Home Exchange the LSKahn Way
Apr 20th, 2004, 05:20 PM
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Home Exchange the LSKahn Way
I am posting my standard blurb on home exchange because I have had some recent email on the subject as a result of posting in response to someone else's home exchange experiences and a request on an old thread on the subject I sent to the top. Please note that some of the prices have gone up for the books (less if you do an online listing).
Here is the blurb, Part 1:
There I was in the taxi in 1993, my 12 year-old son and 14-year-old daughter in tow, wondering if I'd done the right thing. At Charles De Gaulle Airport, the taxi driver had said he knew where Montmorency was. Once inside the cab, however, it was clear that he had only a slightly better idea than I did of the location of the house that would be our home for three and a half weeks. He handed me a fat book of maps of Paris suburbs and instructed me to look up the town and find the street. While we drove around looking for the well hidden street, whose street sign was obscured by shrubbery, his meter continued to run. By the time we arrived at our house, the meter read 250Ff--about $50 American. We were off and running on what has become an annual event for me. Each summer in August, I home exchange.
With home exchanges I have been able to travel at far less expense than if I had stayed in hotels--even with a little extra cab fare. For our month in France in 1993, I spent just about $3,500 for myself and the 2 children. If I had had to consider a vacation of similar length staying in hotels, the price would have caused me to stay on my side of the Atlantic.
Home exchange planning starts in September--or even earlier--for the following summer. There are two major home exchange directories, Intervac and HomeLink. Each publishes a series of directories, the first one of which comes out just before Christmas. It is from the celebrated "Book 1" that most exchange deals are cut. Listings include homes from all over the world, but are mainly concentrated in the US, Canada, and Western Europe.
In the past, the dealing did not begin until the day the book arrived. The internet has changed all that. Now the offers come in all year and I often am all set before the book arrives. Most of the pros--those who have been doing it for years--have their deals cut within a week or two of the day Book 1 arrives--if they do not have it earlier. The e-mail, telephone, calls and faxes go fast and furious, a large telephone bill in December being part of the cost of the vacation. Please remember, once you cut a deal you can't simply back out because you get a better offer. That simply isn't kosher. Once I commit, that's it for the year--even if a villa in the Greek Isles comes my way at a later date. As more and more exchangers get e-mail addresses deals are being cut online. Both books are now on the internet.
Here is the blurb, Part 1:
There I was in the taxi in 1993, my 12 year-old son and 14-year-old daughter in tow, wondering if I'd done the right thing. At Charles De Gaulle Airport, the taxi driver had said he knew where Montmorency was. Once inside the cab, however, it was clear that he had only a slightly better idea than I did of the location of the house that would be our home for three and a half weeks. He handed me a fat book of maps of Paris suburbs and instructed me to look up the town and find the street. While we drove around looking for the well hidden street, whose street sign was obscured by shrubbery, his meter continued to run. By the time we arrived at our house, the meter read 250Ff--about $50 American. We were off and running on what has become an annual event for me. Each summer in August, I home exchange.
With home exchanges I have been able to travel at far less expense than if I had stayed in hotels--even with a little extra cab fare. For our month in France in 1993, I spent just about $3,500 for myself and the 2 children. If I had had to consider a vacation of similar length staying in hotels, the price would have caused me to stay on my side of the Atlantic.
Home exchange planning starts in September--or even earlier--for the following summer. There are two major home exchange directories, Intervac and HomeLink. Each publishes a series of directories, the first one of which comes out just before Christmas. It is from the celebrated "Book 1" that most exchange deals are cut. Listings include homes from all over the world, but are mainly concentrated in the US, Canada, and Western Europe.
In the past, the dealing did not begin until the day the book arrived. The internet has changed all that. Now the offers come in all year and I often am all set before the book arrives. Most of the pros--those who have been doing it for years--have their deals cut within a week or two of the day Book 1 arrives--if they do not have it earlier. The e-mail, telephone, calls and faxes go fast and furious, a large telephone bill in December being part of the cost of the vacation. Please remember, once you cut a deal you can't simply back out because you get a better offer. That simply isn't kosher. Once I commit, that's it for the year--even if a villa in the Greek Isles comes my way at a later date. As more and more exchangers get e-mail addresses deals are being cut online. Both books are now on the internet.
