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Trading Places: Vacation Home Exchanges

Your next vacation may be more affordable than you think.

By Andrew Roth
May 3, 2007

Summer is just around the corner, and if you're like most of us, you're probably beginning to dream about vacations. You may, however, also be adding up the expenses involved in packing up the family and heading out into the wild blue yonder for two weeks.

Whether you're considering the azure waters of Tahoe or the exotic mosques of Morocco, vacations are expensive. After you've added the cost of airfare, hotels, excursions, and a petsitter for Fido, you may be wondering if it's really worth it after all.

There are alternatives to liquidating your IRA to pay for your trip. One such option is a vacation home exchange.

Exchanging Your Home

"When all is said and done, a home vacation exchange is the single most logical, reasonable, sensible, and indeed brilliant, method of vacationing in travel today." - Arthur Frommer, travel writer.

Home exchanges have become a popular vacation alternative in recent years. There are a number of ways to structure a home exchange, and of course, upsides and downsides to trading. I've listed below tips for a successful experience and information on some of the most popular exchange agencies.

1. Use a reputable home exchange agency who can guide you through the trading process. The fees are usually minimal and well worth the expense. A few of the most popular are listed below:

• HomeExchange.com: 800.877.8723; $50 annual membership fee; 6,000 listings.
• Intervac International: 800.756.4663; www.intervac-online.com; $65 annual membership fee; 7,000 listings
• Homelink International: 800.638.3841; www.homelink.org; $75 annual membership fee; 14,000 listings.

2. When posting your home on the website of an exchange, be sure to include photographs of the interior and exterior of your house, along with a list amenities, nearby attractions, and other special features.

3. Be sure to have a written contract outlining the specific agreement terms, including dates of stay, responsibilities, liabilities, and cleaning and upkeep expectations.

4. The best trades typically occur between swappers who have similar types of homes and lifestyles, particularly in terms of children, pets, and tidyness. So if you're a retiree or a family, you'll probably want to trade with swappers in a similar situation.

5. Ask for references. These can be especially helpful when provided by those who have previously swapped with your candidate. A credit report may also help you to feel more secure about potential guests.

6. Be sure to notify your neighbors, family, and insurance company about the swap. Most insurance policies include coverage for guests staying in your home, but it's always a good idea to check.

7. Clear out space in drawers and closets to make room for your guests, and lock away valuables in a storage unit or safe.

8. Feel like having company? Some exchange firms also offer guest exchange services, in which your stay in another's residence coincides with a time when they're home as well, and vice versa. This type of arrangement can be particularly appealing to people traveling alone.

Is home exchange safe? This is perhaps the most commonly asked question by potential home exchangers. The answer to that seems to be a pretty positive. According HomeExchange.com, "In more than 14 years and tens of thousands of exchanges, we’ve never had a report of a theft, malicious vandalism, or a case of someone getting to their exchange home and finding a vacant lot."

For a few first-hand accounts of experienced swappers, visit the following link:

http://www.travelandleisure.com/articles/special-report-house-swapping/

Bon Voyage!

-Andrew Roth