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Posted on JULY 15, 2016 by JANE NEILSON

Have you ever considered home swapping your Wellesley house?

Posted on JULY 15, 2016 by JANE NEILSON

Windemere blogDid you know that New England is a popular destination for Europeans interested in immersing themselves in our culture?

And Europeans love to stay in private homes, either swapping or renting.

For many travelers, a home exchange, or a house swap, is an economical, comfortable and fascinating way to vacation far from home. Essentially, you arrange to occupy someone’s home at your destination while s/he occupies yours. The possibilities are almost endless!

My House Swap Experience

Having a sense of adventure, my family has embraced this idea. We’ve welcomed the opportunity time and time again to integrate our guests into the life of the local community, leaving insider information about the area and introducing them to neighbors and friends.

A few years ago, my family embarked on a particularly great intercultural adventure: a simultaneous swap of this Wellesley Hills home (pictured above?) with an Irish family in a suburb of Dublin.i6453

They were thrilled by the easy stroll to our train station and loved the easy access that it provided to the thrills of our beloved city. Each family had three young children, so it was great fun staying in a lovely home complete with age appropriate toys and games. We even swapped cars!

Since that swap, we have done other successful and fun non-simultaneous swaps in the U.S., Caribbean, and Europe.

How to set up a home swap/exchange

It’s best to work with an exchange organization, which allows you to search their databases and get detailed guidance on how to arrange a swap for yourself. It’s also best to plan far in advance, but be flexible about dates.

When listing your own home, you should describe your home and family, your neighborhood, transportation options, community attractions, etc. in as much detail as possible. Essentially, anything that you think will make the swap desirable!

Photos should also be included.

Will your home be in good hands?

Luckily, problems are actually quite rare, but below are a few tips to follow to ensure everyone has a good experience.

  1. Check with your insurance agent to make sure your policy covers you adequately for home and car.
  2. Notify your neighbors. Maybe even assign a friend to welcome them personally. You don’t want them calling the police if they see strangers letting themselves in!
  3. Lock away valuables (anything sentimental or irreplaceable). Guests will understand If a small room is not accessible.
  4. Be a great host: guests will appreciate information about sites to see, restaurants, shopping, etc.
  5. At the end, be sure to leave your trading partner’s home exactly as you found it. And if you enjoyed your stay, you might even consider leaving a small token of your appreciation (bottle of wine or a fruit basket)
  6. Relax! Remember this is an adventure!

Want to learn more about my home exchange experiences or have a general real estate question? Don’t hesitate to reach out!

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