Home Exchange Newsletter

Home Base Holidays publishes Home Swappers Newsletter, a bi-monthly ezine both for members and for everyone interested in finding out more about home exchange vacations. 

Home Swappers includes members'  home exchange stories, tips and advice on arranging successful home swaps, special exchange requests and links to useful travel sites.

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Home Swappers Newsletter Archive

Apr/May 2008 Home Swappers: Issue 51 - First home swap: Mombasa, Kenya to Nay, SW France; CHECtravel; the importance of travel insurance;
stocking the fridge for home exchange guests; thoughtful gestures from home swapping 'Grandma'; l'offre d'échange de maison à Sydney.

Feb/Mar 2008 Home Swappers: Issue 50 - Open-ended, non-simultaneous home exchanges; Guardian home exchange site launches; Who will be sleeping in my bed? travel insurance for over 70s with pre-existing medical conditions; restricting Internet access to home exchange guests; scam/spam alert - avoid 'free' offers from rogue agencies.

Dec 2007/Jan 2008 Home Swappers: Issue 49 - Hospitality exchanges: our experiences; PhD in home exchange: update on diary research; Home Exchange Academy: book review; RTÉ One - 'Highly Recommended' Sun. 16 Dec: home exchange featured; Home Base Holidays partnership project.

Oct/Nov 2007 Home Swappers: Issue 48 - Home exchange over: lasting friendships; And the winner of a one year free home exchange listing is ...;
PhD in home exchange: volunteers wanted; Home Exchange Academy: e-book reviewers requested; Allowing use of a computer: potential problems;
Website upgrade and new developments.

Aug/Sept 2007 Home Swappers: Issue 47- A life changing home exchange (England to France); win a year's free membership to Home Base Holidays; exchange offer messages - too few? too many? - tips for increasing response rates; August sale - membership rate reductions.

Jun/Jul 2007 Home Swappers: Issue 46- Do you prefer a bed to a couch...? (room swap); the kindness of home exchangers; car swaps - insurance issues; tell a story with your home exchange photos; well targetted home exchange offers.

Apr/May 2007 Home Swappers: Issue 45- Long haul home exchange with a toddler; new photo display in Home Base Holidays listings; increasing response rates to home exchange offers; leaving emergency contact information for home exchange guests; rating home exchanges - survey results.

Feb/Mar 2007 Home Swappers: Issue 44 - House Swap Heaven! Massachusetts to Ireland; the Exchange Queen's 'Treasure of the Month' Award; Preparing to leave a home at the end of a home exchange; 'The Holiday': a Hollywood fantasy home swap? survey: rate your exchanges;
Times Online: 'The 130 best travel websites' (including Home Base Holidays).

Dec 2006 /Jan 2007 Home Swappers: Issue 43 - Lasting friendships and the 'boy swap'; clean enough to eat off the floor? Travel and Transitions Story Contest - an honourable mention for 'California Home Exchange'; Poor Communications? Be alert to possible problems before agreeing an exchange; 'The Holiday': home swapping hits the big screen.

Oct/Nov 2006 Home Swappers: Issue 42 - The Kindness of Strangers - a home (non) swap story; a house swap recorded from both sides - two blogs! Don't be a swap-spammer! How home exchange search results are displayed (and options for changing); new New Zealand rep for Home Base Holidays; Travel the Home Exchange Way - two years of blogging.

Aug/Sept 2006 Home Swappers: Issue 41 - Home Exchange - THE Way to Go! Finding the best home swap matches for families with children; article: 'A House Swap Affords the Comforts of Home'; Home Exchange Travels - a personal blog; taking your own 'essentials' on a home swap; exchanging references.

Jun/Jul 2006 Home Swappers: Issue 40 - Holà Espagne! Our family's home exchange adventure; home exchangers who smoke: approaching non-smokers with a home swap offer; use Google Earth to show the location of your home; Travel the Home Exchange Way: news from the blog; are minor disappointments more of a problem with long term exchanges?

