You are not going to have an easy time exchanging in Nashville with Europeans unless you find country & western fans. They all seem to want to go to NYC, DC or SF. I am fortunate to live in the DC suburbs.

Insofar as cleaning out drawers, I do that, but I no longer have a safe deposit box. I gave that up when I cleaned out all the kids savings bonds, etc., and gave them to them. The jewelry is in the house, but I have to add, I don't own anything like the Hope diamond to worry about. My jewelry has more sentimental value than anything else.

If you want an exchange for, say, a week with another place within the US, you might find some takers more easily than with Europeans. I, for example, have never been to Nashville, and wouldn't mind a one week swap there. I will exchange most anywhere I have never been, but I have been a lot of places. LOL.

Bumping this up . . .

I live a mile north of D.C., so I figure my big ol' house might be perfect for an exchange. There's just one problem.

The idea of allowing another family to drive my car around here freaks me out. There are red-light and speed cameras all over, and the bill for any tickets goes to the owner (yeah, you can declare that someone else was driving, but I imagine you can only get away with this so often). And the parking tickets would be mine to pay no matter what, and I wouldnh't learn about them until the security was returned.

And what happens if they damage something really big?

Just curious about how these sorts of things work . . .

mark

I have done 33 home exchanges and have never had a problem with someone not paying for damage--or even doing much more than breaking a dish. In the rare instance where I have done something to someone else's car, I have always paid for it and vice versa; one time I fixed the car and never told them about it; it was minor. People do not get into this to exchanging to deliberately trash others' homes or steal. The fact is that your house is safer with someone in it than empty.

My 34th exchange is presently scheduled for Brisbane, Australia, in 2008. No one has bought tickets yet because it is a year off, so everything is tentative until we do that. We have discussed buying tickets about January 1st. Generally, everyone locks in together.

I have never got a ticket on a home exchange or given anyone else trouble with one. Basically, everyone is careful, but you cannot avoid all glitches. Houses can have things that break--and so can cars. Nothing in life is perfect. If something happens, you do have to deal with it. If you stay in hotels and rent cars, things can happen as well.

Just want to say thanks again for very generous posting on this thread. Faux, you're for real. That goes for you other experienced exchangers.

cindysphinx,

Exchanging a car in a home exchange is not always necessary. It does "bump up" your desirability as an exchange partner, but if you feel uncomfortable, perhaps you could offer a public transportation pass (if there is one in your area) or just leave great information about the public transportation in the area.

Many people use forms, such as the one available on Know Your Trade (http://knowyourtrade.com/forms.htm) to set up an understanding all who is responsible for damages. As Faux points out, home exchangers are usually honest and respectful of other people's things. When damages occur, it is usually resolved between the parties.

Recently we had an incident such as you mention. Our exchange partner was from Florence, Italy. He damaged our car slightly and left us a note to tell us about it. It was then up to us to decide what to do. Since the damages were minor and the car was old, we decided to let it go. He was so grateful he bought us a nice gift.

You are correct in that your location would make be great for home exchange. Know Your Trade offers all kinds of information about exchanging and rates and reviews all the home exchange organizations. Take a look at:
http://www.knowyourtrade.com

If you are in a location that requires the use of a car (for example, to get to a subway stop to park to go into town) and do not offer a car as part of the exchange, you will have a great deal of difficulty getting a swap.

Everyone is nervous the first time they exchange. In fact, I am nervous every time I do an exchange. Will the key be where it is supposed to be? Will the house be decent? Will the car run? Everyone has these worries. You are not normal if you do not. However, if you have taken non exchange vacations, you have had incidents with beach houses that were left than perfect, rental cars that broke down, etc., etc. There is no guarantee of perfection in any vacation. In fact, sometimes it is the vacation disasters (and frequent travelers have all had them) that you remember best.

Hi Faux!

I read your blog about your recent home exchange. Sounds great (especially after you and your friend worked out a routine). Which brings up what you mentioned in this post: there are issues that sometimes come up on vacation (like what to do, as you and your friend experienced) whether or not one exchanges or stays in a hotel.

Home exchange is scary and one may have issues with the home or the trade or the car. BUT as you always point out so well, it is well worth it for the benefits! knowyourtrade.com points out all the benefits of home exchange as well.

The only thing that I kind of disagree with you on is the one that started this discussion: car exchanges. I do agree that a car exchange can be a deal maker in many cases, but I do not think that it is a deal breaker in most cases. I consider a car exchange a bonus, not a necessity. I do agree that if the home is located in a suburb with no transportation options than it would be a bit more problematic. But, another option might be to rent a car. Yes, it would add cost to the trip, but think of all the others ways money is saved!

Continued happy exchanging!

Leslie, the Exchange Queen from knowyourtrade.com

If the house or apartment is not directly on public transportation, denying me the use of a car is a deal breaker for me--as it is for many home exchangers. I do not want to be put to the extra expense of renting a car.

