Home exchanges are a great way to travel the world without paying for hotel rooms or rentals, but many people can feel a bit anxious about the concept of handing their house keys over to people they barely know. By taking a few basic precautions and following some common-sense guidelines, you can rest easier when leaving your home with guests and enjoy the time you spend on your exchange vacation.
Californian Ed Kushins spent three years traveling the world while serving on an attack submarine in the US Navy. After earning his MBA at the University of Southern California, Kushins worked as a Marketing Director for an international airline, and then started Trading Homes International, a company offering home exchanges for travelers, in 1992. In 2002, the company merged into HomeExchange.com, with Kushins as co-President. Here he offers tips for making a safe and smooth home exchange with other vacationers:
- Secure valuables.
Clearly, you'll have to trust your home exchange guests quite a bit, but common sense dictates that you take special precautions with certain items. If you have anything of extremely high value, Kushins recommends locking it away or leaving it with a trusted friend or a family member.
- Ask neighbors to drop by.
Ask a neighbor stop in and make sure that things are going okay. This will not only help ease your worries, but will also make sure your guests get answers to any questions they might have.
- Ask for referrals.
Don't be afraid to ask potential guests for a referral from a prior home exchange. Kushins sees this as one of the best ways to ensure that you're exchanging with responsible people.
- Communicate extensively!
Few people like the idea of leaving their home in the hands of strangers, so it's important to get to know you're guests through emails, phone calls, or even a face to face meeting. Kushins has found that after even a small amount of communication is helpful, and can help make exchange guests familiar and comfortable with each other. The more comfortable you are with the people who are staying in your house, the more you can relax and enjoy staying in theirs.
For more information about home exchanges, check out the following organizations or websites:
HomeExchange.com
www.homeexchange.com
HomeLink International
www.homelink.org
International Home Exchange Network
www.homexchange.com
HomeInvite.com: Home Exchange Tips
www.homeinvite.com/exchange_tips
Holi-Swaps: Top ten Tips for Home Exchange Success
www.holi-swaps.com/topten
GTI Home Exchange: Advice and Recommendations on Taking a Home Exchange Holiday
www.gti-home-exchange.com/hints
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