April/May 2006 Home Swappers: Issue 39 - Questions people ask about home exchange - what did you do with your "good stuff"; arranging a home swap for fixed dates; Last Minute Offers - adding your listing and checking for exchange offers; feedback - differences in housekeeping standards; a little thoughtfulness makes a big difference; Travel and Transitions - new Travel Story Contest

February/March 2006 Home Swappers: Issue 38 - Summer home swap - Nova Scotia to England; the saga of the (missing) keys; Travel the Home Exchange Way wins a Bloggy Award! Home swap homes - differences in housekeeping standards; Parlez vous français? Communicating in another language; home exchange offers - 'no' is the hardest word

December 2005/January 2006 Home Swappers: Issue 37 - Sold on Swapping - story of a first home exchange, from California to North Carolina; Kiwi McLeods on Tour - New Zealander's travelblog, including two home exchanges in England; attitudes to home swapping - avoiding misunderstandings when arranging international exchanges; insurance issues - home and contents, car & travel

October/November 2005 Home Swappers: Issue 36 - Two home exchange reports from both sides of the swaps (British Columbia to Somerset; London to California); California Dreaming Travelblog - London member's home exchange blog; WEXAS Travel Club - 3 months free trial membership; home exchange - quality of homes vs the whole exchange experience; Home Base Holidays website upgrade

August/September 2005 Home Swappers: Issue 35 - Swapping homes in your own country (an Australian exchange); feedback on article: home exchange - much more than a cheap vacation; Money Saving Expert - travel insurance; Wikihow article - How to Exchange Your Home for Free Vacation Accommodation; help yourself to the soy sauce!

June/July 2005 Home Swappers: Issue 34 - Arranging a series of non-simultaneous home swaps; home exchange - much more than a cheap vacation; travelling before a home swap - keep in touch with exchange partners; taking a pet on a home exchange holiday; location! location! - more important than a luxury home for exchanges; home swaps between vegetarians; summer home swaps - school's out, but not at the same time

April/May 2005 Home Swappers: Issue 33 - Australia - too hot to handle for summer home swaps? Compromising on exchange dates; Email Code of Conduct for home exchangers; Home Base Holidays wins Golden Bee award; they want a home swap in Norway, you live in New Zealand - looking outside the square for exchanges; house-sitting in Brisbane - travel companion request

February/March 2005 Home Swappers: Issue 32 - What makes a good home exchanger? Meticulous planning and a sense of humour!; organising an information folder for home exchange guests; recent questions & answers on Travel the Home Exchange Way weblog: wheelchair accessible homes, non-simultaneous exchanges, swapping homes with a lodger in residence, listing a home for rental

December 2004/January 2005 Home Swappers: Issue 31 - Home exchange - planning for the unexpected; ripples in the pond - keep up the communication with home swap contacts; home exchange weblog - many new posts; a face lift for Home Base Holidays; references for past home exchanges; members on 'Home from Home', Channel 4

October/November 2004 Home Swappers: Issue 30 - Wonderful double exchange in Australia; member references; new Home Exchange Travel Weblog; adapting to changed situation when one exchanger can't travel; planning for exchanges far in advance; free exchange holiday in India anyone? 

August/September 2004 Home Swappers: Issue 29 - If the shoe fits ... Auckland to London home swap; new website features: upload five photos, new options - second home, over 55s/seniors, languages spoken (English, French, German, Italian, Spanish), home computer/printer/internet access + easier searches; competition - first time home swapper wins 'The Home Exchange Guide'; member references vs. rate an exchange

June/July 2004 Home Swappers: Issue 28 - Sky diving in Oz - Londoner's home swap adventures; annual travel insurance for home swappers over 70; competition - win 'The Home Exchange Guide'; second homes - a novel way to use home exchange; 'The Caretaker Gazette' - live rent-free

