How to Arrange a House Exchange for Vacations
Whether you vacation in the mountains or stay by the sea, make this year's trip a memorable one. Instead of booking into your usual hotel, think about vacationing at home --- just don't make it your home. Exchange houses with another owner; you will start a new tradition and save on expenses.
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Instructions
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Decide when and where to vacation. Choose between visiting your usual destination or trying something new. Do you want to stay close to home or travel far away? Being as flexible as possible with dates will give you the most options.
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Some vacationers prefer to exchange for a house on the water. Think about a specialized house exchange. Examples include home trades for doctors, teachers, the disabled, seniors and more; you may require a pet, car and phone exchange, too. See the Resource section for ideas.
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Choose a free or fee-based global exchange site. Fee-based sites provide good customer feedback, but membership costs anywhere from $45 to $119 per year; for some, it may be worth the extra cost.
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Create an online home profile. The more descriptive you are, the better the results. Add lots of pictures and a list of amenities. Vacationers usually love to barbecue and relax in the sun, so if you have a grill and a hammock, list them.
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Browse homes as your listing becomes active and identify a few desirable choices. Ask the owner about the neighborhood or area, cleaning costs and insurance liability. See Resources for a list of frequently asked questions.
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Draw up a thorough contract after communicating in depth. E-mail and phone conversations are helpful, but a video chat device will give you the opportunity to view the owner and the home.
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You may want to exchange for a house in the mountains. If required, don't forget to pack linens and towels. You should also provide the trade family with an emergency phone list.
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Tips & Warnings
Home-exchange websites claim that there are few, if any, theft issues.
Just because you live in the city or the suburbs doesn't mean you won't get exchange responses.
If you keep your home superclean, make sure your trade partner does too.
References
Resources
- Photo Credit thatched cottage in devon image by Bohanka from Fotolia.com Pédalo image by photlook from Fotolia.com lake in mountains image by the_pleiades from Fotolia.com
