listings. You can then join the one that seems to offer the best potential for you. Be aware that lots of Europeans don't list until after the 1st of the year. One other point: you'll have better luck if you don't expect precise equity in an exchange. We, for example, traded our 4 bdrm, 2 bath house for a small 2 bdrm apartment in Copenhagen. We consider it to have beeen the best swap we've done. Europeans tend to live in smaller quarters than Americans (though that is changing), but often have vacation homes, which can even be part of an exchange. You can pm me for more information. I'll be happy to answer any specific questions you have.
I know you asked this quite awhile ago, but I just found it. I exchanged my home in NJ (yes NJ) with three family's: Andalucia, Spain; Tuchan, France and Versaille, France. We had absolutely no problems with their homes or with my home upon our return. Home Exchange is fantastic! You just need to get to know the people and make sure you find them trustworthy before you go. I spent about 10 months conversing with my exchange families before the trip and really got to know them. Actually, the family in Spain ended up not being able to use my home (she was pregnant) and she still let me use her beautiful 5 bedroom casa with inground pool in Andalucia. My exchange partner outside Paris even fronted the money to buy my family of five TGV tickets because he was able to get them for 1/2 the price that I could get on-line. Pretty amazing, don't you think. My favorite website is www.homeforexchange.com It's by far the nicest. I've looked at all of them. It is true, most people who are going to travel from far will want at least 10 days in your home. I am in the process of planning my next home exchanges in 2011. I can't wait! You really get to live and meet locals when you live in the home of a local; they usually hook you up with friends and family members.
Thanks for the encouragement, I am working on getting our house listed, and the tickets are purchased!
Nelly, check out info on house swapping experiences here on Rick's website under "Graffiti Wall", next to "Travelers' Helpline". Scroll down to "Archived" topics and look at "House-Swapping Stories". I am also interested in the home exchange concept. Hope it works out for you.
I haven't done a house swap yet but hope to in the future. I'm surprised no one has brought up problems with swaps in Italy.
I'm not sure if it's here or on other boards where I've seen multiple complaints about house swaps in Italy.
The swap fell through at the last minute due to a family emergency "but they were able to find you a house to rent for your stay." Apparently many responders from Italy are simply rental agents whose goal is to rent you a place. For some reason, Italy is the place that always has this complaint.
I don't want to rain on your parade but think you should be prepared.
To address Brad's point: We have run into the problem you raise when trying to arrange a swap in Italy. So much so that we don't even bother with looking at Italian listings anymore. Fortunately for us, the "family illness" ploy came up early in the negotiations, and we just said no. Some of the house exchange companies offer an insurance feature to protect yourself against cancellation, and I think that in the future we'll join one that does. After all, sometimes real situations occur that require people to back out of trip plans.
very interesting (and nervous-making). Thanks for the heads up.