April/May 2004 Home Swappers: Issue 27 - Christmas in Utah - New Zealanders' first home swap; information for home exchange guests - member's sample folder; coming soon - new features on Home Base Holidays website; swapping 'real' homes, not 5* hotels; a home exchange agreement = a firm commitment; Airfraid - conquer a fear of flying

February/March 2004 Home Swappers: Issue 26 - Preparations for a long-term (6 month) home swap; sample home exchange agreement; 'Home from Home' - participants wanted for the 3rd TV series on home exchange holidays; laid back or meticulous - what's your home exchange style?; The Good Web Guide - 5 star rating for Home Base Holidays!; swapping lifestyles - New Zealand for England

December 2003/January 2004 Home Swappers: Issue 25 - We don't live in a show house. Can we still exchange our home?; 'The Home Exchange Guide' - special introductory discount on book orders; organising our home swap ... and a few things we overlooked; keep it personal - make your exchange offer messages stand out; overcoming the language barrier - translating exchange offers; travel-quest - specialist travel listings

October/November 2003 Home Swappers: Issue 24 - 'Who Dares Wins' - home exchanges from New Zealand to Florida & Vancouver Island; 'The Home Exchange Guide' - new book on using the internet to arrange home swaps; home exchange in the media - BBC Online, USA Today, Channel 4; special exchange request - Gold Coast Australia for SW Ireland; who's looking after the cat while you're away on an exchange?

August/September 2003 Home Swappers: Issue 23 - 1st time swap - Australians 'at home' in England; handing over car keys in airport car parks; Britain - exchanging places in the spirit of Harry Potter; Charisse - new rep in Ireland; getting responses to exchange offers; 'Slow Travelers'

June/July 2003 Home Swappers: Issue 22 - New York City home swap - mixing work with pleasure; introducing new Australia rep, Jennifer; home insurance - tips for home exchangers; swaps to England & France - travel companion wanted; exchange request - Bath, England for Brisbane, Australia

April/May 2003 Home Swappers: Issue 21 - Cat, Beer, enjoys special attention from home swap guests at home in Amsterdam; historical homes with antiques: swap for similar?; long term home exchange:  arranging regular medications; car swaps: preserving a no claims bonus;  flight tickets: buy once an exchange agreement is firm

February/March 2003 Home Swappers: Issue 20 - Home exchangers: make new friends; Travel with a Challenge: 'Exchange a Home and See the World'; two new UK magazines: two home swap features!; long-term exchanges: extra preparations; swapping cars; Carlton TV: take part in a new programme

December 2002/January 2003 Home Swappers: Issue 19 - First home swap (California to England): a fantastic experience!; London & Melbourne members: live webcam link on GMTV; 'Ask the Expert' article on home exchange in 'The Mature Traveler'; sending exchange offers: making a good first impression

October/November 2002 Home Swappers: Issue 18 - Home swap on TV: Wales to Oz nut farm; members' own house websites: more information & photos; so many nice people, so many exchange offers!; 'real' testimonials & links to home exchange listings

August/September 2002 Home Swappers: Issue 17 - Sharing 'people' photos; home exchangers in demand - 4 TV programmes, 1 magazine!; Home Base Holidays rated a 'Cool' site; new membership rates & options; new search features including 'child friendly home' symbol

June/July 2002 Home Swappers: Issue 16 - New newsletter format with pictures; exchange agreed .... in one hour; take part in new TV series in the UK on home exchange; late exchange offers for summer '02 - in London, Nice & near Toronto; home swap vacation leads to new life in Australia

April/May 2002 Home Swappers: Issue 15 - Solo traveller exchange story: England to Australia; last minute exchange offers - Boost My Profile!; check the newest exchange listings; home swap offer messages - create a good first impression; options available: home exchange, hospitality exchange, weekend exchange, rental offered, long term exchange, housesitting offered, housesitting wanted, bed and breakfast offered

February/March 2002 Home Swappers: Issue 14 - Swap homes in Harry Potter Land! (formerly known as Great Britain) with recommended websites for further information; new specialist agency affiliates - long-term exchanges + gay home & hospitality exchanges; 25% discount for new members until March directory deadline (21 February)

November/December 2001 Home Swappers: Issue 13 - Exchange/hosting story: Derbyshire, England to California; member tips: cell phones & phone cards abroad; 'Home from Home' TV series on home exchange starts! Happy American home swappers in France

September/October 2001 Home Swappers: Issue 12 - Exchange story: Ireland to Iceland; member tips: exchange home videos & post-it notes on appliances; long-term exchanges; how new are the listings? Why not an 'open' site?

