Home Exchange – Who Pays What?
The overriding golden rule of home swap vacationing is that as far as the perceived price of the vacation property is concerned, no cash whatsoever changes hands. That’s the fundamental joy of home exchanging – no hotel bills, no rental costs.
Other bills need to be addressed during the discussions leading up to your exchange. Normally the home owner pays the utilities—electricity, gas, water, phone, cable, etc. If either exchange partner orders pay-per-view films, they normally pay for them. Similarly each pays for their own long-distance telephone calls.
If exchanging cars is part of the deal and your insurance company charges a processing fee to add your exchange partner’s 
name(s) to the policy, this becomes another matter for amicable agreement, although my personal recommendation is that the policy holder pays.
Before the home exchange takes place it’s important to come to a mutual agreement as to how payment for any damages or accidents is resolved. Be pro-active and take a tour of your home noting any items you would be broken hearted to lose. Lock all those items away in a cupboard and clearly indicate it to be out of bounds. With the best intentions in the world, accidents can happen, and it’s so much easier to take these steps rather than find yourself at loggerheads with your home swap partners over an ornament you see as irreplaceable.
Likewise, only exchange cars after first coming to an agreement covering any and all financial incidents. The partner using the car should always pay the deductible in full should there ever be an insurance claim. And if you are the type of owner who inspects the car with a magnifying glass whenever your wife drives it, maybe including it in the exchange isn’t such a good idea.
Goodwill always seems to prevail and with careful forethought and planning complications very seldom arise. From my own home exchange experience we have never encountered any serious problems. Our home has always been there upon our return, the car in the garage and no unexpected bills or demands in the mail!
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