Apr 20th, 2004, 05:22 PM
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The web sites for the books can be accessed with these hyperlinks:
http://www.Intervac.com
http://www.homelink.org
In order to have access to the listings, however, you do need to be a member.
In 1993, the year I had the adventure in the taxi on the way to the house in Montmorency, the deal did not come easily. In fact, the telephone offer of a deal from the French family did not come until April 15th. At that point I had just about given up exchanging that summer. Having just written a check for income taxes, and knowing I did not have the money, the offer was simply one I couldn't refuse.
In exchange for my modest four-bedroom townhouse with all modern conveniences, I got an enormous old French farmhouse with the usual miniature European washer and dryer with the usual indecipherable multitude of buttons. We exchanged cars as well. They got my Ford Taurus station wagon; I got their manual shift Renault four-seater. If you want equity, don't exchange.
Actually, it was debatable who got the better part of the deal. What the French house lacked in conveniences, it made up for in charm. The house dated back to at least the 18th century, and the kids immediately pronounced it a chateau. A chateau it wasn't, but a similar house could not be found in the U.S. It had about 15 rooms, exposed stone walls and a wonderful garden. When I asked the French family after the exchange how they could afford to heat the place in the winter, they replied, "We wear a lot of sweaters." Needless to say, I was very glad to be there in the summer.
If you exchange cars overseas, you will almost certainly be driving a manual transmission. Fortunately, this did not daunt us, once I mastered French driving and stopped getting lost all the time. I discovered that French streets change names almost on every block, and eventually plunked down $50 for the same thick book of Paris suburban maps the taxi driver had. By the end of the vacation I was driving around the Boulevard Peripherique with the best of them. As for our well hidden street, I eventually snuck out late at night with a pair of hedge trimmers and liberated the street sign. Some German friends were coming to visit and I wanted to make it a bit easier for them to find our house than it had been for us.
In general, I found it an advantage to be located well outside of Paris. The suburbs are a much more convenient jump-off point if you want to take day trips. Besides, being out of Paris meant that our surroundings were more French. We certainly never ran into any American tourists in Montmorency.
If you plan on an exchange any European country, it is helpful to have a working knowledge of the local language. My French is passable, but there are still plenty of words I don't know. On one trip to the supermarket I spent a long time looking for aluminum foil. I tried asking for it, but didn't know what the French words were for it. (It's "papier aluminium", in case you wondered.) I have, however, exchanged three times in Germany with great success. My knowledge of German is laughable and helped by a phrase book--and jumping up and down in case of utter frustration. The most important thing is to keep your sense of humor when things don't go right.
Certainly there were frustrations in France--not to mention dealing with kids who very quickly learned that the word "fete" meant there was a fair with amusement park rides somewhere nearby. The funniest experience happened one day as I had just finished taking a shower. There was a loud rapping at the front door. My 12-year-old son, who knew not a word of French, answered the door, as I hurriedly threw on a bathrobe borrowed from our hosts' clothing. "Service des Eaux", announced the man.
I stopped dead, thought for a minute, and realized it was the water meter reader. In old houses, he told me, the meter was often inside the house. I told him to do what he needed to do and quickly got dressed. My son was admonished to leave the door-opening to me in the future.
When it was time to return home, we had had ample time to sample both Paris and suburban tourist sites, many of which were not on the usual tourist itinerary, but just as interesting as the ones that were. Far from being ordinary tourists, we had also sampled the French way of life.
http://www.Intervac.com
http://www.homelink.org
In order to have access to the listings, however, you do need to be a member.
In 1993, the year I had the adventure in the taxi on the way to the house in Montmorency, the deal did not come easily. In fact, the telephone offer of a deal from the French family did not come until April 15th. At that point I had just about given up exchanging that summer. Having just written a check for income taxes, and knowing I did not have the money, the offer was simply one I couldn't refuse.
