Need a Holiday? Try House Swapping!
Want to take a vacation, but the funds are too tight? Try house swapping! There are several variations of house swapping, but the main idea is that two parties agree to swap houses for a vacation. Besides the massive savings of not having to rent a hotel room, many times a swap includes the use of the family car and appliances. This means you can save even more money by not having to rent a car or go to a laundry mat.
So how does this work?
There are websites designed for house swapping. A good one to try is Homelink.org. For a $110 fee, you can advertise your home, with photos, in a directory and on the websites for twelve months. This membership gives you access to the member-only WebPages. For an extra $60 you can receive a print directory of the available homes available. Intervac.com is another good site to try.
Members of a house swapping, or house exchanging, site look through the prospects until they find one they are interested in. Contact is usually made through email. Then, the prospective swappers decide if they would like to do an exchange. Your chances for finding a decent swap are higher if you live in a popular area. If you live in a nondescript town in the middle of nowhere, find all the positives you can about your area to make it more desirable for a swap: What makes your town unique? Is there an interesting festival or event in your area? Are there recreational activities within a short drive? Do you have a great house to offer? House exchanges can be for any agreed-upon amount of time, but typically last about two-to-four weeks.
Sounds great: Free lodging, free car rental, and I can do my own laundry – (wait, is that a plus?)
So, what’s the catch?
Remember, it’s a house swap so while you’re enjoying the comforts and amenities of someone else’s home, strangers may be sitting in your favorite Lazy-Boy enjoying the game on your big screen television and using your – ahem – lavatory. However, the upside is that having someone living in your house while you’re away is that your house isn’t left vacant, which can attract burglars. With a little extra negotiating, you might even be able to have your fellow house swappers water your plants or feed your animals.
Experience your vacation destination as a local
A bonus of house swapping as opposed to getting a room in a hotel is that you can live like a local. When you lodge in a hotel, you’re usually surrounded by the “tourist traps”. On the other hand, living in someone else’s house might put you in contact with different experiences, such as meeting the local people discovering their favorite hangouts.
Is it safe?
You might worry about a stranger rifling through your belongings or doing damage to your property. Fortunately, reports of such activity have been rare. Most complaints seem to center around housekeeping issues. You always want to have your house spotless for your guests, and you’ll want to leave your vacation house in top-shape for when the owners return. You’ll also want to lock up any valuables for safekeeping while you’re away. You and your fellow swappers will want to sign an agreement to work out the details: What is included in the swap and who’ll pay for incidentals, such as long-distance phone calls and use of food items.
House Swapping: A great way to vacation!
Have you had your eyes on traveling to see the castles in Europe or the Hawaiian volcanoes, but thought it would be too expensive? Try house swapping; you’ll save a lot of money – and have a great experience.
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