If you are going to get difficult about that, you will have difficulty getting a deal.

Hello fellow Home Swappers,

FauxSteMarie,

Love this post. We are just back from a delightful swap in the UK. Yes we DO live in San Diego, but I am much more interested in out of the way more unique destinations. We ended up in a great house on the Wirral on NW England. We swapped cars and we swapped pets. No problems..except the intial car/shifting for poor DH. He did great after a day and we all lived.
I have a firm belief that only certain people should do home exchanges.
1st: People who don't ask if there is some sort of investigation into the people. Forget it , stay in a hotel.
2nd People who are uptight about life in general..stay in a hotel.
3rd: People who believe everyone is out to steal their identity..stay at a hotel.
4th: People who think they are better, more valuable or incapable of flexibilty...stay in a hotel.
Home Exchaning is for the like minded pwople of the world who trust in humanity and hope for the best..if you don't...Stay in a HOTEL.
I LOVE EXCHANGING!

PEOPLE not PWOPLE. oops!

I used Homelink.org for the last swap. Worked well.

bookmark

tinabina, I have belonged to both Homelink and Intervac since 1990. My exchange in Austria came from Intervac. The deal in the works for next year (Brisbane, Australia) is from Homelink. I have gotten deals from both services. I also got at least one through answering questions on the internet.

I do agree that unusual destinations sometimes give you the most interesting experiences. I had one last recently on Vancouver Island (not to be confused with Vancouver the city) 2 1/2 hours north of Victoria. Wonderful swap!

People who are too uptight and suspicious cannot do this.

I love exchanging too, but I guess you figured that out.

Faux,

Yes!!The parents of the people with whom we most recently exchanged, have also exchanged to Vancouver Island. They loved it! We got to know the parents of our home exchangers during our trip and look forward to a visit from them in the near future. I have decided exchanges are a funny lot... a little more willing to see the good in a terrrible situation. We have kids and pets! Otherwise I would offer you an exchange anytime. Love all your writings and info. Very helpful and fun to read. If you have a chance ca you give me your top 10 favorite places to swap and why? thanks
Tina

I don't have a list of top ten places to swap and why. I will consider offers anywhere unless I have just been to the place. I will, for example, consider offers to places I have been if enough time has elapsed. You never, for example, exhaust the sites in and around London, Paris, Edinburgh, Rome, Vienna, Berlin, etc. Those are some of the places I have been on exchanges, by the way.

I have done a swap in San Diego but would gladly go again. Insofar as you are concerned, Tina, I do not mind kids in my house (but no babies/toddlers because I am no longer equipped with all the things people need), but I do not have pets and do not take care of anything other than tropical fish on an exchange. I just don't want the responsiblity when I am out and about. Living in the Washington, DC, suburbs, I never lack for offers. I suspect you don't either, Tina. San Diego is a wonderful place for a swap--especially for families who want access to the beach.

Great thread! And thank you everyone for all your info, esp FauxSteMarie. I live in a GREAT central location in DC proper three blocks from a metro station in a gorgeous condo (and have a car with parking space I am happy to offer) and have wanted to a home exchange, but my neighborhood is "transitional" and I have worried about that. It is a perfectly safe neighorhood--as safe or safer than DuPont, for instance--but it can look a little down at heel or intimidating to outsiders. I didn't want to not disclose this in a listing, but figured if I did nobody would be interested. I have been waiting for the neighborhood to transition but it is a slow process and I am getting impatient! Should I bother posting a listing with a "if you're not comfortable in urban surroundings you might not be happy with this, even though it is safe" disclaimer? Or continue to wait?

Not sure what you mean by "transitional", nicegirl - from what to what?

You can't tell what may affect prospective exchange partners till you've explored expectations. Stay factual in your listings, go into the impressionistic stuff later.

In general, you need to take time to get to know your prospective exchange partners and what they have to offer, and the same is true in reverse. You don't need to be upfront about absolutely everything in your home when you're advertising, but it's as well to make sure as you progress in discussions that any potential downside is mentioned. Both parties, after all, are likely to be in touch over several properties, especially if it's an exchange between big cities.

Bookmark

Thanks, Patrick. "Transitional" must be DC real estate lingo. At its most blunt, it means transitioning from crack houses to yuppie condos. Eight or ten years ago my neighborhood was not safe to enter. Now the drugs and guns are mostly gone (I never see evidence of either but I'm sure there's still some going on), but some empty and rundown buildings, poorly maintained sidewalks, and graffiti remain and most of the local businesses are downmarket liquor stores. The main problem for house-swapping is that the neighborhood looks worse than it is. It actually has less crime, especially fewer muggings, than upscale neighborhoods.