In exchange for my modest four-bedroom townhouse with all modern conveniences, I got an enormous old French farmhouse with the usual miniature European washer and dryer with the usual indecipherable multitude of buttons. We exchanged cars as well. They got my Ford Taurus station wagon; I got their manual shift Renault four-seater. If you want equity, don't exchange.
Actually, it was debatable who got the better part of the deal. What the French house lacked in conveniences, it made up for in charm. The house dated back to at least the 18th century, and the kids immediately pronounced it a chateau. A chateau it wasn't, but a similar house could not be found in the U.S. It had about 15 rooms, exposed stone walls and a wonderful garden. When I asked the French family after the exchange how they could afford to heat the place in the winter, they replied, "We wear a lot of sweaters." Needless to say, I was very glad to be there in the summer.
If you exchange cars overseas, you will almost certainly be driving a manual transmission. Fortunately, this did not daunt us, once I mastered French driving and stopped getting lost all the time. I discovered that French streets change names almost on every block, and eventually plunked down $50 for the same thick book of Paris suburban maps the taxi driver had. By the end of the vacation I was driving around the Boulevard Peripherique with the best of them. As for our well hidden street, I eventually snuck out late at night with a pair of hedge trimmers and liberated the street sign. Some German friends were coming to visit and I wanted to make it a bit easier for them to find our house than it had been for us.
In general, I found it an advantage to be located well outside of Paris. The suburbs are a much more convenient jump-off point if you want to take day trips. Besides, being out of Paris meant that our surroundings were more French. We certainly never ran into any American tourists in Montmorency.
If you plan on an exchange any European country, it is helpful to have a working knowledge of the local language. My French is passable, but there are still plenty of words I don't know. On one trip to the supermarket I spent a long time looking for aluminum foil. I tried asking for it, but didn't know what the French words were for it. (It's "papier aluminium", in case you wondered.) I have, however, exchanged three times in Germany with great success. My knowledge of German is laughable and helped by a phrase book--and jumping up and down in case of utter frustration. The most important thing is to keep your sense of humor when things don't go right.
Certainly there were frustrations in France--not to mention dealing with kids who very quickly learned that the word "fete" meant there was a fair with amusement park rides somewhere nearby. The funniest experience happened one day as I had just finished taking a shower. There was a loud rapping at the front door. My 12-year-old son, who knew not a word of French, answered the door, as I hurriedly threw on a bathrobe borrowed from our hosts' clothing. "Service des Eaux", announced the man.
I stopped dead, thought for a minute, and realized it was the water meter reader. In old houses, he told me, the meter was often inside the house. I told him to do what he needed to do and quickly got dressed. My son was admonished to leave the door-opening to me in the future.
When it was time to return home, we had had ample time to sample both Paris and suburban tourist sites, many of which were not on the usual tourist itinerary, but just as interesting as the ones that were. Far from being ordinary tourists, we had also sampled the French way of life.
Apr 20th, 2004, 05:29 PM
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I have exchanged 3 times in France now; besides Montmorency, my exchanges were in Tours and Pulnoy (a small town north of Nancy). I have been to England 2 times (outside London and in North Yorkshire), Scotland (Edinburgh and just outside of Edinburgh in South Queensferry) twice and Germany three times (a small town in the Black Forest, Berlin and Hamburg). In August 2004, I will be spending 3 weeks outside of Denver, CO. Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11/01, it has been much harder to get overseas exchanges. The downturn in tourism--and the fear of flying--have affected everyone traveling.
I have also exchanged twice in Canada and numerous times all over the US. I have a sort of regular Christmas gig in Long Beach, CA, with some folks who have grandchildren near me. It is sort of like having a vacation house.
IF YOU EXCHANGE YOUR HOUSE
You will want to write out precise directions to all the appliances in your house. No matter how extensive the instructions I leave, it is never enough. American appliances are just as much a mystery to Europeans as theirs are to Americans. Lack of familiarity can lead to repairs when you get home.
You will also need to spend some time cleaning your home to make it habitable for your exchangees--and cleaning up theirs at the end of the exchange. Sometimes exchangers trade cleaning women as well as homes, but I have never had such luck.
