home exchange/ swapping - any experience?

NextSteps

Has anyone tried doing a house exchange through a website or agency? If so, what were your experiences or can you give me some pointers? All the sites I've seen are American and it's hard to judge their reliability or otherwise! I was half thinking of doing a house-swap in Rome.

Homeforswap.com

Members at Homeforswap.com are doing just that. Home For Swap is a web site that allows members to exchange homes with each other. It’s a growing trend and offers many advantages over paying for a hotel room.

How it works Homeforswap.com

First you decide where you want to vacation in the world and Home For Swap displays the home listings available in that area. After reading about the home, neighborhood, owners, amenities, and viewing detailed photos and videos, with a click of a button you private message the member and you are on your way.

Home For Swap is popular because it offers a unique vacation experience. Members get to know other members, share vacation exchange advice, leave feedback, and be a part of a growing community.

When you travel to someone else’s home you also get immersed in the culture, not just the tourist areas. You meet the real people and dine at the local hot spots. If you want a midnight snack just walk down to the kitchen.

Best of all the exchange is free.

Meathlass

UB wrote: »

Has anyone tried doing a house exchange through a website or agency? If so, what were your experiences or can you give me some pointers? All the sites I've seen are American and it's hard to judge their reliability or otherwise! I was half thinking of doing a house-swap in Rome.

My parents are doing a swap with a couple from America. They're coming over in July for 10 days. We're not going to their place as it doesn't suit but we've any open invitation to any one of their 2 homes (Florida and Chicago) any time we want in the future. My mum posted our house on homeexchange.com about a year ago and we've been inundated with requests. We live about 7 miles from the nearest town in south tipperary so anyone coming would need a car; i thought because of our location we'd have zero interest but seems otherwise.

It's all very dependent on how you interact with people, it can be very easy going. My parents will be in the house for a few days while the american couple are here but they're not bothered, they just want a room to come back to each night. My mum organised this in January so we've been chatting to them for a while. Don't know how it will all turn out though.

Imposter

Thanks for that timely information!

Ah-Watch

Meathlass wrote: »

My parents are doing a swap with a couple from America. They're coming over in July for 10 days. We're not going to their place as it doesn't suit but we've any open invitation to any one of their 2 homes (Florida and Chicago) any time we want in the future. My mum posted our house on homeexchange.com about a year ago and we've been inundated with requests. We live about 7 miles from the nearest town in south tipperary so anyone coming would need a car; i thought because of our location we'd have zero interest but seems otherwise.

It's all very dependent on how you interact with people, it can be very easy going. My parents will be in the house for a few days while the american couple are here but they're not bothered, they just want a room to come back to each night. My mum organised this in January so we've been chatting to them for a while. Don't know how it will all turn out though.

Ya I would've thought so too, North Tipp isnt great though South Tipp mighnt be bad, but I find it hillarious people saying oh I love Ireland. Maybe its cos im soo used to it that I dont see what they see;)

Meathlass

I suppose if you live in a city or somewhere dry and dusty then the mountains of South Tipp are probably nice, It's gorgeous down here at the moment. I can see 4 different mountain ranges from my house. They are going to go on day trips to Cork, Kilkenny etc. I suppose when you are selling your house (for exchanges) you have to think of it in terms of how people from outside Ireland and not used to green fields and castles would imagine it. Just because you don't have an apt in the city centre doesn't mean that you won't get any hits. The vast majority of people who want to swap with us are from New Zealand.