July/August 2001 Home Swappers: Issue 11 - UK members' exchanges make the news; 'early bird' summer discount offers; new country searches; American & Canadian exchange listings in demand; feedback from members & visitors

May/June 2001 Home Swappers: Issue 10 - TV series on home exchange; Vavo home swap forum; Easter exchange story: Sussex, England to Ghent, Belgium; 'The Guardian' profile; late exchanges; focus on travel with children

March/April 2001 Home Swappers: Issue 9 - make your home earn its keep; share photos with exchange partners; Home Base Holidays - a lesson in English?; win a guide to London; special travel sites

January/February 2001 Home Swappers: Issue 8 - finding the most recent listings; an exchange story in pictures: Sausalito, California to Edinburgh, Scotland; special exchange request - Sydney, Australia; family, seniors and travel sites

November/December 2000 Home Swappers: Issue 7 - advanced searches to help find the best exchange matches; first exchange: Southampton, England to Toronto, Canada; how to get responses to your exchange offers

September/October 2000 Home Swappers: Issue 6 - 'imbalanced' home exchanges; first exchange experience: Belfast to Texas; representatives' websites: Canada, Malta, South Africa; car insurance 

July/August 2000 Home Swappers: Issue 5 - reps in Malta & Canada; travel guides and maps available; new exchanger's jitters; advanced search features; UK travel websites

May/June 2000  Home Swappers: Issue 4 - special exchange requests; dream exchange to Florida;  travel insurance; member home exchange website

March/April 2000  Home Swappers: Issue 3 - exchanging second homes; BBC Summer Holiday programme; renewal discounts; UK telephone number changes

January/February 2000 Home Swappers: Issue 2 - First Home Exchange Alliance; London-New York Exchange on TV; exchanges with babies and toddlers; representatives - Canada, France, South Africa

November/December 1999 Home Swappers: Issue 1 - 'Trading Places' home exchange scheme for Oxfam; member exchange Berkshire, England - San Diego, USA; sample detailed information sheet

Note: We are happy for you to forward complete issues of Home Swappers to everyone who may be interested in subscribing; however, all Home Swappers content is copyright and cannot be used in any form without written permission from Home Base Holidays.

Newsletter Subscriber Comments

Diana Mitchell writes: 'What a nice service you are providing! I congratulate you on being enterprising and providing this forum. I put an ad somewhere saying I might like to swap houses, and got a response many months later from an English family, BUT am sort of cold feetish, not knowing about my art collection, loads of nice things in my house, and while I am confident their stuff is safe with ME ... am anxious about them. Ha ha ha ... isn't that the way? So I'll look forward to reading the experiences of others, and then will get to know more so as to be able to make a more informed decision. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you also for your personal response and the explanations.'

Note from Editor: Diana has expressed the concerns of many people new to the idea of home swapping. Please see the article, 'New Exchanger's Jitters' in Home Swappers: Issue 5 in which we address these understandable fears.

Experienced Home Exchanger?

We are always pleased to receive your home swapping stories and advice to first time exchangers for inclusion in Home Swappers. Member stories and quotes are also included on the website with a direct link to listings.

New to Home Exchange?

Contact Us and do let us know any questions you would like to put to experienced home exchangers. These will be published in Home Swappers and are sure to elicit information useful to yourself and others considering a home exchange holiday for the first time. But first, check answers to the most common questions asked about home exchange on our frequently asked questions page.