4 tips for arranging a successful home exchange

Housing exchanges give you a cheap place to stay in a far off land, but they also give you someone to take care of your home while you're gone. Here are some tips for making sure that you find the right arrangement for your home exchange.

• When you're letting someone stay in your home and they're allowing you to stay in theirs, it's a good idea to get to know them a little.
• You want to make sure they are someone that you trust and that you feel confident in how they'll treat your home.
• It's important to communicate well with your exchange partner so that you can address any issues that come up along the way.

• When you're swapping homes with someone, it's important to lay out an agreement with them before you begin.
• The agreement should include everything from the length of the stay to what will happen if something is missing or damaged.
• Some people like to be very casual about home exchanges while others are much more formal. You can decide what you feel most comfortable doing.

• You should spend some time getting your home ready for a home exchange.
• Make sure it's tidy and clean, you've replaced the sheets and linens and you've taken other measures to make it welcoming for your exchange partners.
• Don't leave perishable food out or in the fridge.
• Try to clean up any extra clutter in the house.

• It's important to leave written instructions and also talk to your exchange partners about what they need to know while staying in your house.
• This can include everything from the Wi-Fi password to how often the trash gets picked up to how to take care of the family pet while you are away.
• It's also very important to leave your contact information with your exchange partners so that they can get in touch with you if they need to.
• You can also leave a spare set of keys with a friend or neighbour nearby so that they have access to the house in case anything goes wrong.
• Make sure that they do the same for you in return.

Home exchanges can be a very convenient way to travel somewhere or live someplace else for a little while without having to pay for a hotel or pay rent. They also give you the added security of knowing that someone is taking care of your home. With the right planning, your home exchange can be mutually beneficial and much more rewarding.