Why Do a Home Swap?

So the reason for swapping homes is a financial one; but not exclusively. We find it more relaxing to have a well equipped house with all the mod-cons that we're used to at our disposal than just a hotel room or a smallish vacation rental in a touristy area. We like to live like the locals. To shop where they shop, to eat out and find restaurants that we otherwise wouldn't have found. To get insider tips of places we otherwise would never have spotted.

Where do you find people to swap with and do you know them? we're constantly asked.
If you google "home swaps" or "house exchanges" , various companies will come up. Take your pick. The cost roughly the same membership fees unless you can join a super-high-end outfit dealing in luxurious villas; if you have such a home yourself.

Then the procedure is similar to that of  a dating agency. In fact, I have compared these two searches before: In both cases you are looking for a potentially acceptable partner. The listings show pictures of the object you want to swap. You describe what you have to offer and what you are looking for.
Start off with a certain region of the world that interests you. How many members live in that country? It varies from company to company. If you can agree on a time where you both want to travel, you are one step closer to vacation haven! Most offers include a car deal, i.e. a car swap is offered. Isn't it marvelous to have a car waiting when you arrive and not spend major fees on rentals?
A contract or exchange agreement seals and binds the arrangement.

The search process can be lengthy or quick, just a matter of luck sometimes...just like in the dating business. And other than the one off membership fee that entitles you to use their database for a year as often as you like there are no other costs involved. An umbrella insurance to cover your back for all eventualities is advisable.

Some agencies specialize in seniors for obvious reasons: They typically have more time, prefer longer stays, no children if you don't want a family with children to visit your house. Every step of the way you have a choice and some say in who you commit to.

It shows that I was a matchmaker, doesn't it? Well, I'm the author of www.NextTimeLucky.com.

There is a lot to do...

Other people would be packing bags already or at least think about what they are going to take. We spent another preparation-marathon-weekend doing up the porch. Thank goodness, it wasn't as scorching hot as before when we did the outside painting.On Saturday, hubby power washed. We had only painted the floor of the lanai last year before our trip, but watering plants had left unsightly stains, rusty and some algae-green. While we were at it, some plants had to be repotted and the urns they went into---you guessed it: They had to be derusted and painted too. That's the trouble when two perfectionists come together.
On Sunday, we painted the floor and I cleaned the garage. Yes, I hear you ask...but you know yourself: Whose garage is in ship shape? Certainly not ours. There were even some remnants of the last (French) visitors beach erosion that they must have caused judging from the amount of sand we found in some corners. Now there is only the indoor touch up jobs to be done, be that walls or skirting boards and doors. I'm sure, we'll find some last minute extra job that needs doing urgently....2 weeks and counting!
In the meantime, we've also got a schedule for our roaming visitors. I didn't really want to run an open house again, but the nature of the beast is that you want to see your nearest and dearest. And no better place than in a house that can accommodate 7 people easily although they won't all be there at the same time.

Exciting times! And it will all be worth it. We can relax when we're there!

Evaluating Site for Seniors

With only 30 days to go on our adventure, I want to report about home swapping website today that exclusively caters to people over 50. If you belong into that category and are thinking about joining one of these agencies, here is the address: www.SeniorHomeSwaps.com.Surprisingly, there is always room for another version to a product by going into niche markets. What may the benefit of it be? People without children. If you don't want children to be running around your house and precious belongings, this may be an obvious possibility. On the other hand, you can always rule children out on the site where we are paid up, like pets. Just tick off the appropriate boxes. You may be limiting your choices, but there you are.
I had a look at this site as a visitor. You can do that and look at individual countries free of charge, of course you cannot connect with the advertising people yet.They only had 7 exchange partners in the whole of Germany. Only one had a photo on offer and only 2 were willing to swap cars too.The may have to grow for more members or they may have more participating partners in the SA and Canada. I didn't look there. They do, however, offer, paid accommodation in private houses.It would be worth checking out comparing the size of houses. Goes to reason that "Seniors" have downsized and families have bigger houses. I wouldn't want to end up in a "Retirement community".
For now,  I'll stick to mine...

Home Swapping is like Dating

Being an old hand on dating sites, my experience with a home swapping site took me right back.

As new hopefuls on a home exchange website, my hubby and I enthusiastically put up photos of our house, plus a catchy description together with details about us. We felt like kids in the candy-store: all these great places and houses all around the world up for grabs at the click of a mouse.

We approached desirable potential partners, sometimes we got replies, and sometimes not: “sorry but...or you're too late”. Then we thought we had found the right fit and we started to communicate by email with the prospective swappers.  At the same time we asked a couple of questions about what they were offering on their part. After a bit of research, at last we were ready to commit: “Let’s do it” only to get blown off: We've found somebody else.

It reminds me of Internet dating. After crafting a compelling personal profile, you click though gazillions of pictures and prospects; you wait for responses or actively approach potential partners. You communicate, sometimes slowly; sometimes unexpectedly excited, making quick progress in getting to know the other side. Then boom—you’re blown off and don’t know what hits you. They disappear from the radar or have the courtesy of informing you that they have met somebody else while you were getting your hopes up. Happens all the time. It’s called double timing.

We lost out while trying to cover our backs and avoid being disappointed if things turned out to be different to what they were portrayed to be. 
We are still "virgins" on the home swapping front so to speak, but we learned our lesson: Apparently one has to jump "into bed" here even more quickly than on dating sites.