If you are exchanging cars, your insurance should cover your visitors and their insurance should cover you. I leave a letter in my car stating that my guests are using the car with my permission in case anything untoward happens. In about exchanges, I have never had significant damage to my car. I have, however, had some occasional problems with European cars. I do take the view that if it is my fault, I simply get it repaired. If, on the other hand, it is a mechanical failure, there may be some e-mail or telephone calls concerning the matter. You should discuss all of this ahead of time.
While this sort of vacation arrangement is great for me, it is not necessarily recommended for everyone. If you are fanatically clean, you may be dissatisfied with what you get. Moreover, in describing homes, everyone tries to put his in its best light. If the house is next to the garbage dump, chances are you will not know until you arrive.
Please remember that you cannot be rigid in your choice of destination. I take the view that I can go almost anyplace I haven't been (and many I have) and have a good time. If you get your heart set on a particular place--and keep waiting until you get it--you could end up empty handed. I do confine my efforts mostly to online people now, as a deal is usually cut so fast that it doesn't pay to write letters and wait for responses. I generally take the first serious offer that comes my way. If I have written to the people, it is because I have selected that destination as a possibility. If they take me up on it, that's it. As soon as my plans are set, I do let everyone else waiting in the wings know that I am no longer interested because I am all set.
I have discovered that the most important thing is not where you go, but a home that fits your needs. If you are exchanging with children, look for exchangers with similarly aged children. Your children will have an entirely new array of toys with which to entertain themselves when you are not touring. If you are retired, on the other hand, you will probably want to look to other retired people. There are plenty of listings for apartments, so don't feel that home exchange excludes you if you live in an apartment.
Please remember that you are more likely to get a foreign home exchange in countries where there are more listings in the directories. If there is only one house listed in Kenya, you probably are not going there. This year tons of people want to go to Greece for the 2004 Olympics. Most of them are going to be disappointed, as are the people who insist on Provence or Tuscany. There are only so many listings. The directories have a lot more European listings in Great Britain and France than anywhere else. If you just want to enroll in one directory, HomeLink has relatively more US listings (and also more Australian ones) than Intervac. Intervac does have, however, many more European listings. I can never make out my mind and simply pay for both. It costs about $100 to list in each if you order a copy of the book--a little more if you put in a photo of your home.
I have also exchanged twice in Canada and numerous times all over the US. I have a sort of regular Christmas gig in Long Beach, CA, with some folks who have grandchildren near me. It is sort of like having a vacation house.
IF YOU EXCHANGE YOUR HOUSE
You will want to write out precise directions to all the appliances in your house. No matter how extensive the instructions I leave, it is never enough. American appliances are just as much a mystery to Europeans as theirs are to Americans. Lack of familiarity can lead to repairs when you get home.
You will also need to spend some time cleaning your home to make it habitable for your exchangees--and cleaning up theirs at the end of the exchange. Sometimes exchangers trade cleaning women as well as homes, but I have never had such luck.
If you are exchanging cars, your insurance should cover your visitors and their insurance should cover you. I leave a letter in my car stating that my guests are using the car with my permission in case anything untoward happens. In about exchanges, I have never had significant damage to my car. I have, however, had some occasional problems with European cars. I do take the view that if it is my fault, I simply get it repaired. If, on the other hand, it is a mechanical failure, there may be some e-mail or telephone calls concerning the matter. You should discuss all of this ahead of time.
While this sort of vacation arrangement is great for me, it is not necessarily recommended for everyone. If you are fanatically clean, you may be dissatisfied with what you get. Moreover, in describing homes, everyone tries to put his in its best light. If the house is next to the garbage dump, chances are you will not know until you arrive.
Please remember that you cannot be rigid in your choice of destination. I take the view that I can go almost anyplace I haven't been (and many I have) and have a good time. If you get your heart set on a particular place--and keep waiting until you get it--you could end up empty handed. I do confine my efforts mostly to online people now, as a deal is usually cut so fast that it doesn't pay to write letters and wait for responses. I generally take the first serious offer that comes my way. If I have written to the people, it is because I have selected that destination as a possibility. If they take me up on it, that's it. As soon as my plans are set, I do let everyone else waiting in the wings know that I am no longer interested because I am all set.
