C McCrea, Belfast
A house swap is a cost-effective way to holiday. In many cases, you not only get free accommodation, but can borrow your co-swapper’s car — though, of course, they’ll want yours in return. Apart from the cost saving, it provides peace of mind: someone to feed Fido, mow the lawn and deter burglars.
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Bear in mind, though, that the organisation can be time-consuming, involving thorough research to ensure you exchange with the right person, then negotiation of the finer details. Most agencies provide a checklist of possible points of conflict, such as smoking or telephone usage.
The application process is fairly standard. You pay a fee that entitles you to a listing and access to other properties. Your company then supplies contact details for those in which you are interested so that you can approach the owner, usually via e-mail.
Homelink (01962 886882, www.homelink.org.uk) has 12,500 members in more than 50 countries. It charges £95 for a year’s web listing and three directories. Intervac (01249 461101, www.intervac.co.uk) is another big player, with 12,000 members worldwide. It has a range of membership levels, from £65 for a year’s internet listing.
You can avoid costs entirely by using the US-based internet-only clubs International Home Exchange Network (www.ihen.com) and Home Exchange (www.homeexchange.com). Both allow nonmembers to surf the site and arrange exchanges.