First Home Exchange - Short Report
 

Since this topic comes up now and then, I thought I would just report on my first home exchange experience.

Since the cost of travel has increased SO much in the last couple of years, I decided I would try this option. Fotunately, I live in a ski resort town where lots of people want to visit, so why not try it?

I listed my home with www.homeexchange.com as it seemed to have lots of international users. I started getting offers right away and sent out a few inquiries of my own.

My first exchange was an easy one, not involving airfare and only a 1/2 day drive away.

The young family I exchanged with was very nice, we only met through e mail, but everything turned out just wonderfully for both parties. We agree we might do it again sometime in the future.

We both did sheets and towels laundry before leaving the other's home - by unspoken agreement. Couldn't have asked for a nicer Thanksgiving long weekend.

If anyone has questions, just ask.

You could start with listing the particulars.

Where did you exchange, how long, costs involved, transportation, etc.

Hi GoTravel,

OK details.

I exchanged with a family of 4, parents and 2 children, ages 2 and 4. On my end it was just me and Yoda, my black pug. the exchange was just for the Thanksgiving weekend. I drove down on Thurs morning and they drove up! We figure we passed somewhere along I-15....

Their home is in Springdale, UT, just outside Zion Natl Park and mine is in Park City, UT. They were hoping for snow for the kids, but our season is off to a late start, so very little snow, mostly up higher than my home (6500 ft.)

They still had a great time and the highlight for their kids was the ride on the antique steam train called the Heber Creeper. It runs from Heber to the Provo Canyon and returns.

Since this was a driving trip for both parties, gas was the only expense. Listing on homeexchange.com costs $90/year for a "Silver" membership.

They boarded their dog and we took care of each other's cats. My cat, the supreme chicken cat of all time, actually took a liking to M, the wife. Their cat was not impressed with my visit, me - who loves all animals and gets loved right back. Just goes to show, you never know with cats!

Anyway, had a great time.

I live in the center of San Francisco, so for me an exchange would work, too.

How did you exchange your keys?

Faina,

Since we both live in small, safe communities, we felt comfortable leaving them in a safe spot outside.

I know other people have mailed keys.

You should try this. San Francisco is a very desirable location!

PS - one major thing I have noticed having my home listed for the last few months and with the inquiries both received and sent - is that you have to be flexible and open minded on where you go. I know other home exchangers who post here have said the same.

I've found (unfortunately) that Europeans (generally speaking) are not familiar or very interested in coming to the US to ski. So my home is not of much interest to them. I've found that those who are very familiar with UT skiing, such as Califorians, New Yorkers, Floridians, and Aussies and New Zealanders, are VERY interested in specifically coming to Park City.

So - looks like my next Christmas vacation could turn in to a home exchange to New Zealand. And, I'm NOT complaining!

Another comment,

One feature I liked about the homeexchange site is that you can do a reverse search, and find the people who are specifically interested in your location.

Gives you more ideas as well as narrowing it down to a more likely exchange.

I'm glad this worked out for you! My sister has a house in St. George and spent time at Zions for Thanksgiving too.

Thanks for posting. I'm always curious to hear if home-exchangers are happy with their exchanges.

A friend of ours just returned from a month in London, on a home exchange with two women (sisters). It generally went well, but the home she got wasn't as clean as she would have liked, nor did the two sisters who stayed in her lovely Seattle downtown condo leave it as clean as they should have.

The real surprise came when she went to make a Vodka & tonic for a friend. She had left the liquor cabinet stocked and everything looked in order (nothing missing). But the cocktail tasted . . . not right. No vodka. Turns out the dear ladies had replaced all the clear alcohol in all the bottles (gin, vodka, Triple Sec, etc.) with water!!!

enzian, not that this is what happened in that case, but I'm reminded of the woman who reported that every time she exchanged houses she came up missing a few small things, particularly costume jewelry. One day she ran into her cleaning lady at the mall wearing a piece of the missing jewelry. She finally figured out that when her own cleaning lady cleaned after visitors she was helping herself to a few things figuring the owner would blame the visitors and not her.

Busted!

When I exchanged with a London family, each of us accused the other of not keeping their home clean enough! We had different priorities, I guess.

Fortunately my home exchangers were very much the same type as me - super honest and clean. I got a good vibe from the e mails we exchanged and really had no concerns.

I'm about to purchase my airline ticket for my next exchange, which is a non-silmultaneous one. A couple from NC is coming to stay with me as my guests in March to ski for a week. I am going to their Blue Ridge Pkwy mountain home for fall colors next Oct, a place I've never been.

Just wish I had more vacation time!

Barbara - I want to hear all about your Australia trip! Let's get together soon!

My home exchange with a family from London was fantastic.The area Hampstead Heath was very posh too. We had a chance to meet the family as we were still in England.

They took us out to a fantastic dinner. We both laughed and laughed at how we had our "butts" up in the air cleaning the bathrooms with toothbrushes before the exchange. Their daughter said she had never seen their own bathroom so clean.

I would do it again in a hearbeat! I am from San Diego so the beach is a great draw.

Patrick---that would be a good explanation, but in my friend's case it won't do---she doesn't have anyone come in to clean; she lives alone and takes care of her condo herself.

Her theory, based on the fact that there was no alcohol, or even wine glasses in the London home, is that one sister was secretly tippling and trying to hide it from the other.

Dayle---if you and Yoda ever fancy a week in Seattle during ski season, maybe we could work a trade.

Thanks Enzian, I'll keep that in mind! We really do need to work on a Fodorites Moab expedition though!

<i>Dayle---if you and Yoda ever fancy a week in Seattle during ski season, maybe we could work a trade.</i>

I was going to offer up my house in an SF suburb LOL!

Great to hear about your experience, Dayle. I've always wanted to try to do this also.

BTW- are you guys (Barbara S) up for a dinner GTG next week Tuesday or Wednesday? I'm in town for two days.