Arranging a Home or Apartment Exchange

Let's face it: vacationing can be a serious drain on your bank account, not to mention the stress of being somewhere unfamiliar. Traditional hotels do very little to comfort the homesick, road-weary traveler, with their cramped rooms, impersonal furnishings, and exorbitant mini-bar and room service charges.

But a growing number of Americans are experiencing first-hand the benefits of a home or apartment exchange. A home or apartment exchange is defined as: when two parties agree to exchange their homes for an agreed-upon time and agreed-upon additional arrangements, some of which may include:

· Pet care
· Car use privileges
· Maid service (if the home you are staying in has a maid service, you may request that this service continue while you are staying there)
· Watering houseplants
· Bringing in mail
· Computer use privileges

If you're new to exchanging, the task of finding an exchange and preparing your home for visitors while you're away may seem daunting. But a methodical, well-researched approach will make it easier to figure out. Below are some tips to setting up your exchange, and some helpful websites that offer additional information and serve as forums for hopeful exchangers to connect with one another.

The first think you'll need to do is figure out where you want to go, and for how long. Being flexible with travel dates and length of vacation time can really benefit you (especially with Europeans, who generally vacation for longer amounts of time than Americans, lucky dogs). However, sometimes it can't be helped and you're locked in to traveling for a certain amount of time or on certain dates. If you're patient and persistent, and start your search early enough, it will greatly increase the odds of finding a match.

Once you've narrowed down where you'd like to travel, and have an idea of dates and length of your vacation, it's time to find an organization that will help connect you to other exchangers. The web is full of organizations that cater to home and apartment exchangers. Some specialize in regions of the world or home versus apartment exchanges, or exchanges for seniors or families with young children, but most have a little bit of everything. The following websites cater to home and apartment exchanges, though this is by no means a complete list:

* www.HomeExchange.com
* www.Ihen.com
* www.invented-city.com

Once you've chosen a website you're comfortable with, the next step is to register and get your profile up and running on the site. You'll be asked basic information about yourself (your name, occupation, if you have children, contact information, vacation dates you're willing to travel, where you'd like to travel, and any additional languages you speak). You can leave any of these questions blank, though it's a good idea to fill out as much information as possible so that others get a feel for who you are and your interests.

Next you'll need to write a profile of your home, including how many people it can comfortably hold. Most sites will give you a word limit, so choose the highlights of your home or mention specific things that you feel make your home more attractive, such as:

* Large backyard, perfect for grilling out or relaxing and enjoying the summer evening.
* Chef's kitchen, with everything you need to cook a gourmet meal.
* Stunning views of downtown and city lights from the living room and master bedroom.
* Convenient to several bus routes, as well as shopping, many restaurants, and the theater.

Take a look at profiles on the site to get a feel for how others write about their homes.

You'll also want to take a few pictures. Most websites make it very easy to post photos of your home. Consider taking a shot of the exterior of your home, or the backyard (especially if you mention it in the profile). If you live on a beautiful street or have an amazing view, include a shot of one of these. You never know what will get someone's attention, and chances are if you think it's a great feature, someone else will, too.

Next, take a look at the other postings on the site. You should be able to search by continent, country, city or state. See if you can find a match for where you want to travel, and when. If you see a posting that looks promising, email them with your particulars and the dates you'd like to travel. Invite them to check out your posting (always include your posting ID in the email to make it easier for them). Then sit back and wait. Most posters are good about responding to your email inquiry within a few days. If you don't hear anything within four to five days it's fair to move on to the next posting that matches your criteria. Along those lines, it's always a good idea to respond promptly to an email inquiry from a hopeful exchanger. Don't leave someone in the dark. Respond promptly and politely to their query. If you're not interested in exchanging with them a simple "no, thanks, those dates don't work for me at this time" is perfectly sufficient. Always thank them for their interest.

Sometimes it can take months to arrange an exchange, whereas at other times it only takes a few weeks or days. It can depend on when you want to travel, where you want to go, and how long you'll want to spend there. Things like traveling with children or having pets that will need to be cared for can make the search more difficult, but patience will almost always pay off in the end.

Once you've found a match and the two parties have agreed to the terms of exchange (length of stay, travel dates, any special home or pet care requirements) you're ready to go. Let your fellow exchanger know when you've made your travel arrangements (purchased a plane ticket, etc.), and the dates and times of arrival. Arrange with a neighbor or relative to meet the exchanger at your home, give them the keys to your home, and show them around. Your fellow exchanger will do the same for you.

Congratulations! You've accomplished the hardest part of the exchange: setting it up. Now all that's left to do is get ready to enjoy a memorable vacation!