Home Exchange - Frequently Asked Questions

A family home exchange vacation may often include swapping homes, automobiles and can also include use of such amenities as boats, bicycles, and sports clubs. Not only do you avoid hotel and car rental charges, but you can eat as many of your meals as you like at home. So while it's up to you and your exchange partner to work out the arrangement that suits you best, a swapping vacation needn't cost you much more than staying at home.

The following are answers to questions frequently asked regarding short and long term home exchange and vacation house swapping. Global Home Exchange offers affordable travel accommodation for families, seniors, singles and couples.

Exchange or swap all relate to the same concept. Home swap is a regional expression used mostly in the UK, Australia, New Zealand and parts of Europe. Home Exchange is more commonly used in Canada, US and Mexico. In France, Echange de maison is commonly used, translating into house exchange or exchange of house.

1.What types of accommodation are offered for a home exchange?
Houses, apartments, time shares, beach houses, flats, villas, ski chalets, camper vans, cabins, condos, motor homes, house boats and even castles have been offered for a home swap.

2. I'm considering an exchange overseas and wondering if exchanging cars is a good idea?
This the number one home exchange FAQ regarding we receive. Should we exchange cars as part of our house swap? Car exchanges are not recommended without a contract. We exchanged cars as part of our Australia Home Exchange and both our Australian home swap partners and ourselves saved a great deal of money.

• If you do exchange vehicles, have the terms of the vehicle exchange clearly spelled out on a legal agreement. Click here for sample housing and vehicle contracts
• Trying to find the "perfect exchange match" may reduce your chance of a home swap. Being flexible on locations, dates and accommodation will increase your chances of a good, successful trade which is all most people want.
• Many feel their own home is not good enough to exchange when compared to the quality of many homes offered.
• All that most travelers want is a home swap base that's clean, comfortable and tidy and holds the family numbers in reasonable comfort. They can then explore the area of their choice from a reliable base which they have got to know about before arriving through email, letters and sometimes phone calls with their exchange partner.

3. Can I work in the country that I have an exchange?
Depending on your length of stay, certainly people have used home exchanges to scout for jobs. You would need to check on visa requirements if you intend to seek employment in another country as a home exchanger.

4. My dream is an exchange near the theatre district of London England. What are my chances of getting an exchange to a specific area.
I think its good to have a dream destination and that you should try. You may wish to assess possibilities of being specific about finding an exchange to one spot. First there has to be a someone living in that area that also wants to go on an exchange at the same time that you want to go and also wants to go to your country and to your province or state. This is possible and does happen. However if you just left yourself more open, an exchange to London or nearby, your opportunities of finding house swappers would improve and you can still enjoy the theatre.

5. What are some positive comments about exchanges?

• "I met my future husband while on exchange. Now we have two countries to call home."
• "We selected an out of the way home exchange to Saskatchewan. Wow! We loved the house swapping experience."
• "We invested the money we saved on staying in someone's home instead of paying hotel costs."
• We completed a Seattle Washington home exchange for our Hawaii beach house. Both families enjoyed it so much that will be swapping homes again next winter."