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Global Home ExchangeGlobal Home Exchange and Vacation Homes is a marketplace for home exchange, vacation rentals, house swaps, holiday homes and vacation rental homes worldwide. Travelers find home exchange or vacation rental accommodations including houses, apartments, flats, town homes, condos, chalets, cabins, beach houses, villas, bed and breakfasts and other vacation accommodation. |
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How to Find a Home Exchange
Trying to find the "perfect exchange match" may reduce your chance of a home swap. Being flexible on locations, dates and accommodation will increase your chances of a good, successful trade which is all most people want. When considering home exchange opportunities, most people aren't necessarily seeking a home similar to their own but rather they consider the location. Is it somewhere they would like to visit? Are there places of interest easily accessible from the home? After location, members will check the number of people the home will sleep to decide if it will be suitable and, if they have any special needs, whether these are available in the home. Each home exchange is unique; a bond of trust must be built as you get to know your home swap partners and their family through e-mails, letters or phone calls. Most people traveling on an exchange love the idea of no cost accommodation especially because through their communications ahead of time, they find themselves not staying at a strangers home, but at new found friends, and they will be staying in your home.
How do I get started? In life their are spectators and participants. We want to encourage you to not be a spectator by sitting back and waiting for others to answer your listing. Participate in the fun by sending out heaps of contacts.
When would you like to travel on an exchange? Some home exchangers like to plan years ahead, while others are open to swapping homes within a few days. Most people who are open to swapping homes for vacations, start looking for exchange partners 4 to 12 months ahead of leaving on their trip.
Where would you like to travel to on an exchange? Many home exchange members are available to travel to almost any destination, while others are more specific. Perhaps it's to some popular worldwide city destination such as New York, San Francisco, Sydney, Paris, London or Rome. How about a beach home in Hawaii, the Caribbean, Gold Coast or Spain. Maybe a the country side of France, Canada, New Zealand or the USA appeals to you or maybe it's a ski resort in the Swiss Alps, Colorado, Tahoe or Alberta that whets your appetite for travel. What ever your destination may be, city, country side or off the beaten path area, there are people open to exchanging homes. Start by exploring the home exchange listings. Then have fun planning and writing your own listing.
List your own home - A listing is an advertisement. You are telling others that you are interested in receiving home exchange offers. You interest others and attract responses by what you say in your listing. We recommend that you include photos with your listing. Then describe some of the tourist and community interests in your area followed by a little about your home and family. If you have pets, be sure to mention this as well. You can share more information directly with those who respond.
Actively contact other members. Besides listing your home, send out heaps of contact emails to others wanting home exchanges. You are inquiring about the other members' interest in an exchange with you. Be positive and tell then a bit about your home, your family and community. You don't need to say too much but definitely don't be negative or say too little. We exchange homes as well. Here's a helpful suggestion that we have successfully used. After you decide on an area that you might like to travel, contact every member that has listed their home regardless of their desired destinations. Why? It is true that some members have definite dates and destinations set that can not be easily changed. However it is also true that several members have listed desired destinations, but would also consider offers from other locations. They just didn't say that in their listing. By emailing members in a chosen area you can open up exchange opportunities that weren't stated. We have arranged some wonderful exchanges where members have listed desired destinations as Mexico or Europe. (We live on the Vancouver Island Canada). By sending out mass emails we have also had members pass on our request for an exchange to others who hadn't listed their home but were open to swap homes. Twice we have had members explain that they had made other non-exchange travel arrangements but were open to letting us stay in their home.
Do I need to accept an offer for a home exchange? As a member you are free to choose. Many of our members receive many offers for exchange. As an example, we received over 20 offers to our listing.. One member from London indicated that each year she receives well over 100 inquiries to arrange an exchange. Sometimes it takes a few emails requesting further information before one can make a decision. Please be courteous and answer all inquiries. Some people wait for a response to their home exchange offer before looking elsewhere and it gives them opportunity to still find another exchange partner if you are not interested. Some of these initial contacts may very well be future home exchanges for you. Trying to find the "perfect exchange match" may reduce your chance of arranging a home exchange. Being flexible on locations, dates and accommodation will increase your chances of a good, successful trade which is all most people want. Being Careful Home Exchange scam alert 1. If someone you do not know advertises a home exchange then after you contact them explains that the property is only available as a rental. You have a choice. You can say no and move on to other home exchange opportunities or you can find out more about the rental price and conditions. If the purported rental own asks you to wire them money, this is a scam. Never agree to wire money for vacation accommodations. 2. If someone answers your home exchange listing and wants to rent your home instead of an exchange or insists on sending you money for any reason. Be careful, If they send you an overpayment by check, money order, bank draft or even credit card and want you to wire them back the overpaid amount. This is a scam. The check is fake. Do not cash it. Never agree to wire money for vacation accommodations.
When answering others offers for exchanges: Answer others listings Be active. Send out heaps of emails. The first letter you send to potential exchangers should express your tentative interest, pending further correspondence. Introduce your family, the ages of your children, careers, hobbies and special interests. Especially when teens and kids are involved, including a family photo is a good idea. Outline the advantages of your home – i.e., its proximity to tourist attractions, shopping, safe and quiet neighborhood, climate. Provide a description of the interior and exterior of your home If offering a car, give the make, year and condition. An automatic shift makes driving easier for one unaccustomed to driving on the other side of the road. Provide references if you are an experienced exchanger. List your preferred dates and length of exchange. The more flexible you are, the better your chances. Be honest. Avoid misunderstandings by having a written agreement about exchange dates, the number of people involved, use of the car, and who pays what in terms of utility and long-distance bills, etc. Please see Global Home Exchange for more home exchange ideas and information.
Home Exchange Resources - Swapping homes for vacationsWhat
is a home exchange?
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| Global is a Canada vacation homes accommodation service offering home exchange and vacation rentals worldwide. |
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