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Home Exchange - how do we trust others with your home?

Home exchanges are based on trust. There is no guarantee that your guests won’t wreck your house, but there is no reason that they would—after all, they’re trusting you with their home, too. Global has never had a report of theft related to a home exchange and having someone stay in your home can actually be safer than leaving it unoccupied while you go on vacation.

When I tell people that we travel on home exchanges, they usually have a lot of questions. The idea is tempting, they say, certainly affordable but how do you work out the logistics and, most importantly, how do you trust strangers with your home? Global offers answers to the most home exchange frequently asked questions, but here is some basic information on home swaps and how to make them work for you :

Home exchanges are based on trust. There is no guarantee that your guests won’t wreck your house, but there is no reason that they would—after all, they’re trusting you with their home, too. Global has never had a report of theft related to a home exchange and having someone stay in your home can actually be safer than leaving it unoccupied while you go on vacation.

When you list your home, be as specific in your description and including photos Likewise, ask for photos from the people that you’re exchanging with so that you all have a clear picture of what you’re agreeing to.

Send out Global recommends sending out at least 50 inquiry contacts when you’re trying to find a swap.

Once you’ve found an exchange, agree upon guidelines for the exchange. You should pay your usual home-related bills and work out special arrangements for extraneous costs like long distance telephone calls. 

Before you depart be specific in communicating about anything that you don’t want used while you’re away (like your crystal dinnerware).

Send your guests directions on how to get to your home from the airport, how to get your keys and, if appropriate, how to disarm your security system and security code for your garage door opener.

Clean your house thoroughly, clear space in your closets and dresser drawers for your guests’ clothing, and leave out clean sheets, towels, and washcloths for them to use.

Don't your refrigerator empty We leave juice, milk and other starter food, toilet paper, facial tissues, to tide our guests over till they have the energy to shop on their own.

Leave a detailed note that includes: emergency contacts including phone numbers for a suggested doctor, plumber, electrician, babysitter, dentist, helpful friends, directions to the nearest grocery store pharmacy, hospital and post office; specific instructions for things like the mail, plant care, thermostat control, garbage and recycling pickup, electrical appliances, and where guests should leave the keys when they depart; the fun stuff: your favorite restaurants or activities that they shouldn’t miss, popular tourist sites and off-the-beaten path suggestions that they could only get from a local. 

With advance planning and a bit of flexibility, you’ve pretty much got the whole world to choose from.

Have fun planning for your exchange




If you still aren't successful in finding a home exchange- we can try to help. 

As a full service home exchange club, Global  can offer advice, try to help you with your contacts or listing and feature your home to get more exposure. We are here to help our members find a home exchange. However we do not offer a service where we find an exchange for you. Why? With our experience in offering exchanges for the past 10 years, we have found that people want to make their own arrangements. 

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