I have discovered that the most important thing is not where you go, but a home that fits your needs. If you are exchanging with children, look for exchangers with similarly aged children. Your children will have an entirely new array of toys with which to entertain themselves when you are not touring. If you are retired, on the other hand, you will probably want to look to other retired people. There are plenty of listings for apartments, so don't feel that home exchange excludes you if you live in an apartment.
Please remember that you are more likely to get a foreign home exchange in countries where there are more listings in the directories. If there is only one house listed in Kenya, you probably are not going there. This year tons of people want to go to Greece for the 2004 Olympics. Most of them are going to be disappointed, as are the people who insist on Provence or Tuscany. There are only so many listings. The directories have a lot more European listings in Great Britain and France than anywhere else. If you just want to enroll in one directory, HomeLink has relatively more US listings (and also more Australian ones) than Intervac. Intervac does have, however, many more European listings. I can never make out my mind and simply pay for both. It costs about $100 to list in each if you order a copy of the book--a little more if you put in a photo of your home.
Apr 20th, 2004, 05:52 PM
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Lauren, thanks for the detailed information. I have been considering a home exchange as a way to afford traveling in the summer months. While my husband is a schoolteacher and off for the summer I only have a week or possibly two for vacation. Is that a workable time frame for a home exchange? I imagine my home on Cape Cod would be desirable for someone from Europe.
Apr 20th, 2004, 06:08 PM
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Most European exchanges occur in the summer and are for 2-4 weeks. Having said that, that is just a general rule. Your success or failure at finding an exchange depends on finding someone whose needs fit yours.
Some people who want to stay longer than their first exchange organize a second exchange to do this. I have done this twice. Right now, however, it is hard for me to be away for longer than 2-3 weeks due to my job so I would only look for one exchange in that time frame.
In France, many exchangers get the entire month of August off because that is the French way. If you cannot accomodate a full month exchange, it may be more difficult.
Your house on Cape Cod would be attractive to a lot of people, especially those with children. I exchanged there once myself. The exchange was in Cotuit, MA, by the way.
Some people who want to stay longer than their first exchange organize a second exchange to do this. I have done this twice. Right now, however, it is hard for me to be away for longer than 2-3 weeks due to my job so I would only look for one exchange in that time frame.
In France, many exchangers get the entire month of August off because that is the French way. If you cannot accomodate a full month exchange, it may be more difficult.
Your house on Cape Cod would be attractive to a lot of people, especially those with children. I exchanged there once myself. The exchange was in Cotuit, MA, by the way.
Apr 22nd, 2004, 05:47 AM
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My parents have exchanged their Black Forest house three times now for a house in the U.S. The websites, which allow you to browse the listings for free are www.homeexchange.com and www.homexchange.com (one with two e's, one with only one e). They stayed in the US house for two weeks but made their house available for 3 weeks or longer.
Apr 22nd, 2004, 06:12 AM
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What a great thread.
I remember someone asked about home exchange and I was checking thread- never been answered. I hope this person here now and satisfied as I am.
Off to check those websites.
Thanks, LaurenSKahn
I remember someone asked about home exchange and I was checking thread- never been answered. I hope this person here now and satisfied as I am.
Off to check those websites.
Thanks, LaurenSKahn
Apr 22nd, 2004, 07:14 PM
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I try and answer questions on home exchange if I see them. I am also happy to answer individual questions if you send me email.
Insofar as HomeLink and Intervac are concerned, they are worth the money due to the number of members. Home exchange services must have a lot of members to increase the chance of getting a deal. Lots of the free services have small data bases. I regard the price of my annual subscription as part of the cost of the vacation and find HomeLink and Intervac well worth the cost.
Insofar as HomeLink and Intervac are concerned, they are worth the money due to the number of members. Home exchange services must have a lot of members to increase the chance of getting a deal. Lots of the free services have small data bases. I regard the price of my annual subscription as part of the cost of the vacation and find HomeLink and Intervac well worth the cost.
Apr 23rd, 2004, 02:05 AM
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My question regarding house exchange programs is: Do you empty out the contents of your drawers and closets? I am interested in persuing but curious to know what needs to be done in advance besides cleaning.
