Is Home Exchange Worth It? Unsure About Giving it a Try? Don't Be!
Swapoffi
13 Jun
Have you ever considered swapping homes with someone across the globe, but keep wondering: “is home exchange worth it?” Is house swapping really a safe and reliable way to travel and find accommodation? Those are all valid questions to ask, so we wanted to address some of the top concerns people have about doing a home exchange. After all, there’s no denying that home exchanges are not for everyone. And that’s fine. We get it. Some people just don’t want other people, even friends let alone strangers, to stay in their home.
A home exchange is a mutual agreement between two people to swap homes with each other, with no money or payment of any kind changing hands. Both parties agree to stay in each other's homes, usually at the same time and for the same duration. One-way swaps are also an option. In this case, the host swapper earns credits to ‘spend’ with other members who also offer one-way swaps.
For those of you who are tempted by the concept, wondering whether a home exchange is worth a try, yet still have some concerns - this post is for you!
Top 11 Concerns About Home Exchanges
- How Can I Trust Strangers In My House?
- By the time members agree to a home exchange with each other, they are no longer strangers! All members start browsing on the same platform and communicate with each other on the platform too. Most people have questions about homes and / or the location. The community - and community spirit - are powerful aspects of any home exchange. You can send emails and have video calls, as many as you like. Some people stay in their own home for a day to overlap with their swappers before they travel to their swap home.
Still unsure about whether a home exchange is worth it? Remember you are staying in the other member’s home too. - Verification
- Check that your home swap community verifies its members. Some just use a professional email address as a verification step. Swapoffi is different from other home exchange programmes and communities. We believe verification is essential for peace of mind in a home swap community. That is why we have a four-step verification process which verifies the person, the home (and a connection between that person and that home), plus evidence of the workspace and Wi-Fi.
Unlike traditional home exchange communities for families who value bedrooms for vacations, most of our members are solos and couples who require proven and robust Wi-Fi with a fit-for-purpose workspace or home office, to suit their lifestyle. - What do I do with my valuables or sentimental items?
- Some people leave items of monetary or sentimental value in a lock-up cupboard or even a room in their home. Nobody takes offence. If it gives you peace of mind, it’s worth it!
- What happens if an item goes missing during a home exchange?
- We encourage all home swappers to inform their home insurance provider that they are a member of a home exchange community and, therefore, might have other people staying in their home.
So if an item goes missing, in the first instance, ask your fellow swappers if they have seen it, in case it has been moved. Next, inform your home insurance provider and follow their process for such highly unusual events. - What happens if my home is not in the same condition as I left it, after a swap?
- The vast majority of home swappers are respectful of other members’ homes. As a community, we all share the same ethos of respecting each other’s homes. If not, no home exchange business would ever be successful.
In the rare event that your home is not left tidy and clean after a home swap, use the house exchange reviews section. This will deter other members from allowing these people into their homes so their home exchange experience might be very short!
- It’s more than likely that your house will be left at least as clean as you left it. Members often bring gifts or leave gifts or basic food items ready for your return to your home. Whilst not mandatory, these things are a nice touch, which makes home exchange a very positive experience for most.
- There are parts of my house I don’t want swappers going in or using
- That’s ok. It’s your home. Just be clear with your fellow swappers about your rules for your home.
It is perfectly ok to lock a cupboard or even a whole room during a swap.- Write a ‘Home Handbook’
- Some home exchangers develop a home guide or home handbook. This can contain helpful information for swappers staying in your home, such as Wi-Fi passwords, where the local shop is, etc. It can also contain do’s and don’ts. To manage expectations, it is advisable to also cover these off before a swap is agreed.
- Address your concerns before your home swap
- If you are worried about you’re air-conditioning or heating bills and keep asking yourself: “Is home exchange worth it”- you just need to address this upfront and in advance of your swap. The ethos of home swapping is about like-minded people exchanging homes with each other without paying for accommodation, but you don’t want to be out of pocket when someone stays in your home.
- There is no opportunity to profit in a home swap
- There are many options to make a profit from your home if you choose. Home swapping is not one of those! The ethos of all home-swapping communities is that we swap homes with each other instead of paying. If you want to make money from your home, use Airbnb or private rentals. Swapoffi is the alternative to Airbnb!
- Use Realistic Pictures of your Home
- Swapoffi homes come in all shapes and sizes. Our only mandatory requirements are a workspace and Wi-Fi, which we verify. Whilst we strongly advocated decluttering your home and tidying up before taking pics to upload to your home profile, keep it real so swappers’ expectations are managed. Remember our members want to stay in real homes. That is part of the home swap experience. Read our blog post with tips for taking images of your home to ensure you get swap requests!
- Clear and Honest Communications
- The secret to a successful home swap is clear and honest communication. That way no one is disappointed. Ask all your questions before you agree to a swap. Remember swaps are always requested and not booked. Each member can accept or decline a swap request. It is completely up to them.
If you think home exchanges are for you, join www.swapoffi.com, the world’s first home exchange for remote workers where every home comes with a workspace and Wi-Fi, as well as sleeping and living accommodation.
It only takes a few minutes to set up your account with your name and personal profile. You can understand that we then need some documentation to verify that you are real, that your home is real, and that there is a connection between you and your home. After that, just upload images of your home.
It’s a one-off activity for a lifetime of home swaps with free accommodation. We think a home exchange is definitely worth it. If you do too - Join us www.swapoffi.com
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