How do you know if you'll be OK with a home swap? It does boil down to having someone you have never physically met in your home. To help minimize your concerns, consider that prior to the exchange there will be extensive discussion of the swap,' says Katie Costabel, representative for Home. Link USA.(Photo: Jupiterimages, Getty Images/Brand X)A new crop of home- swapping companies is here. Sites like Love Home Swap, Knok, and Casa. Hop are quickly shaking up the home- swapping scene, providing new alternatives to established exchange sites like Home. Link, Home. Exchange, and Intervac, and employing advances like social- media vetting and recommendations based on personalization algorithms. So while the decades- old method of vacationing in someone else's abode while they (sometimes) stay in yours is nothing new, innovations in the space have put home swapping back on the map. Curious about joining the movement? We spoke with expert Katie Costabel, Representative for Home. Link USA, to get the skinny on arranging a drama- free exchange. Luxury Vacation Home Exchange Programs. Related Video Of Luxury Vacation Home Exchange Programs. Images Of Luxury Vacation Home Exchange Programs. The original home exchange service that for nearly 60 years has helped people exchange homes all over the world. Before you enter into a swap. Here are 1. 0 facts that every prospective home swapper needs to learn before handing over that key. AIRBNB: No place like someone else's home. SHARING: America's new business model.
MORE: How to save on family holiday travel. Home swapping is not right for everyone. How do you feel about allowing folks you've never actually met into your home? Although most experts agree that arranging a swap through a reputable home- exchange program is pretty safe (we'll talk more about security matters later on), it's important to assess your own comfort level before you jump into the situation headfirst. How do you know if you'll be OK with a home swap? It does boil down to having someone you have never physically met in your home. To help minimize your concerns, consider that prior to the exchange there will be extensive discussion of the swap. The majority of home- exchange programs. International Vacation Home Exchange (IVHE), for example, charges an annual membership fee that starts at $1. A Home. Link membership starts at $3. U. S. Each company has various pricing structures and membership options, so spend a little time doing research to find the one that fits you best. There's more than one way to do a home swap. The three main types of home exchanges are as follows: You can stay in your exchange- partner's home while they stay in yours (a . You can stay at a home- swapper's second home or vacation home (a . Or you can stay as a guest in a swapper's abode while they're also in the house (a . IVHE, for example, focuses on vacation- or second- home swapping. So consider which kind of swap you're most interested in before buying a membership with a particular home- exchange company. Be clear about your expectations. One of the best ways to alleviate first- time home- swapping jitters is to get to know your exchange partners really well. Likewise, before you make the swap, consider all the necessary details that may arise during the process. Will you leave food for your guests? Will you hire a cleaning service? Do you expect your host to use a professional cleaning service? How will you arrange the key swap? According to Costabel, . We have a beginner's guide to arranging a swap on Home. Link. And various forms of ownership, like co- ops or condos, work also, as long as you've cleared the exchange with the necessary parties. Check with your landlord or co- op board, or read your lease to see if you're permitted to rent your place out to strangers, which in most cases constitutes a temporary sublet. Start your search early. Naturally, a first- time home exchange isn't the most suitable option for a last- second getaway. Costabel advises that travelers start planning swaps . If there's a major event going on, you definitely want to start planning well in advance. Whatever suits the exchange partners. Our members who live in major cities with extensive public transportation may not even have cars. But swapping cars, which provides cost savings to those who would otherwise need to rent a vehicle, is common in the home- exchange community. Some use social media as a screening process: Love Home Swap, for example, offers a Facebook app that swappers can use to check out possible exchange partners on the social- networking site. Many others, like IVHE and Home. Link, rely on good ol'- fashioned references. Costabel tells us, . Members also often have their own stockpile of references from previous exchange partners. Check references, find them on Facebook, and ask your home- exchange company for more information about prospective swap partners. Home swapping is safe (we knew you'd ask)Home swapping is by and large a safe way to arrange a stay. According to Costabel, . In all of the years we've been in business, there's never been a case of reported theft or vandalism. In the end, they're staying in your home and you're staying in theirs, so mutual trust is fundamental. Or they leave valuables with friends and family.? Share your experiences in the comments. Smarter. Travel. com features expert travel advice and unbiased coverage of travel deals. Read or Share this story: http: //usat.
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