The Do’s and Don’ts of Doing a Home Swap

When it comes to the average cost of a vacation, you can expect to spend about 26% of your total travel expenses on lodging costs. If you want to have more money to spend on your vacation and other activities while traveling, you may want to consider doing a home swap to cover your accommodations. 

If you decide that home swapping is the best choice for your next vacation, it is important that you learn how to do it the right way. Do you want to learn more about the do’s and don’ts of doing a house swap? 

Keep reading this guide for everything you need to know about a home swap vacation and how you can make the most of it. 

Do: Find a Reliable Platform

One of the most important things you should do before doing a house swap is find a reliable platform and company to work with. There are many house swap companies you can work with, each with different homes available. 

However, some companies may be more reputable and reliable than others. If you are going to be in a stranger’s home or if they will be in yours, you want to be sure that the users and the properties have been vetted. 

THIRDHOME prioritizes safe home exchanges and provides access to over 14,000 homes. We are the largest and most trusted network of luxury home exchanges, so you can feel confident that you and your home will be safe during your travels! 

Do: Discuss Details With a Potential Host

It is also important that you discuss the details of your stay with your potential host before you go on your vacation. You can expect to talk with the host in detail to learn more about each other’s properties, your expectations for each other, and more. 

You may also want to share your travel itinerary. For example, if you are arriving late at night or early in the morning, you will want to know exactly how to get into the house so you can get settled as quickly as possible. 

Do: Clean Up

The last thing you need to do when you are home swapping is clean up. If you are staying in someone else’s home, the last thing you want is to get there and find a filthy living space. Because of this, you should always leave your home in pristine condition for your arriving guest. 

There are many things you can do to prepare your home for guests. Make sure you deep clean your entire home and include new bedding and towels so that your guests will feel comfortable and at home. 

When you leave your host’s home, you should also leave it in good condition. Make sure you don’t damage any of their belongings and you leave it as good as when you found it. 

Don’t: Be Dishonest or Unrealistic

When you are house swapping, the worst thing you can do is be dishonest or set unrealistic expectations of your property. 

While you may be tempted to do whatever you can to attract interest in your property, you should not give false information about your space.

For example, people that live in a high-end area of a popular tourist destination will probably not have any trouble renting their house. However, if you live in a scary area of town in a low-quality studio apartment, you won’t get as many rentals. 

While you can highlight the benefits of your property, you need to be honest when describing your property. This includes the quirks and drawbacks of your property as well. 

Don’t: Forget the Quirks

When you live in your home for a long time, you will find that there are some quirks that you need to get used to. For example, it may be difficult to turn on the shower or to adjust the temperature settings in your home. 

Or, there may be neighborhood rules that your guests will need to follow while they are staying on your property. 

To make sure your guests have a good experience in your home, you should not forget to include information about these quirks before you leave. You may want to create a document with any details that your guests may need while they are staying in your house. 

This could include your WiFi password, your door code, and more. This way, they will not have to reach out to you personally with their questions while you are traveling. 

Don’t: Forget to Check Your Insurance

Finally, it is essential that you don’t forget to check your insurance. This is especially important if you and your hosts are swapping other things, like vehicles, while you are traveling. 

In these cases, you will need to add their information to your insurance policy. Otherwise, damage to your property may not be covered if it happens while you are away. 

Having your insurance sorted out will give you peace of mind that your home and your belongings will be protected when someone else is staying in your home. 

Interested in a Home Swap? Get Help Planning a House Swap Vacation Today

When you live in a popular destination, doing a home swap is an easy way you can travel to new destinations without spending a fortune. By learning more about the do’s and don’ts of house swapping, you can be prepared for your upcoming trip and avoid unpleasant surprises. 

If you want to plan a home swap vacation, THIRDHOME can help! We make it possible to enjoy luxury accommodations in 100 countries with our home exchange platform. 

Visit our website to sign up for our home exchange program!