Ever thought of exchanging your home for someone else’s in a place you would like to vacation? Why would you want to do this? First, you can save money! With no hotel or accommodation fees, you will have more money to spend on the trip itself for restaurants, shopping, and activities. Second, you will feel more like a local. Instead of being a hotel room tourist, you will be able to experience the local culture by staying in a neighborhood. Third, the whole experience is more sustainable and environmentally friendly. Rather than demanding clean, fresh rooms and sheets every day, you save on the consumption of resources.
In today’s world, the whole process is much easier than you might imagine. At first, it might seem very risky or daunting, but it can be a safe and secure way to travel. The key element is doing your research and picking a reputable home exchange website or platform.
The most successful websites or platforms will have a few key features to enhance your security.
The first is an identity check. Identities and addresses of all the members are verified, along with a check of the quality and availability of the member’s home.
Second is a review and ratings platform. A top website will allow their members to leave feedback and ratings for hosts and guests and will also display the number of exchanges they have completed.
Third is financial coverage. A reputable site will offer insurance, and guarantees to protect members from damages, cancellations or disputes. They also provide customer support for assistance for any emergencies or issues that come up.
Fourth, check to see what each site charges to join and what other fees there might be. Check for policies on cancellations, payment options. Compare what the site offers for the price. Are there robust search filters or any human help to coordinate exchanges? Remember, the cheapest option is not always the best option, especially for cancellation or damage coverage.
- homeexchange.com
Homeexchange.com claims to be the world leader in home exchange vacations. It has more than 150,000 members in more than 130 countries. - noadexchange.com
Noad caters to the remote worker by vetting their members for fast wi-fi and a work environment in the home. - intervac-homeexchange.com
Intervac is touted as the original home exchange service since 1953! See, it isn’t a new idea. Technology has just made the process so much easier. - swaphouse.io
Swaphouse is a free platform to swap homes with fellow remote workers and digital nomads around the world. - homelink.org
Homelink is a home swap community celebrating 70 years of home exchange.
Take a look at each one and see if joining a home exchange community would be right for you!
Duane graduated with a business degree and a major in real estate from the University of Colorado in 1978. He has been a Realtor® in Boulder since that time. He joined RE/MAX of Boulder in 1982 and has facilitated over 2,500 transactions over his career. Living the life of a Realtor and being immersed in real estate led to the inception of his book, Realtor for Life. For questions, e-mail duaneduggan@boulderco.com, call 303.441.5611 or visit BoulderPropertyNetwork.com.