House Swapping

In 2017 we signed up for a trial period of Home Exchange to give it a go. I must admit, in the beginning, it does seem a little too good to be true. Travel all you want for the low price of $150?

 

I knew I had to test the system!

 

I listed my home with some decent photos and tried to sell the idea of coming to Canada. Not just Canada; Sarnia. Sure everyone wants to come to Canada, but Sarnia? Maybe not so much.

 

Thankfully, we live on a fresh water lake within a few hours drive from Toronto, Niagara Falls and several beautiful Ontario attractions, so I figured I had a chance. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Home Exchange offers three ways of exchange; simultaneous, non-simultaneous and non-reciprocal.

 

Simultaneous is exactly how it sounds. You live in someone's house while they live in yours at the same time.

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Non-Simultaneous is when you stay in that same person’s home and they come to yours, but at different times. For example, most people don’t want to travel to Canada during the winter - while I would prefer not to travel to the Caribbean during Hurricane season. You swap high season for high season, which is often during opposite times of the year.

 

Non-Reciprocal is when you stay at someone’s home, or them in yours, and you do not reciprocate the stay. Home Exchange offers a "Hot Air Balloon" for every time that you open up your home for a non-reciprocal stay. You can then use that Hot Air Balloon to travel to the destination of your choice.

 

For example, we offered our home up to a family from Ireland for two weeks. We then used that Balloon to travel to Roatan, Honduras. Home Exchange uses the Hot Air Balloons as a form of currency in a way.

 

The hot air balloon program is what sold me on Home Exchange. The odds of finding someone who wanted to come to Sarnia who would be interested in making a direct exchange was slim, but I had a feeling I could conjure up a few balloons.

 

Within a few weeks I had several people bite on the idea of a balloon and before I knew it I had 3 balloons. We could have accumulated a few more, but at the time we had also opened our home up on Airbnb and was feeling as though we would never be in our home again, so we declined a few.

 

About a month later we found a flight deal direct from Toronto to Great Exuma for $150 a person return and reached out to the fellow Home Exchangers in the area. To our surprise, we had a bite and we were on our way to the beautiful Bahamas for a fraction of the price.

 

After coming home we sought out another exchange, trust me you will become addicted to the site.

 

 We set our sights on Roatan for my husband and I’s 10 year wedding anniversary. Once again we had a bite. The timing worked out and we landed ourselves an ocean front condo in the prestigious West Bay WITH a car.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Already for 2018, we have beautiful homes lined up in Ireland and Scotland with no signs of slowing down - for free I may add.

 

Sometimes you win and other times you don’t. Thankfully Home Exchange has the largest platform of users so chances are you will have no troubles landing yourself free accommodation. With each swap we have met some really amazing people, I would have to say that is almost the best part about swapping. We received so many insider tips on where to eat, where to go, and what to do. It really adds to the enjoyment of traveling - you are truly living like a local!

 

 Home Exchange also offers you a guarantee that if you do not confirm an exchange in your first year - they will give you the second year for free! So what are you waiting for?

 

Have you tried a House Swapping platform? Did it work for you?

 

** Disclaimer ** This is not a sponsored post. I pay for my membership each year out of my own pocket but do receive a small commission (a few dollars) if you sign up yourself through this site. Thank you for your support!