BTW, I live in Nijmegen, Netherlands -- if anyone wants to stay in a modern 2 bedroom beautiful apartment, just let me know.
Margarita
BTW, I live in Nijmegen, Netherlands -- if anyone wants to stay in a modern 2 bedroom beautiful apartment, just let me know.
Margarita
Apr 23rd, 2004, 04:24 AM
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You need to make enough space in your drawers and closts for the posessions of the exchangers -- who, fortunately, are probably bringing the same amount of stuff that you are taking! I usually empty at least one bureau drawer into a box and stick it in the back of the closet, and leave a few empty hangers in the closet.
But this is one detail that can be straightened out quickly thanks to e-mails between exchangers -- just ask! Every exchange is unique in its own way, and new exchangers would be wise to start off by exchanging with experienced ones the first few times.
But this is one detail that can be straightened out quickly thanks to e-mails between exchangers -- just ask! Every exchange is unique in its own way, and new exchangers would be wise to start off by exchanging with experienced ones the first few times.
Apr 28th, 2004, 05:58 PM
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Margarita, I would be happy to exchange my home outside Washington, DC, for yours in The Netherlands sometime during the summer of 2005. If you are interested, you can email me directly by clicking on my email address.
While I have been to The Netherlands I have never gotten a home exchange there. Experienced home exchangers are delighted to exchange in places other than London and Paris. It is wise for anyone considering this to note that the entire continent of Europe is a museum. Wherever you end up, there is always plenty to do.
I have gotten a few exchanges from the internet just because I am known online for home exchanging, but all of my internet exchanges have been within the US. I have had a great time wherever I have gone.
I do clean out a few drawers for my exchangers and make room in a closet, but, no I don't automatically haul all the jewelry to the bank or lock things up. I have never had a problem with people rifling through my personal papers, etc. No one exchanges to be nosey. They exchange to have a great vacation at a relatively inexpensive price.
While I have been to The Netherlands I have never gotten a home exchange there. Experienced home exchangers are delighted to exchange in places other than London and Paris. It is wise for anyone considering this to note that the entire continent of Europe is a museum. Wherever you end up, there is always plenty to do.
I have gotten a few exchanges from the internet just because I am known online for home exchanging, but all of my internet exchanges have been within the US. I have had a great time wherever I have gone.
I do clean out a few drawers for my exchangers and make room in a closet, but, no I don't automatically haul all the jewelry to the bank or lock things up. I have never had a problem with people rifling through my personal papers, etc. No one exchanges to be nosey. They exchange to have a great vacation at a relatively inexpensive price.
Apr 29th, 2004, 12:01 AM
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Lauren, have you ever had people leave things in a mess or in bad repair? I would be worried about that, plus when living at the other home I would be worried about not leaving it in a satisfactory state. Do you exchange cars also? Do you get extra insurance for this? But if you have done it successfully for so long, you obviously have worked out these details.
Apr 29th, 2004, 10:53 AM
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To answer the last poster's questions:
1. Yes, I have come back to a mess ONCE. It was some French people who were at fault. They took the fact that they knew I would have my cleaning woman come in and clean after they left as an invitation not to do any cleaning in 3 weeks. Awful. The kitchen was a mess and my cleaning woman got her days mixed up and came the day after I got back instead of the day the home exchangers left. We worked together to clean up the place.
After that experience in 1993, I drew a more careful "road map" for exchangers on what I expected from them and have never had a similar problem.
Differences in what people regard as "clean" cause most of the problems. I would say I am about in the middle concerning this but more to the "clean" end. Crazy clean people and/or total slobs would have trouble exchanging. You do have to be prepared to tolerate homes that are not exactly up to your standard and just ignore things. I would point out that I have stayed in hotels in Europe that were less than up to par as well. Those hotels have cost a lot more than home exchange homes.
2. Yes, I do exchange cars. In fact, I generally will refuse an exchange unless a car is offered because doing lots of day trips is often the best part of the trip.
