Vacation House Swap - Local Living

A vacation house swap is a great way to get more vacation for your money! These arrangements can be made through one of several agencies that provide the service for a nominal fee. You may even be able to participate in a swap that includes a vehicle!

You will want to make sure the person you are swapping with has a kid-friendly home. Usually the agencies include this information in their profiles. It's also a great idea to try to swap with a family with children of similar age to yours.

The Agencies:

Home Base Holidays has been helping vacationers swap homes for over twenty years. This great family-friendly site arranges home swaps for a very reasonable fee. You can check out their listings before signing up to see if they have homes available where you are planning to vacation. Check out their bi-monthly newsletter.

Exchange Homes is also well established and you can browse their extensive Vacation House Swap listings to see the destinations they offer. By signing up as an affiliate member, you can contact a member of their site without paying any fee. And their annual fee for listing your home is reasonable.

Home Exchange guarantees you'll find an exchange your first year. If you don't, your second year is free! They have an impressive amount of listings. Their membership prices vary according to whether you would like to list your house, contact other member, and other criteria. They also have a pricey Gold Membership (with a separate listing site) for those who offer and expect luxury in their swap.

Swapping Tips:

• Be flexible with scheduling.
• Put your mail on hold.
• Lock up any valuables.
• Leave a list of important contacts.
• Leave a list of maintenance issues like trash collection day and plant watering schedules.
• If swapping vehicles, it’s nice to leave a clean car with a full gas tank.
• Be clear about what the swap consists of. Describe your home consisely.
• Unless maid service is part of the deal, leave your home and theirs clean upon departures.
• Your common sense of courtesy goes a long way in making your Vacation House Swap pleasant for all parties.