The above was posted last year. Season 2 was about to start last week when we were approached by a German couple in a tempting area where we'd like to go very much. We agreed but had to talk about the timing to be able to synchronize it with a stay in the Bordeaux area. We had also gotten a nice request from there. When I didn't hear anything for 10 days, I was forewarned. The Germans had found somebody else, more exciting...As second- time- rounders we're learning fast: Truly a case of touble-timing as described before. Now we're waiting whether the French come through or not. Let's make a bet!

Car swapping

I had the best radio interview experience ever today with Melissa Ross (NPR). Thanks for making me  so comfortable. ( I had about a dozen in my former business as a matchmaker plus some TV appearances). Very well researched; she had even read the last few blogs.
I'd like to continue my evaluation with the swapping of a car. That's an option that saves you a big chunk from your pocket book. A rental car can cost up to $1000 a week. Both parties need car insurance but no special permission from the insurance companies, as far as I know. We simply left our insurance details in the glove compartment of our car and so did our exchange partners. In the agreement, the drivers that are allowed to drive the car are listed.
If you know anything about cars in Europe, particularly in cities, you know that Europeans tend to buy smaller cars. One reason is that they have to pay much more for gas than we here in the USA in spite of the recent spike here (1 liter equals about Eur 1,50.) The other is because parking space is very precious.Most people living in cities --like in NY-- use public transport for commuting to work or even for going on vacation. There is a very efficient network of fast trains in many European countries, particularly in Germany (Thalys) and also in France (TGV).
So the cars we had at our disposal were not SUVs but useful for what we needed them.A bit small for me as I'm tall. Funnily enough, in Germany we were given the wrong keys by mistake. So we had the pleasure of cruising in their bigger car until we found out.
Pity that the French car's AC was broken. During the first few minutes of my first ride, the red symbol Service light came up. Worried, I called the French owner. "Don't worry", his standard phrase btw, "it's been like that for some years." Now that's reassuring. Conscientious as I am, I had taken mine for a full service shortly before the exchange. In France, I caused a hub cap to fall off  and couldn't put it back on. We left them a note admitting it and asked them to send us a bill.
As part of the exchange agreement, the car exchange agreement, indemnifies you against damage that is caused. In case of an accident, we would have had the relevant numbers and insurance details handy to alert whatever car insurance was involved.It is a risk, but one that we took willingly considering the immense expenses otherwise. Thank God, we only deplore the loss of a beach towel and a saucepan and gained lots of sand from the beaches in and around the car in the garage. (First thing my husband did coming home was actually sweep the garage, imagine!) Thrashing the car would have bee really bad.
Advice #4: Make sure about the car that you are getting, how old it is, whether it's working properly, what type of gas it takes and that proper insurance is provided.

Was it worth it?

People who are reading my blog ask me to report at the end if it was worth it.
We're only at the half-way point and I can safely say, ‘we enjoyed it’. We saw parts of Germany we would never have dreamed of visiting, as they're not considered too touristy. We stayed in a very comfortable house for 4 weeks for nothing; eh, we offered our own in exchange. If you think about the benefit of that: we were told when the sprinklers didn't work as set, we got updates about the state of the lawn--when the lawn man didn't turn up, that the newly repaired washing machine still presented with the same problem. Somebody kept an eye on the mail and watered our plants. The house is and looks lived in which gives us a good feeling although we have a house alarm. In addition, we had a car at our disposal. An outlay not to be underestimated. We stayed in a house that really had everything we needed except for the ice maker and AC which we didn't miss. Well, most Europeans have a smaller fridge than Americans. That is one thing I definitely would change if we were to live in Germany again.
We met the family we swapped homes with, a delightful family. It's a great bonus if that happens. The next family from France we'll only meet after our stay when we're back in FL and they are about to vacate our house a day later.
There was no report about anything getting thrashed. The cleaners might rectify that tomorrow... It was my son who broke a coaster in this house. As way of compensating for that our exchange partner bought one of my books. Hey, a sale was done, too!
With all these modern technologies it's easy to keep on top of things. We email almost daily, when a crisis lurks -like I couldn't switch on their TV one day we skyped. Mail is being forwarded to our current destination although with a hiccup on the part of USPS. Cheap telephone lines make communication in both places easy.
We also met their parents who may have kept an eye out without us knowing and I got two jars of my beloved quince jelly which I'll never make myself in my life again.
In comparison, the really nice flat we rented last year, lacked certain mod cons or they were not functional in spite of us paying EUR 1000 for just one week. Obviously our rental car was on top of that.
It gave me ample of time to update my impression and adjust my memory. That will keep me going when away again form my native homeland for a while. We stocked up on Rumkugeln and other goodies. Enough to see me through a few weeks, unless Hubby partakes too much. He also grew find fond of Broetchen etc.
There are many websites to choose from, but this one has a lot of members worldwide and over 1000 in Germany. Have a look for yourself It's like browsing a travel catalog.
Will we do it again? Yes, we are. going to....tomorrow. And if that experience proves anything positive like this one, we might add another month next year. If we wanted more, my American husband would run into Visa restrictions. But there is a way to deal with that. I'm very grateful he arranged his heavy work schedule around my needs of being in Germany. In France, at last, he'll be on vacation for the most part. I'm so glad.