I make an exception to this policy if someone actually lives in, say, the center of a major city and I would be using public transport anyway. I once exchanged with people in Berlin who did not have a car. They gave me a ticket for public transport (and wonderful neighbors who took me to every outlying site I could want to see) and I did give them the keys to my car. I live in the DC suburbs. Because I have to drive to Metro here, exchanging without a car really would not have resulted in a great vacation for the Berliners.
At first, I notified my insurance company. They were not happy. Because American insurance covers anyone driving your car with your permission, I simply stick a note in my car stating "Mr. & Mrs. X have permission to drive my car between [dates]." There are occasional car problems on both ends, but that goes with the territory. Your car can breakdown even when you are driving it.
Foreigners work out their insurance as appropriate. That is up to them.
If it is a breakdown and the car needs maintenance, we generally have mutual agreement that the owner of the car will reimburse for the rental that results. This is dealt with in a lot of email beforehand as getting in touch while the exchange is in process is often difficult.
Because I have done so many exchanges, I have plenty of folks who will give my home a reference via email. I also give my exchangees references if they ask.
Even with the clean up that resulted from the French folks, I really have never had a bad experience. My cleaning woman is given a bonus for cleaning up after exchangers as there is no way to know if she will face extra work in advance. Most of the time, however, the exchangers do most of the cleaning up and my cleaning woman has it easy. That is fine with me. I like to keep that wonderful lady happy as she has worked for me over 20 years.
Please note that the main commitment that you must make to take full advantage of a trip based on home exchange is to stay in one place. If you start running around long distances and paying for hotels, it does belie the purpose of exchanging.
1. Yes, I have come back to a mess ONCE. It was some French people who were at fault. They took the fact that they knew I would have my cleaning woman come in and clean after they left as an invitation not to do any cleaning in 3 weeks. Awful. The kitchen was a mess and my cleaning woman got her days mixed up and came the day after I got back instead of the day the home exchangers left. We worked together to clean up the place.
After that experience in 1993, I drew a more careful "road map" for exchangers on what I expected from them and have never had a similar problem.
Differences in what people regard as "clean" cause most of the problems. I would say I am about in the middle concerning this but more to the "clean" end. Crazy clean people and/or total slobs would have trouble exchanging. You do have to be prepared to tolerate homes that are not exactly up to your standard and just ignore things. I would point out that I have stayed in hotels in Europe that were less than up to par as well. Those hotels have cost a lot more than home exchange homes.
2. Yes, I do exchange cars. In fact, I generally will refuse an exchange unless a car is offered because doing lots of day trips is often the best part of the trip.
I make an exception to this policy if someone actually lives in, say, the center of a major city and I would be using public transport anyway. I once exchanged with people in Berlin who did not have a car. They gave me a ticket for public transport (and wonderful neighbors who took me to every outlying site I could want to see) and I did give them the keys to my car. I live in the DC suburbs. Because I have to drive to Metro here, exchanging without a car really would not have resulted in a great vacation for the Berliners.
At first, I notified my insurance company. They were not happy. Because American insurance covers anyone driving your car with your permission, I simply stick a note in my car stating "Mr. & Mrs. X have permission to drive my car between [dates]." There are occasional car problems on both ends, but that goes with the territory. Your car can breakdown even when you are driving it.
Foreigners work out their insurance as appropriate. That is up to them.
If it is a breakdown and the car needs maintenance, we generally have mutual agreement that the owner of the car will reimburse for the rental that results. This is dealt with in a lot of email beforehand as getting in touch while the exchange is in process is often difficult.
Because I have done so many exchanges, I have plenty of folks who will give my home a reference via email. I also give my exchangees references if they ask.
Even with the clean up that resulted from the French folks, I really have never had a bad experience. My cleaning woman is given a bonus for cleaning up after exchangers as there is no way to know if she will face extra work in advance. Most of the time, however, the exchangers do most of the cleaning up and my cleaning woman has it easy. That is fine with me. I like to keep that wonderful lady happy as she has worked for me over 20 years.
Please note that the main commitment that you must make to take full advantage of a trip based on home exchange is to stay in one place. If you start running around long distances and paying for hotels, it does belie the purpose of exchanging.
