FREE MEMBERSHIP FOR 12 MONTHS

WHAT IS HOME EXCHANGE?

Home Exchange is the vacation alternative where you stay in my house and I stay in yours. Home exchangers trade their homes, condominiums or apartments at a time that is convenient to both parties, but these are not the only types of accommodations that one gets to choose from. Simply put a home exchange is when; two members agree to exchange homes for a vacation. Typically, you will go to their home while they are in yours. What ever your desired destination may be, city, countryside, beach or off the beaten path area, there are people open to exchanging homes.

 

IS IT SAFE? (Is it safe to swap my house on vacation?)

Yes, home exchanging works because members establish trust and get to know their fellow exchanger by email and telephone. Research shows with tens of thousands of exchanges, never a report of a theft, malicious vandalism, had been found or a case of someone getting to their exchange home and finding a vacant lot.

Exchanging extra photographs and videos of family will help enormously to build this trust.  Do not be worried about "Having a Stranger in Your House�. Think of home exchange as Internet Dating for your home. Before you would actually go on a date with someone you met on the internet, you would exchange some emails, talk on the phone a few times, and swap recent photos. By the time you agreed to meet, it would not be with a "stranger". You would not go on a date if you did not feel a connection, and the same goes for a home exchange.

Good Communication Minimizes Misplaced Expectations. Ask questions about the home and area make sure you see photos. Both sides want to make the exchange a success; their concerns are similar to yours. A home exchange is built on getting to know people and realizing they are genuine and honest - the world is full of generous and honest people - we are all very good at 'seeing' others so your judgment here is important. This is of course also true in all other aspects of life.

HOW LONG IS A TYPICAL EXCHANGE?

Whatever works between the Members, but exchanges within country are normally 1-2 weeks, international exchanges are normally 1-3 weeks. Local exchanges for long weekends are the fastest growing use of home exchange.

 

WHAT DO YOU DO ABOUT VALUABLES?
It is prudent to put away really valuable items and jewelry, but usually just leave things where they are.

WHAT ABOUT INSURANCE AND LIABILITY?
Check with your own insurance company, but for the most part we understand that most insurance covers exchange partners as invited guests in your home or “permitted” drivers and offers coverage as such.

DO YOU HAVE TO EXCHANGE AT THE SAME TIME?

Usually. However, many people exchange their second homes, which allow a lot more flexibility. We even have a Search Function that displays only second homes. In addition, even with primary homes the exchange may be non-simultaneous. For example, you might stay at my house when I am away somewhere else, and we would agree that I could stay at your home later.

 

WHAT ABOUT CARS?
About half our Members exchange cars, but it is entirely up to you.

WHAT ABOUT PETS?
The Listings clearly note whether there are pets in the house and whether pet care is requested or required.

CAN I DO AN EXCHANGE WITHIN MY COUNTRY?
Yes, we can assist you in finding both national, international exchanges and vacation rentals.

 

WHY A HOME EXCHANGE?

 

Home exchange is the smart way to vacation. By trading homes for vacations, families, seniors and singles can enjoy free accommodation wherever they travel. Swapping homes for holidays is a practical and sensible vacation alternative. Not only do you save by not paying for lodging (hotel rooms, surcharges, resort fees and taxes), you can also save by not paying for restaurant meals, parking, laundry, internet connection, and much more.

 

WHAT IS HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE?

 

Hospitality exchangers, on the other hand, host each other in their homes at designated times. Your home exchange partners stay with you as guests and then you go and stay with them as their guests. There is a social aspect to this kind of exchange that some exchangers particularly enjoy. Conceivably, you also get a built-in tour guide with this mode of exchange.

 

WHAT ARE THE BENEFITS OF A HOME EXCHANGE, IN ADDITION TO A FANTASTIC LOW COST ADVENTURE VACATION?

 
Exchanging is fun, is often the beginning of lasting friendships, and saves you money. Many Members join thinking the biggest benefit will be the money they save, and that expectation is certainly realized, with savings of thousands of dollars on hotels, cars and meals not unusual. Afterwards, most will say that the greatest benefits are the experience of experiencing an area like a local, not a tourist and having the comfort of being in a home rather than a cramped hotel room.

 

HOW IS AN EXCHANGE ARRANGED?

