Home Exchange: How to find an exchange partner
You have decided to try a home swap, now what do you do to find an exchange?
If you started a new business, lets say on a busy corner in downtown Manhattan New York, you likely wouldn't need to do a lot of advertising. However if your business was in a residential area, you would want others to know where you were. The best way to do this is to advertise.
Using the same scenario for home exchanges, if you are a member and have a listing for a beach house in Hawaii, a flat in Central London, apartment in Manhattan or a villa in Tuscany, people will come to you searching for an exchange. One of our London home exchange members has shared that she receives well over 100 offers for an exchange every year.
The rest of us need register our exchange plus go out and let others know that we are open to a home exchange. If your home is in an out of the way area or not tourist oriented, we encourage you to send out heaps of inquiries, and put a bit of effort into explaining about your home, neighborhood and area. As Global is network of several home exchange clubs, we suggest you take advantage of the worldwide membership offered and send our lots of inquiries to support your 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 about your community, your accommodation and by including photos. Then describe some of the tourist and community interests in your area followed by a little about your home and family. You can share more information directly with those who respond. Please also keep in mind that with a
Global Home Exchange listing you may be contacted to arrange an exchange from other Global members, from any visitor to our site including members of all other home exchange clubs. In fact, our past
4 exchanges, have been arranged because members of other home exchange agencies have contacted our Global listing.
Global Home Exchange and Vacation Rentals http://www.4homex.com/
Home Exchange at 4homex http://www.homeexchange.4homex.com/
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.
Creating the initial "sell" letter
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 detailed description of the interior and exterior of your home, listing features like working fireplace, oriental carpets, antiques, childproofing, barbecue and outside eating area
If offering a car, give the make, year and condition. An automatic makes driving on an unaccustomed side of the road much easier.
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. Your abode may be humbler than that villa in Tuscany where you’re hoping to go, but if the time and the place are right, your potential exchange partners would probably prefer your home to a hotel.
Home Exchange Resources
- Swapping homes for vacations
Finding
a home swap partner
Will
anyone find an exchange for me?
Home
exchange help
Is my home
good enough to swap?
Affordable
budget travel
Can
anyone take part in a home exchange?
Factors
that may reduce your home exchange opportunities
Can
swappers from rural areas find swaps to popular destinations?
How
do I trust others with my home?
Traveling
with children
Types
of accommodations offered as home exchange?
What
are the benefits?
How do I
know if an exchange is right for me?
I
don't live in a tourist area.
International
home exchange
Contacting
others regarding a home swap
Not
receiving responses to your inquiries
Are
you a list and run swapper?
Be
a serious about your home exchange commitment
Do
I need to accept offers?
Your home
exchange is arranged - now what?
Steps
to a successful home exchange
How do
we exchange keys?
Do we
need to swap cars?
Are gifts
necessary?
High
speed internet connection
Be
prepared for little challenges
Can
arranged exchanges fall apart?
Housekeeping
issues
Are
there guarantees that I will find an exchange?
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