Aug 2nd, 2004, 09:19 AM
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I love your thread. My Dad and I have done numerous Home Exchanges. All have been pleasant but I think sometimes we do not ask enough questions before hand i.e. our last exchange was great but there was no TV and only dial up Internet. We ended up paying for what we used on the Internet. I think you have to figure out what is important to have in an exchange. We tend to jump at the first one. We use homeexchange.com, I find that it does not have a lot of listings. When the membership expires I would like to try a different service.
Aug 2nd, 2004, 11:37 AM
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Lauren, thanks so much for the info!! I am going to save this and put it in a file. What a wonderful concept!!!! Since we have lots of time (retired) this could be just the thing for us.... Can't wait. I am sooooo excited. Do you think a Fort Lauderdale Townhome with pool and dock with a close beach walk, AND a walk to the Galleria Mall with Neimans and Saks Borders and restaurants approx.a half mile, could home exchange well?
Aug 2nd, 2004, 03:07 PM
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There is a TV series on British TV (currently being repeated) about home exchanging. Sometime minor cultural differences caus small problems, i.e. a born town-dweller was not very happy on an isolated island off Vancouver, but generally they seem to go very well.
There was only one real disaster reported, when a British couple stayed in a French house that was so dirty they tried to move out immmediately, only to find there was no other accomodation available in the town.
I would maybe like to try swapping, but as an elderly widower, would find it difficult to find a match.
In the past I have visited penpals in the US and Canada,either staying with them, or in a nearby motel. This gives a flavor of the way locals live their lives.To my regret none of then have made the effort to cross the pond in the other direction....reluctant to leave their comfort zone I guess.
There was only one real disaster reported, when a British couple stayed in a French house that was so dirty they tried to move out immmediately, only to find there was no other accomodation available in the town.
I would maybe like to try swapping, but as an elderly widower, would find it difficult to find a match.
In the past I have visited penpals in the US and Canada,either staying with them, or in a nearby motel. This gives a flavor of the way locals live their lives.To my regret none of then have made the effort to cross the pond in the other direction....reluctant to leave their comfort zone I guess.
Aug 2nd, 2004, 03:49 PM
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As an elderly widower, you can find a swap match if your home can accommodate two adults.
Actually, most swappers would prefer to swap with you rather than with some family that has a bunch of kids -- to them, you represent a minimum of wear-and-tear on everything from their bicycles to their knicknacks!
Actually, most swappers would prefer to swap with you rather than with some family that has a bunch of kids -- to them, you represent a minimum of wear-and-tear on everything from their bicycles to their knicknacks!
Aug 2nd, 2004, 03:50 PM
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This is LaurenSKahn with a different name.
Remember the French folks who left my house in a bit of a mess in 1993? Well it is now August 2004 and guess who called me tonight? They are exchanging again in my area and we are getting together on Sunday. What we will do will depend on the weather but I know they are going to eat Maryland crabs.
Home exchanging provides unending contacts this way. When old home exchangers turn up, it is sort of like reconnecting with old high school friends.
The French people spent much of their time on weekends in 1993 going to yard sales when they were in the US and buying junk they definitely did not need. I remember one of their grand purchases was an American mailbox (the kind with the little red flag). I have no idea what they did with it in France. I doubt the mailman would have known what to do with it over there.
I am hoping for good weather on Sunday. We have had a lot of rainy weather on the East Coast recently.
Remember the French folks who left my house in a bit of a mess in 1993? Well it is now August 2004 and guess who called me tonight? They are exchanging again in my area and we are getting together on Sunday. What we will do will depend on the weather but I know they are going to eat Maryland crabs.
Home exchanging provides unending contacts this way. When old home exchangers turn up, it is sort of like reconnecting with old high school friends.
The French people spent much of their time on weekends in 1993 going to yard sales when they were in the US and buying junk they definitely did not need. I remember one of their grand purchases was an American mailbox (the kind with the little red flag). I have no idea what they did with it in France. I doubt the mailman would have known what to do with it over there.
I am hoping for good weather on Sunday. We have had a lot of rainy weather on the East Coast recently.
