Save tons of money and stay like a local by doing a home exchange. Home exchange sites are becoming more popular because you save TONS of money on the costs of accomdation, food and even transportation. Yes, you can even exchange a car! You can have all the amenities of home – washer, wifi – maybe even a pool or a maid.
On sites like www.homeexchange.com and www.homeforexchange.com, you join for a fee of about $100-150 a year and list your home. Then you can proactively contact others who want to come stay in your area or you can wait for people to contact you.
A lot of people are open to anywhere they say “just ask”. If you live in a popular area like me you will probably get get some, if not many, requests. I have to often turn people down.
I have been telling my friends for years that your vacation overseas can be cheaper than a week at the local beach. I have done exchanges and it is a great way to stay like a local and be financially smart. The only cost is joining the site – and you can exchange the whole year if you want! Take a year sabbatical and swap your vacation home or your primary residence.
There are so many scenarios – simultaneous, non-simultaneous, your vacation house for their primary, exchange RV’s, boats etc. We have had many families stay in our house with us and we will stay at their house in the future. Tomorrow I have a family from Malaga coming to stay for 10 days then in September I will go stay with them!
It’s totally up to you and the party to set the parameters of the exchange.
So get out there and exchange!
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