ExchangeHomesBlog.com

With the launch of our new home exchange web site, we introduced a new search option that allows both visitors and members to search our database of listings and specify that their results should only show listings that have photographs. We included this option because many people had requested it. They did not want to […]

I’ve been talking over the last few days with a long time member who states she and her family were let down at the last minute by a family with whom she believed she had a firm, committed arrangement.
Unfortunately, what she didn’t have was a written Home Exchange Agreement.
The lady sent me copies of the […]

Occasionally I am contacted either by phone or email by someone viewing the ExchangeHomes.com home exchange website, who is planning a trip to a very specific location and has found just one listing matching where they hope to go. When our completely revised website goes live, these people will be able to join as Associate […]

As we start looking towards the end of the year, and, of course Christmas, savvy home exchangers are also beginning to form their plans for 2008. The euphemism about the early bird catching the worm always holds true for home swapping. Of course, as new members continue to join throughout the year there will always […]

When I tell them, people find it hard to believe that the most difficult question I’m frequently expected to answer is: “What are my chances of getting a home exchange?”
There are so many variables involved, I would have to be thoroughly dishonest to even pretend to provide an up-front answer to that question.
Instead, I realized […]

To continue with the discussion about telephones as they relate to your home exchange arrangements:
At the beginning of this year we switched cold turkey from a traditional land-line to a Vonage VOIP (voice over Internet Protocol) service and I have no hesitation in saying it’s the best move we ever made.
Shortly afterwards we made a […]

Years ago, the ubiquitous telephone was a very fundamental item. It sat there in virtually every home and barely raised any discussion in home exchange arrangements beyond the usual agreement that each party pays for its own calls.
Recently however, subtle changes have crept onto the scene and today, quite a few homes no longer have […]

Out of the blue, I was asked the other day, what criteria defines a “good” home exchange participant. The question gave me pause for thought - not because I had any difficulty in answering, but because there are so many points that can be attributed to a good home exchanger, my response needed to be […]

I remember that years ago in newsletters and posts I frequently stressed the importance of always having back up arrangements available—just in case. I have to admit that recently I’ve let this advice slip, until my own recent dilemma brought it very much to the forefront for me again.
At the end of last month, my […]

I heard this week from a somewhat disgruntled member from the US who had returned recently from an exchange with a family in the UK. He was delighted with the home he and his family had exchanged with, but he had been horrified when he climbed into the exchange car and discovered it was equipped […]

Home Exchange vacationing has been around for in excess of half a century and during that time, countless businesses have sprung up, eager to reap a living from promoting the concept.
A few have weathered the trials of time and still remain today, but the vast majority has fallen by the wayside, although quickly replaced by […]

Most people pay far more than they need to when they travel. This is the first of several posts I shall be making to this blog and also to the Exchangehomes Forum, listing how the savvy home exchangers can continue saving significant amounts of money.

Tip One: Travel Out of Season
Without a doubt, traveling out of […]