House Swap for Summer 2013 - Our Phiadelphia Mid Century for London Flat
Jan 20th, 2013, 08:00 AM
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House Swap for Summer 2013 - Our Phiadelphia Mid Century for London Flat
Hi!
We are hoping to spend 4-6 weeks in London (or environs) this summer, sometime between July and the end of September. We'd like to do a house swap. We can offer our amazing 1958 mid century modern home in the Philadelphia suburbs with a car.
Have any of you done this before? I'd love to hear experiences.
Feel free to respond and we can discuss.
Thanks!
We are hoping to spend 4-6 weeks in London (or environs) this summer, sometime between July and the end of September. We'd like to do a house swap. We can offer our amazing 1958 mid century modern home in the Philadelphia suburbs with a car.
Have any of you done this before? I'd love to hear experiences.
Feel free to respond and we can discuss.
Thanks!
Jan 20th, 2013, 11:05 AM
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I have a friend who has been trying to trade her NYC apt for about 7 years - and hasn't succeeded yet. Either the timing didn't work or she couldn;t find an equal trade (she was looking for a large 1 BR or 2 BR apt in central London, Paris or similar city.)
I think that if you are offering a house in the suburbs you are more likely to get trade offers in similar - rather than a city center apartment. And typically these exchanges take the best part of a year to work out.
Suggest you investigate several of the exchange sites. And be sure to understand issues like differences in expectations (apts in europe are typically small and kitchens often not what one would expect in the US) and details like pets, smoking, etc.
I think that if you are offering a house in the suburbs you are more likely to get trade offers in similar - rather than a city center apartment. And typically these exchanges take the best part of a year to work out.
Suggest you investigate several of the exchange sites. And be sure to understand issues like differences in expectations (apts in europe are typically small and kitchens often not what one would expect in the US) and details like pets, smoking, etc.
Jan 21st, 2013, 09:11 AM
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Hello
Swapping Homes for a vacation has been around since the 1950s and is becoming more and more popular as it is a great way to travel. To arrange a swap takes more time than a traditional vacation, so I suggest you start now, and the best thing to do, as already suggested, is to join a Home Exchange website but probably best to try a couple. There are lots of websites around, including ours, some are good, some are not so, and some are free although they do not always have contact rights so you have to wait to be approached by others. If you do join up, we always tell our members to be proactive by browsing what is on offer and make contact, don't just wait to receive offers.
I would also suggest that location is more important than the home itself. If you try and swap, like with like, as nytravelers friend above, you may never agree a swap.
I would also suggest if you are in contact with a potential swap partner, before the actual swap takes place, you must communicate with each other via email, telephone and skype and get to know them and you will probably end up good friends.
I am sure you will enjoy the experience and you will love London, such a great city.
All the best
Brian L
Swapping Homes for a vacation has been around since the 1950s and is becoming more and more popular as it is a great way to travel. To arrange a swap takes more time than a traditional vacation, so I suggest you start now, and the best thing to do, as already suggested, is to join a Home Exchange website but probably best to try a couple. There are lots of websites around, including ours, some are good, some are not so, and some are free although they do not always have contact rights so you have to wait to be approached by others. If you do join up, we always tell our members to be proactive by browsing what is on offer and make contact, don't just wait to receive offers.
I would also suggest that location is more important than the home itself. If you try and swap, like with like, as nytravelers friend above, you may never agree a swap.
I would also suggest if you are in contact with a potential swap partner, before the actual swap takes place, you must communicate with each other via email, telephone and skype and get to know them and you will probably end up good friends.
I am sure you will enjoy the experience and you will love London, such a great city.
All the best
Brian L
Jan 21st, 2013, 09:25 AM
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Agree that personal contacts are very important.
One of my friend's exchanges fall through only about 2 months out when she called them at an unexpected time and realized that the family had small children. (She has some antique furniture and didn't want a family with small kids - plus her apartment is suitable only for 4 people. Turned out the potential exchangers had 3 kids - 2 of them 5 and under.)
One of my friend's exchanges fall through only about 2 months out when she called them at an unexpected time and realized that the family had small children. (She has some antique furniture and didn't want a family with small kids - plus her apartment is suitable only for 4 people. Turned out the potential exchangers had 3 kids - 2 of them 5 and under.)
Jan 21st, 2013, 09:56 AM
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There have been plenty of threads here about home exchange in principle, with links to several different listings sites.
But the basic principle is that you would be well advised to take plenty of time to get to know prospective partners, clarify expectations on both sides, and so on. It may be getting a bit late for this summer; another possibility might be to focus on universities where academics might be looking to exchange for a sabbatical or vacation period - a quick Google turns up quite a lot of listing sites targetting that market. Or http://www.guardianhomeexchange.co.uk/
But the basic principle is that you would be well advised to take plenty of time to get to know prospective partners, clarify expectations on both sides, and so on. It may be getting a bit late for this summer; another possibility might be to focus on universities where academics might be looking to exchange for a sabbatical or vacation period - a quick Google turns up quite a lot of listing sites targetting that market. Or http://www.guardianhomeexchange.co.uk/
