How to find the right exchange network for you?
What type of exchange (see last section) is best for you?
Is bigger better?
How easy is it to find the location, activities and type of accommodation that you enjoy for vacations?
We are going to take a leap forward here and now assume that you are interested in exploring the exciting world of home exchange – fantastic, welcome to the club. There are thousands of people just like you that are exchanging right now, glad to have you join. Before instantly signing up to a club or network you should consider what the most important criteria are for you. The questions above will begin to narrow your search.
If you are only interested in Direct Exchanges then your total options are vast, just remember that you will have to find a location and home that matches the same time you will want to swap. What if you want the option of a Non-Simultaneous exchange? In this case there are only a select number of networks or communities available. It is not an either or decision as some organisation offer their members both Direct and Non-Simultaneous Exchanges. In addition, maybe Hospitality is for you. Again when doing your research check to ensure you are getting what you want.
Bigger is not always better. You will see several organizations that claim to have the world’s largest or most listings. We’re sure that that one of them is the biggest, but why may this not matter? What really matters is that you can find the right exchange for you – this means location, type of accommodation, type of exchange and time of exchange. We have found that in an effort to look big, there is what is called in the industry, a lot of dead wood. These are home listings that have been up on websites for years, but are no longer valid. It will be extremely frustrating trawling through hundreds of property listings, wasting a lot of time trying to find someone to respond to your enquiry. Be careful to select a home exchange organisation that manages their listings, keeping them current and up to date, and can offer you assistance when needed.
Now is a good time to talk about price. Some exchange networks offer a free listing. Two sayings come to mind you get what you pay for and rarely is anything really free. When home swapping sites offer free listings there will inevitably be properties on the site that are old or have owners that really are not interested in following up with you. This will waste your time and will diminish your pleasure for the whole home exchange experience. The other thing that often happens with a free listing is that the home owner can show their property, but they cannot respond or communicate to enquiries without joining or paying. This can cause delays in communication, another waste of your time. Remember that you are most likely going to save thousands of dollars, euros, pounds or yen on home swapping, so the small cost of joining a reputable home exchange community makes sense, saving you time, avoiding frustration and giving you a much better experience in home exchanging.
Even though you have embraced the idea of exploring a new location and enjoying a local home, if it is your first exchange you will most likely at some point have some anxiety. Will the home you are going to visit really be all it is promoted to be? Will the visitors to your home treat everything with the same care and respect you do? These questions and feelings are natural. Remember that anxiety can also come before a hotel based vacation; is it really like on the brochure or are the pictures ten years old? How can you overcome this anxiety?
Look to your home exchange network for assistance. The reputable organizations have established methods of verifying facts about its members. This could be identifying experienced traders and having a guestbook of comments for future traders to read about previous trades. There are also various methods of validation of identities and property features. While no system is foolproof, it is always good to take steps toward ensuring that you will have best experience possible.
If you are an owner of a second / vacation property you might specifically be interested in a home exchange network that offers its members a credit or points based systems. Credits place a value on both the time of the exchange as well as the type of property. A good example is the notion of a high season. Having a beachside home in summer is worth more than during the winter, just like a ski in ski out chalet is more valuable during the ski season. A large five bedroom home might (not always) be more valuable than a studio apartment. I say might because the location is always a key factor. We all know of small apartments in cities like New York, London or Paris that are worth many times more than a large countryside home.
The internet is a perfect place to start your research on the various home exchange options. Remember to ask yourself the above questions and think about what type of exchange community is best for you. Finally, you might consider joining more than one to expand your options. For your convenience and use, in Appendix A we have included Your Membership Checklist of Home Exchange network features that you can consider when choosing the best network for you.
Interested in exclusive homes offering both Direct Exchanges and Non-Simultaneous Exchanges with a Validation and Credits system, all supported by trade coordinators to assist you? Please consider www.ivhe.com. As a thank you, please use promotional code GUIDE50 for a 50% discount off the published membership rates.
