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 all the premise of the film The Vacation (starring Cameron Diaz and Kate Winslet). They turned all the trend however then have been quickly eclipsed by websites like Airbnb.

However as journey costs skyrocketed post-COVID, an increasing number of folks have turned again to accommodate swaps as a method of saving cash whereas they journey whereas nonetheless getting a neighborhood expertise (however with out the effort of an Airbnb).

Home swaps are precisely what they sound like. You join, listing your own home, after which swap with another person in one other metropolis. They keep in your home 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 all the things you might want to know to get began with a home swap and enable you determine 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 truly began as a mail-ordered printed listing earlier than transferring on-line. Immediately, there are over 200,000 members in over 155 nations. It’s the most important and hottest home swap platform.

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

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

When you do this, you’re prepared to start out in search of alternate alternatives.

You could find residence alternate alternatives by merely looking the web site (there’s a useful map operate so you possibly can see the place alternatives are) or narrowing your search through the use of the web site’s filters. You possibly can 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 involved in, all you might want to do is attain out through HomeExchange’s safe messaging system, specific your curiosity, and get the dialog rolling.

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

Basic Alternate
The Basic Alternate might be what you consider once you consider a house alternate: you keep in somebody’s residence, and in alternate, they keep in yours. This may be on the similar time or at completely different occasions, however the primary level is that it’s reciprocal.

However what if you wish to keep in somebody’s residence they usually’re not involved in 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 once you join and also you earn extra by internet hosting members at your own home.

If you wish to keep someplace that doesn’t need to do a basic alternate, you may give 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 typically between 100-320 GP per evening. Which means together with your bonus welcome factors you’ll have the ability to give the platform a attempt immediately!

Is HomeExchange Protected?

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

Moreover, you need to pay a $500 USD deposit once you guide a house. That signifies that should you by accident break one thing within the residence you’re renting, the home-owner can use that deposit to get well the fee. HomeExchange additionally consists of injury protection as much as $1,000,000 USD, which suggests you actually don’t want to fret about injury 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 not 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 group stays respectful and thoughtful.

So, briefly, it’s a protected platform that you need to use with confidence. Additionally they have 24/7 assist in case you’ve got questions or run into an issue or emergency.

What I Preferred About HomeExchange

For me, the primary draw for utilizing HomeExchange is that it enables you to reside like a neighborhood. It’s like a combination between Airbnb and Couchsurfing. Householders can share their favourite issues to see and do, offer you personalised solutions on the place to eat, and a lot extra. You’re in a position to get all types of insider ideas and recommendation that you simply wouldn’t in any other case, and I believe that’s very important for getting off the crushed path and deepening your travels.

One other nice perk is their non-public Fb group. It’s one other superior approach to join with fellow vacationers and get journey ideas and recommendation that you simply received’t discover elsewhere. I’m a giant fan of journey Fb teams as you possibly can actually get a ton of nice ideas and data 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 believe new members who don’t journey a ton will actually admire.

Plus, I additionally love that properties can be found in 155 completely different nations and there are over 200,000 members so that you do get a variety of choices. There’s 24/7 buyer assist and they’ll enable you 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 Residence Alternate

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

Can I do a house alternate if I’ve pets?
Sure! Simply you’ll want to listing your pets and their wants in your profile. When you have pets that can be staying at residence, you’ll want to element their wants and talk clearly with the member who could also be staying there. Should you reside with pets however they’re touring with you, you’ll nonetheless need to listing their presence in case of allergic reactions. If you wish to journey someplace and keep in one other member’s residence together with your pet, once more you might want to be clear about this when arranging a possible alternate.

Can I host folks in my spare room as an alternate?
Sure. Simply you’ll want to point out that that is the scenario in your itemizing by choosing “non-public room” fairly than “complete 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 any site-wide minimal variety of nights, although you’ll find that many hosts do set their very own minimums (typically 3-7 days). Should you’re touring for an alternate although, you’ll possible discover you’ll need to keep no less than that lengthy!

HomeExchange is a good platform for individuals who need the perks and comforts of a personal residence in a neighborhood neighborhood however on a funds. Moreover, it is a nice approach to join with a household. I believe sharing a house creates a way of intimacy and also you may make some buddies out of it. It’s like grownup Couchsurfing and I made a variety of buddies 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!