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Home & Hospitality Exchange and Rentals 101 – Who Will Protect my Stuff?

May 18, 2016 by admin Leave a Comment


As someone who has had hundreds of people stay in my home I believe I can answer that question.  I think the most important thing is to screen your guests.  Almost every exchange/home rental site allows you to screen guests/hosts through references.  If you would feel more comfortable invite only people with several stellar references.  I can honestly say that I have never had a bad guest.  The “worst” things that have happened was someone broke a vase (they replaced it and didn’t know that mine was from Ikea) and someone burnt a hole in an outside chair cushion.  Either of those could have happened with my own friends visiting!  I have friends with a rental beach house and they have a closet where they lock up their favorite things, you could do the same.

Monicas House in Chinchilla

Our home exchange house in Chinchilla, Spain

I really don’t keep a lot of “valuables” – I believe in having more experiences than “stuff” but nonetheless no one has touched my furs or wrecked my house.  I believe that most people are going to treat your house with respect.  If you would feel safer, go ahead and get a rider on your homeowners – but my insurance company said because they aren’t long term renters, I don’t need a special policy.

Deck of our Malaga Apt

Deck of our Malaga Apt

One other thing I don’t see people do is create your own contract.  All of these rental and exchange sites allow you to send emails/contact the  other party – so make a great contract protecting yourself and your valuables and make them sign it.  I am linking you to forms that you can adapt accordingly.

View from AirBnB apt in Play Blanca Panama

View from our AirBnB apt in Play Blanca Panama

So the best ways to protect your home and valuables are: 1) check references 2) check with your homeowners insurance company 3) lock up your valuables and 4) write up a contract.  Go Travel now!

 


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