Hi Faux,
I loved your thread on Vienna and really appreciate this one too. We live in a northern suburb of Denver, CO. We're about an hour from the ski resorts, and an hour and fifteen minutes from Rocky Mountain National Park. Just off the top of your head, is our location something that you think many Europeans would be interested in? We have never considered a home exchange before, but it would really help lower the costs of traveling since hotels and B&Bs really add up when you travel for a few weeks.

Potential Home Exchangers...those interested should try checking out some swapping websites. Homelink.org let's you look around the site as a visitor and see where people want to visit. You may suprised! Lots of people who swap have a wide variety of interests and like FauxSteMarie stated, you ca definateley "sell" your home and location. Throwing in car exchanges and tickets to local events can help too. It doesn't hurt to try. Most of these websites are under $100 to join for a year. That is a small investment for a possibly huge payback of lodging and car usage. Have fun.

Of course, Denver is a saleable location. I have exchanged myself in that area a couple of times (in Silverthorne and between Denver and Colorado Springs. Any location is saleable.

To the lady with a transitional neighborhood home in DC: Well, I don't think I would want your home if I were a European, but some Europeans might. As PatrickLondon said, you do not need to disclose everything up front, but some of it will come out in all the emails you will have once a deal is cut.

Your listing could read, "Nice condo in big city neighborhood near subway. Access to everything, etc." You don't write a doctoral dissertation on your house when you list it. LOL.

In Vienna I was in a transitional neighborhood (translation: there were lots of Turks and other immigrants in my neighborhood). It was fine. While I might not have wanted to LIVE there, it was fine for sightseeing. After all, I was just sleeping in the place, showering, etc. I wasn't hosting a wedding there.

Both the place near Denver and the place near DC would be great swap locations. As Faux points out, it is not necessary to disclose everything in your listing, but I would definitely tell the truth about your neighborhood in the discussions that follow with the exchanger. Perhaps when you are in discussion, you could point them to the crime statistics that you mention in your post.

As for home exchange clubs to join, that is what www.knowyourtrade.com does well. Many of our visitors are amazed by the number of home exchange clubs out there. While the press seems to favor the "big three" (Intervac, Homelink, and HomeExchange.com), there are many other clubs out there that might be worth taking a look at. Some are smaller, but offer very personal service. Some are new, with very advanced map based searches. Some are open - non-members can contact members, others closed. It is really worth browsing through and looking at the features of the clubs. Many people join more than one to increase the possibility of an exchange.

I try hard to spread the word about home exchange,through www.knowyourtrade.com as do other people like Faux. She does a wonderful job on this forum keeping people informed. After all, the more home exchangers there are, the more places we home exchangers have to explore!

I don't know about all those smaller clubs with personal service. The key for me is the number of members. If a service has thousands of members, your chances of getting a swap are better than if there are only a few hundred. Many experienced exchangers belong to more than one club. When I first started doing this (before the internet in 1990) there were only two services: Homelink and Intervac. I couldn't make up my mind which was better, so I joined both of them. I have gotten exchanges through both of them. For example, Vienna this year was from Intervac. Brisbane, Australia, next year is from Homelink. I even got one through an AOL message board one time near Austin, Texas. When I answer questions on this, my first question is always, "Where do YOU live?" Anyone anywhere can be an exchange possibility. A deal does not have to come through a club.

By the way, I am an agent for Intervac. That means I can get you a discount if you want to join Intervac. It does mean that, if I sign up 5 members, I would get a free membership, but that is all. I am saying this up front, so you know what the deal is. If you want to join Intervac, however, I have a code that would give you the discount. I have no similar deal with Homelink, but I endorse that service as well (especially because it is much more active in Australia and New Zealand than Intervac is).

I have been referring people to these two services for years. While I have heard good things about some of the other services, I just do not feel the need to sign up for more than the two I have dealt with for years. You only need one swap a year for the most part and it is not economic to sign up with more services.

Anyone interested in this wonderful way of vacationing should investigate all the services and ask questions.

If you want to enroll with Intervac and want the code for the discount, you can email me at [email protected]. I haven't signed anyone up yet. Ha! I do have some brochures for Intervac and could mail one to anyone who is interested, but everything is online.

For those living outside major tourist areas, be creative when listing your house. Talk about opportunities for swimming, golf and tennis if that is all you have (and almost everyone has those). Swimming, golf and tennis is all that some people want.

mark

Having stumbled upon your posts (FauxSteMarie & lnicodemus) while searching for low cost accommodations for an upcoming vacation, I was pleasantly surprised to discover the knowyourtrade.com website. You folks certainly did a great service putting up this directory! Excellent data base, tons of info, entertaining blog, useful forum, downloadable forms and “How To” manual, literally everything I needed to know about exchanging homes. I do have one question: are all these club sites legit? I noticed that you had one site, Jewettstreet?, as a site of the month. Membership there is free. There are also several other free membership sites listed. My question is if Jewettstreet is so great and it’s free, why pay to join other clubs? I guess that’s two questions…

Because the other services have larger data bases. Homelink and Intervac were the original services. I am not going to bad mouth any home exchange service because I don't know them all. I do know that the woman who runs Jewett Street seems like a nice person. I have belonged to Homelink and Intervac since 1990 and see no reason to change. The key is joining a service with lots of members. The new guys on the block just do not have the same number of members. The more members you have, the more possibilities.