 
Swaps usually start with an offer emailed to a prospective exchange partner who has been selected from a number of listings resulting from a search. If the member feels an exchange might be possible, they reply to the email and work out the details. There is no timetable for how long this will take or what must be done. Trying to find the "perfect exchange match" may reduce your chance of a home swap. Being flexible on locations, dates and accommodation will increase your chances of a good, successful trade which is all most people want.

When considering home exchange opportunities, most people are not necessarily seeking a home similar to their own but rather they consider the location. Is it somewhere they would like to visit? Are there places of interest easily accessible from the home? After location, members will check the number of people the home will sleep to decide if it will be suitable and, if they have any special needs, whether these are available in the home. Each home exchange is unique; a bond of trust must be built as you get to know your home swap partners and their family through e-mails, letters or phone calls. Most people traveling on an exchange love the idea of no cost accommodation especially because through their communications ahead of time, they find themselves not staying at a stranger�s home, but at newfound friends, and they will be staying in your home

 

HOW MUCH CAN I SAVE?

Literally thousands of Dollars / Rands / Pounds on a typical exchange. One night at a modest hotel is easily $100.00 (+/ - R800.00) One room service meal can be $20 (+/- R 150.00) Imagine the savings on 2 weeks on a home exchange instead of a hotel! However, people who often think that saving money is the biggest benefit of Holiday Home Exchange find that what they really like is the comfort of staying in a home rather than an impersonal hotel, and experiencing an area as a local, not a tourist.

 

WHO WOULD WANT TO COME TO MY HOUSE?

Of course if you have a beach front home in Cape Town, Hawaii or a penthouse with a view in London, New York, or San Francisco or a Game Farm in South Africa ( or Africa ), you�re going to get a lot of exchange inquiries. But we have found that by their very nature, people who are Members are well traveled and are often interested in seeing new places, and experiencing an area as a local. A potential home exchange partner may wish to be near a loved one or family member, or perhaps need to come to your area for business reasons. Therefore, your "average" home may be just the ticket for someone wanting to exchange with you. If you are a little off the beaten track, you may have to send out more inquiries, and put a little more effort into marketing your home, neighborhood and area. However, if you do so, you might be surprised

 

WILL ANYONE BE INTERESTED IN MY �AVERAGE� HOME?

 

 Yes, everyone has different needs for their vacation home; a small apartment in a city centre can be very attractive to anyone wanting to explore that city.  Your "average" home may be perfect for someone wanting to exchange with you

 

 

IS IT ONE-TO-ONE OR ARE YOU IN A POOL?

Most exchanges are one-to-one, a direct exchange between two Members. That adds a certain degree of trust between the parties.

 

MAY I EXCHANGE MY APARTMENT?

Normally, yes. However, we suggest you contact the owner of your apartment and get any permission necessary.

 

WHO CLEANS THE HOUSE?

Sometimes Members arrange for cleaning, other times you clean the house before you leave. The general rule is to leave the house exactly as you found it, and to take care of the home as you expect your partner to take care of yours.

 

WHAT IS YOUR PRIVACY POLICY?

HolidayHomExchange.co.za does not post your name, street address or email address in your listing, or make them available over the World Wide Web. Our advanced home exchange system hides your personal contact information yet makes it possible for a visitor and potential home exchange partner to contact you directly from your listing according to terms and conditions only, if complaint is received it would be dealt with in a strict manner

 

WILL MY NAME, ADDRESS AND E-MAIL ADDRESS BE EXPOSED ON THE INTERNET?

No. HolidayHomExchange.co.za does not reveal your name, address, phone number, personal detail or email address in property details. Your personal contact information is confidential. Members can make first contact with other members by emailing after member registration and acceptance of Terms and Conditions of Membership stipulated only.

 

WHAT SHOULD I WRITE IN MY E-MAIL OFFERS TO OTHER MEMBERS?

Draft your email in Word and save it so you can copy and paste this text into your emails any time you need to - please don't re-write your email from scratch every time you contact another member (you will soon lose all your enthusiasm for the process if you do!). Make your email as descriptive and appealing as possible - the more personality the better since other members are attracted to lively and interesting offers. 

 

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?

It is a fabulous travel value at only R500.00 (+/- $ 75.00) for a 1-year listing. Additional listings are only R250 (+/- $50.00) per one per listing for a one year unlimited Membership makes it the best travel value on the web

Unlimited means you can make as many exchanges as you want and there is no other charges, no per-day charges or per-exchange charges, either to your exchange partner or to us.

Home Exchange means free accommodations.