Frequently asked questions

Home Exchange is a comfortable alternative to hotels and organized package tours. It is the ultimate community based exploration. Do something for yourself and the environment. Join our green community today.

This is our number one question, and an honest answer is that you cannot. However, over the years we have received very few reports of damage, and NEVER a report of theft. Remember, your prospective exchange partner will doubtless possess exactly the same concerns about you, but in our experience, homes are invariably left exactly as they were found.

Usually home owner's insurance remains in force to cover guests in your home, and because no financial transaction is involved, your exchange partners are your guests. However, you should advise your insurers that guests will be staying in your home and the duration of their stay. Sometimes there is a limit of 30 days, but this is the only restriction we have come across. Actually, insurance companies admit that they prefer you to leave your home occupied by guests rather than unoccupied - it's safer!

Look for listings in the areas you selected as desired destinations. Or you may see an interesting listing in an area you hadn't considered. Preferred destinations and available dates of members are indicated in the listings to help narrow the possibilities. To give yourself the best opportunity for a successful exchange, contact a number of possible exchange partners, expressing interest in a trade and describing your home, area, family, and preferred dates. Meanwhile, you will receive inquiries offering even more choices. Please respond to all inquiries. Don't you like it when you receive some sort of feedback from your request?

Pay all mortgage and utility bills as you normally would, and agree in advance who should pay the phone bills - each exchange party normally pays for their own telephone calls. The home owner continues to pay for any regular cleaning help, gardeners, pool service etc. However, if the exchange party hires a maid, etc., payment is their responsibility.

Legally drawn up contracts are not necessary. However you may feel that you wish to use an Exchange Agreement which can establish responsibilities, limitations, and how to deal with unexpected problems. You can also use the sites Swap Agreement tools to manage your swaps.

Once you are sure your arrangements have been finalized, book your tickets (airline, etc.). Make copies of these tickets and send them to your exchange partner. Once significant amounts of money have been invested, it is extremely unlikely that either side will cancel.

The responsibility lies with whoever caused the damage to either pay to have it repaired, or to reimburse you.

Fully comprehensive insurance normally remains in force for 30 days, covering anyone driving with your permission. However, check with your agent. If it makes you more comfortable, do not hesitate to set up restrictions i.e. restrict drivers to those aged 25+, indicate the maximum amount of miles to be driven during the period of the exchange, and make it clear if you do not wish your car to be driven abroad or out of state. In the case of North America definitely stipulate that you do not want your car driven into Mexico because only insurance written by a Mexican company is valid once the car crosses the border. Please also note that many car insurance companies in the UK, even the short term insurance options, will not insure drivers with Canadian or U.S. drivers lincenses.

For a lot of families, looking after their exchange partner's pets is a task they enjoy. However, NEVER impose your pets upon a family which clearly does not want the responsibility. Many exchangers will use your home as a base for daily sightseeing trips and will not want to be tied down by pet care.

A common arrangement is for both parties to arrange for a friend or another family member to meet the exchange family at the airport and drive them to the exchange address. If this is not possible, send them very clear instructions as to what public transport they should take. Then maybe a friend could pick them up from the train station or bus terminal close to your home.

Yes. Be completely honest in the description of your home and its amenities. Stress all the advantages (every home has some!). You will be surprised to find that many people will be willing to exchange their much grander residence just for the privilege and convenience of not having to stay in a hotel. Remember, hotels rent out one small room each night; even your modest home is bigger than one hotel room. Plus, people exchange homes for many reasons: location of the home, events taking place near the home, not enough room in the family house a relative is visiting - the only location that is critical is being close to mom and dad, thoughts of moving someplace new - less expensive and more real life to exchange homes than stay in a hotel room for a longish period of time, temporary moving for job.

There is enough information in the listings to weed out some obvious mismatches. For example, an exchange family with four children may not be ideal for your antique-filled home. Or your family of five may not be appropriate for a trade with a studio apartment in New York City.

After agreeing to an exchange, you and your exchange partner will wish to exchange calls and letters finalising dates and details about cars, responsibilities and other pertinent items. Keep and file copies of all the correspondence between you. Good communication will lead to a satisfying, successful exchange!

Open up your house to guests from throughout the world. Stay in other people's houses while they are there. It is called hospitality exchange, which is a great way to explore a community and learn a culture with the help of your host. Select "hospitality exchange" on the member sign-up form and/or search options.

When logged in click the heart icon next to the listing. You will see the heart icon on both the search results page and the view home page.