Global Home Exchange

Home Exchange FAQ

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.

What are some ideas on how to find a home exchange?

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. 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 to your listing

Add photos - Include photos with your listing. You don't need a photo of a sunset or luxury home to entice possible exchangers to answer your listing, but photos go a long way towards attracting a steady stream of home exchange inquiries.

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 home 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.

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.

Can I save money traveling on a home exchange?

Yes. Depending where you travel, one night at a modest hotel can be well over $100 a night plus taxes, hotel surcharges, parking and meals. - Imagine the savings on a 2 week home exchange vacation. Instead of a paying for a hotel, swap homes and stay free. Saving money is not the only benefit of a home exchange. A house offers a family more space, more conveniences and more freedom. Plus you can experience an area as a local, not a tourist.

Can I exchange homes within my own region or county?

Although international home swaps will always be popular, the growing trend to Exchanges within ones own region and country is the fastest growing use of home exchange.

What is the length of a typical exchange?
Whatever works for you. Global offers weekend exchanges, short term swaps from 1 to 3 weeks and longer term swaps of several months to a year or more.

Why would someone want to come to my house or area?

Over the many years that we have worked with exchangers, we have come to appreciate that one can not predict why someone would want an exchange to a particular area. We have had members from remote areas find exchanges from people who loved fishing and hunting. We also have had members in Hawaii that exchanged homes with exchange partners that didn't even go to the beach and yes even members from a warm climate that just wanted to experience living for a week or two in snow. Many Global members are open to traveling to new places, so don't let your area be a limitation to you finding a home swap.

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.

Who can answer my listing?

Any Global member plus members of our worldwide partner clubs who register with Global. Our multi home exchange club members may also register their home on our partner clubs.

Do I need to have extra insurance?

Check that your homeowner's insurance will be valid while your exchange partners live in your home. Make it very clear to your agent that they are your non-paying guests. Most insurance companies will recognize that your home is at lower risk from burglary when it is occupied, but your insurance cover may be invalid if you omit to notify the company before your exchange holiday. We understand that most insurance covers exchange partners as invited guests in your home and offers coverage as such..

Besides saving money, what are some other benefits from swapping homes?
Many travelers join Global thinking the biggest benefit will be the money they save. This is most certainly realized with savings of hundreds to thousands of dollars on hotels, vehicles and meals. After swapping homes most will say that the greatest benefits are experiencing an area like a local, not a tourist and having the comfort of being in a multi room home rather than a cramped hotel room. Families with children love the spaciousness of an exchange house.

May I exchange my rental apartment or rental house?
Yes. We suggest you contact the owner of the apartment or house you are renting to get any permissions necessary.

Do I have to swap my car as well?
Swapping cars is entirely up to you. From our own personal experience in swapping cars as part of an exchange we recommend you and your house swap partner sign a car exchange agreement.

Can I exchange pets?
Some members are quite happy to look after pets for their partners, but don't feel an obligation to offer these services if you are worried about the responsibility. Likewise, don't burden your guests unless you are sure they are happy with the arrangement. In all likelihood your partners will use your home as a base while making daily, and often overnight sightseeing trips, and may not want to be tied down with pet care. Communicate everything at these initial stages of making arrangements. Each member listing notes whether there are pets in the house, whether pets are welcome as part of the exchange and whether pet care is required. We have two small dogs. We have taken them on exchanges with us as part of our exchange agreement, left them with friends or in a kennel when our exchange partner didn't want them in their home and have looked after our exchange partners cats while staying in their home.

Who is responsible for cleaning the house?
It really is a personal choice. Sometimes our members arrange for their home to be cleaned by a service, other times you clean the house before you leave.

A good rule is to leave the house exactly as you found it, and to take care of the home as you expect your partner to take care of yours.

Do you have a privacy policy?

We value your privacy. Global Home Exchange does not publish your name, phone number, street address or email address in your listing unless you wish it to be there. Our system hides your personal contact information yet makes it possible for a potential home exchange partner to contact you directly from your listing 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Use of this homeexchange website constitutes acceptance of Global Home Exchange Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy