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Home Exchange - what to leave for your home exchange guests

I have been on dozens of home swaps to places that I couldn't afford to travel to without free accommodation.  Stays have been from 2 days to a whole year with most lasting from 1  to 3 weeks.   Most home exchange partners remember to leave some common household items for their house swap guests.  

 Welcoming your home exchange guests

Home exchanges are a great way to vacation - no cost for accommodation and you stay in a spacious home at no cost rather then rent a hotel room by the night.

Leave your home clean and ready for your home exchange guests arrival.  You will likely expect the same from your exchange guests . Don't forget to leave some common items for your exchange partners

When I leave home to go on a home exchange -  I  make sure there is adequate soap,  fresh towels, bedding, and other useful things, even a tube of toothpaste for my home exchange guests. 

Items to consider leaving for your exchange partner

• Toilet paper

• Hand soap

• Dish washing, laundry and dishwasher soap

• Facial tissue

• Instructions on how to use the TV, remote controls, microwave, where to find emergency water, electrical and heat shutoffs

• A map outlining the closest grocery stores, hospital, medical center, nearby playgrounds if children are part of the exchange

• Make up beds with clean bedding and towels in the bathrooms.
• Leave behind foods staples such as milk, sugar, tea, coffee, pepper and salt.
• Leave your refrigerator, microwave and other major appliances clean 
• Leave instructions regarding how appliances work. 
• If applicable, leave instructions regarding the care of plants and pets. 
• Leave a list of important numbers next to the phone, including emergency numbers, friends to call for advice if a problem arises, and babysitters, if applicable.
• Provide  instructions for leaving your home secure. Leave an extra set of keys with your neighbor or friend in case of emergencies..
• If your guests are bringing their own laptop, be sure to leave them instructions and passwords  for connecting to the internet by WIFI
• Leave an brochures, maps, garage door opener, house instructions where your guest can find them

You also may wish to consider

• Storing irreplaceable personal items, if there is concern about breakage. 
• Provide closet and  drawer space for you home exchange guests to store their clothes.
• Be sure to communicate if any parts of your home are off limits or certain equipment is not to be used. (Our Seattle home exchange partners asked that we not use their international exchange students  bedroom and their main computer.)

Can arranged exchanges fall apart?

Housekeeping issues 

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