I just paid my Homelink dues for 2007-2008 today, in fact. I paid the dues ($90 for an online membership; I see no reason to order the books anymore) even though I already have a deal for the summer of 2008 in Australia. If it breaks down (always a possibility until tickets are purchased) or people want to contact me for 2009 or a second deal in 2008, they can.

As a seasoned exchangers ( 20 ) I suggest that the most upsetting thing (other then a dirty place) would be if your partners have hidden facts about their property in order to "sell" their location.
Happened to us only once - there was a construction site right under their window; the noise during the day was really bad.
One is always taking a chance no matter how many questions you ask. On the other hand, same goes for hotels, restaurants, and other travel adventures.

The landlord in my Vienna apartment building was renovating a unit on the floor below ours. We had noise for the first 10 days, but it wasn't unbearable. I don't think my home exchangers knew about the timing of the renovation. I was told about it before I got to Vienna, but just before the exchange.

Suppose my next door neighbor decided to have a new roof put on while my home exchangers were here. I live in a townhouse, by the way. Some things you cannot control or predict.

danon, by the way, where do you live?

I'm surprised no one has mentioned Craig's List as a great way to exchange houses. We've done a month in Paris, two weeks in Provence, and three weeks in Mendocino all from Craig's List (under House Swaps) and it's free. And, yes, I live in the Bay Area so it's pretty easy for me to find a swap, but I think Craig's List is terrific.

Great info - thanks so much!

I just checked Craig's list, guys, and there are home exchange requests on it but most of the requests seem to be for specific places (e.g., Saskatoon wants to exchange with Paris). If your needs are specific, I always recommend a rental. You will be successful as a home exchanger if you have an expansive idea of where you could be content vacation. Specific rigid desires only rarely result in a swap in my experience.

Excellent post Faux, thank you very much. Living in Sydney, I've always wondered if the seasons would be a problem, we like to go to the Northern Hemisphere in their summer, which of course is our winter. However, next year we are looking at going in December. I also guess that March & September are also options. It makes our pool attractive.

Fred,

Thanks for the compliments!

As to your questions, I do agree with Faux as to the fact that the larger the numbers the more chance of a match. However, I also think that many of the smaller clubs offer,as I said earlier, great service as well as advanced features. If enough people join (maybe not as the primary club, but as an additional club) these small clubs will be able to grow and offer nmot only great service and features, but many listings too.

Jewett Street is a great example of a small club, with steadily increasing numbers, that has tons to offer exchangers. 1st Home Exchange is growing by leaps and bounds. Home For Swap, another new club, has great features and has recently been featured in a tv documentary. There are many other clubs that have a lot to recommend them.

Keep visiting http://www.knowyourtrade.com for all the latest home exchange news!

Thanks for the info, Faux. Very helpful! I saw that you & lnicodemus posted the ten home exchange clubs with the greatest number of listings on your site (knowyourtrade.com). Before I join homeexchange.com (your #1 pick) are there any other things I should consider?

Sarvowinner, if you are interested in swapping for July or September 2008 with Washington, DC, please contact me. I have an exchange in Brisbane for August and am willing to go to Sydney before or after the swap in Brisbane for up to a month. It can be less than a month because I will already be in Brisbane in August. I am trying to work a back to back swap somewhere either in Australia or New Zealand.

You can email me at [email protected]

Faux, is this cool? I have a great studio loft on the east edge of North Beach, Downtown San Francisco. I need to spend a month in London in February, 2008 in or near Davies Mews (near Bond Street Underground exit). I’m a computer consultant with references. I’d like to trade my place for your London pad. Also I would be willing to trade my place for a bunk in January (last two weeks) in a skiing area around Switzerland, Austria, France, Italy or Germany for a couple of weeks before February first. My loft has a weekly cleaning service and can accommodate two comfortably. Contact: [email protected] (thanks again for knowyourtrade.com)

You could put that add up on one of the home exchange services' websites where it might get the exposure you want, BUT your desires are too specific to have a good shot at what you want. I am not saying that you might not get exactly what you want, but it is unlikely. Generally, to have a good shot at a deal, you need to have an expansive idea of where you want to be satisfied traveling AND a bit of flexibility in your dates.

If people have specific needs (say to be in Tuscany for a week for a wedding), they are well advised to rent.

Anyone living in or near London should get plenty of offers but perhaps not offers to meet specific needs.