When you want to travel the world, what better way to do it than living like a local – and not paying for it? If you own a second home you’re willing to share with others, home swapping may be your ticket to world travel with complimentary accommodations. New to home swapping or just want to learn more about how it works, the pros, cons and how to get started? Keep reading for a comprehensive guide on how to swap your home and stay for free when you travel.
How Does Home Swapping Work?
Home swapping is a mutual agreement that allows you and another homeowner to exchange the use of your homes for a specific period. Home swapping can be simultaneous or non-simultaneous, making it more flexible than short-term rentals or hotels. To book a stay for free, you just need to find a second-home owner willing to swap homes with you. You and the other owner will then choose and agree upon the dates you want to stay in each other’s homes, and share any relevant information about your property before the visit begins.
Pros of Home Swapping
Home swapping offers:
- More affordable stays
Ordinarily, traveling means having to pay for a hotel or a short-term rental. Especially if you’re traveling with a group of more than two or three, you can expect to pay thousands of dollars per week for a hotel suite. Home swapping can give you access to the comforts of home wherever you travel – and the best part is that you don’t even have to pay for it. - More flexible terms
Hotels and short-term rental platforms tend to come with a laundry list of rules and restrictions, not to mention demand pricing and strict cancellation policies. Home swapping, on the other hand, offers far more flexibility and understanding, since you’re dealing with humans instead of big businesses. - More authentic experiences
Even if you find a great deal on a hotel, you might find yourself wishing you could have a more authentic experience. Hotels are usually based in the most touristy parts of town and often appeal to the average tourist. When you want to enjoy a more genuine travel experience, home swapping allows you to live like a local wherever you go.
Six Tips for Successful Home Swaps
Though home swapping might seem simple enough on the surface, there are certain steps you should take to protect yourself and ensure a seamless swap. Here are six tips for a successful home swap.
- Start your swap search early - To make the most out of a home swap, start your search early and cast a wide net. The earlier you begin your search, the more options you’ll have. This will also give you plenty of time to plan around your stay, including creating your itinerary and booking flights.
- Verify your swap partner - Verifying a swap partner can be very difficult without the help of a professional company. The last thing you want to worry about is the person staying in your home, which is why it’s so important to know that your guests are verified and pre-screened before they book a swap with you.
- Carry comprehensive insurance - Home insurance is a requirement for almost every home with a mortgage, but even if you own your home outright, it’s a good idea to carry comprehensive insurance coverage. Since you aren’t a landlord leasing your home for money, you probably won’t need a special policy (though you should still consult a licensed insurance agent to make sure you’re covered). However, to protect yourself from potential liability claims, you may want to increase your coverage limits or consider purchasing an umbrella policy.
- Communicate clearly and set expectations - Communication is key to a successful home swap, whether you’re a host or a guest. If you have ground rules, let your guests know before they finalize their stay. Take time to communicate clearly from the outset, sharing any important information and setting expectations. How will you provide or gain access to the property? Is there a security system? How much is the security deposit?Whichever side of a swap you’re on, staying on the same page can almost always guarantee a smoother experience.
- Do your research - Before you book a stay at someone else’s home, make sure you do some research on the neighborhood. If you’re expecting to stay in the heart of the city but the home is on the outskirts of town, you might be disappointed.
- Treat others as you want to be treated - The Golden Rule might be one of the oldest in history, but it’s still as relevant as ever. Whenever you’re in doubt, just think about how you’d want others to treat you. If you’re a host, that means keeping your home clean and ready for the next swap. If you’re a guest in someone else’s home, that means treating their property with the same care and respect you offer your own.
What To Consider Before Swapping Homes
Signing up to swap homes can unlock limitless opportunities to travel the world. But before you choose your next destination and agree to allow someone to stay in your home, you need to ask yourself how you’ll manage your property and work with your guests.
How will you manage your second home?
Managing a second home can feel like a full-time job if you try and do everything yourself. That’s why many second-home owners outsource some of the activities associated with keeping up a vacation property. Maintenance, cleaning, payment processing and expense tracking are just a few responsibilities you’ll have to undertake or outsource.
How will you communicate with guests?
While you want to make yourself available to your guests, you probably don’t want them calling you at all hours. Managing communications with guests can get complicated if you don’t have a plan in place. Establishing a predetermined communication method and setting realistic expectations can help pave the way to a smoother home swap for you and your guests.
How will you verify your guests?
When you open your vacation home to someone, you’re entrusting its care to them. But how will you know that your home is in good hands? Before you allow someone to book a stay in your home, it’s best to verify their identity and conduct a background check. Though it might seem unnecessary in certain situations, it can help put your mind at ease.
How will you handle emergencies?
Though emergencies are unlikely, preparing for them is still an important consideration before you decide to swap homes. When you swap your vacation home with someone, there’s no telling what an emergency might look like. That’s why it’s important to create a contingency plan for health hazards, natural disasters, urgent repairs, security breaches, lockouts, and more. While you hope you’ll never have to put your plan to the test, it’s important to know what to do and to make sure your guests know how to respond to an emergency.
How Twimo Helps Simplify Home Swaps
Home swapping can help you unlock endless opportunities to share your vacation home and travel the world. To get the most out of your second home, you need a trusted partner with the management tools to keep you and your property safe and secure. Twimo is the all-in-one platform for vacation homeowners who want to share their property discreetly, swap homes with other owners or rent out their second home publicly or privately. With secure transactions, vendor management, guest verification and more, Twimo makes it simple to manage your vacation home. And, when you sign up to swap homes, you’ll gain access to thousands of properties around the world within the Twimo Host Network, so you can start traveling the world for free.
