The Home Exchange Guide: How to Find Your Free Home Away from Home

by T.T. Baker and M.T. Simon

Book Overview

Would you like to stay free for a week, a month or more when you travel in the U.S. or abroad? By exchanging your home for someone else’s during your business trip, family reunion or vacation—you can... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1932534008
• ISBN13: 9781932534009
• Release Date: January 2003
• Publisher: Poyeen Pub.
• Length: 186 Pages

Customer Reviews

A Practical Way to Save Money while Traveling the World

"According to a recent New York Times article, a quarter of a million home exchanges take place annually." If you are especially adventurous you may enjoy this unique alternative to staying in hotels. Much of the cost during a vacation is the hotel and if you think about how much money you can then spend on your actual vacation, this might seem a much more appealing option. In order to save hundred of dollars, you do have to consider the fact that not only will you be living in someone else's home, they will be living in yours. This alone has made me very nervous in the past because of my precious kittens who I adore like they are my children. The facts are, you want people who you can trust and there are many factors to consider. "How would you like to travel to an exotic island and stay free? Would you like to stay in one of the best neighborhoods in Paris for three weeks gratis? What about in a historic apartment a short stride away from the Spanish steps in the heart of Rome?" The Home Exchange Guide addresses various issues that you will need to consider before exchanging cars, boats, homes, etc. The idea about exchanging second homes sounds more appealing than a first home because then you can technically use the money you would use for hotels to invest in a second property. What a great idea. In that way, you never have to give up your real home location, but technically rent out your second home for free in exchange for homes at your travel destination. By the time I was halfway through the introduction, already my mind had awakened to the great possibilities involved in this option. Through reading this book you can learn about ideal exchange partners and how to avoid costly mistakes. There are home compatibility questionnaires and a list of "consider a hotel if:" to dissuade anyone who is not comfortable with the entire idea. Once you decide this is an option, you can then read the "Successful Negotiation" chapter to encourage a discussion of the possibilities and to correspond with the person with whom you want to exchange homes. There is a lot to consider, including someone else using your telephones, the neighbors wondering if you moved and emergencies that could occur (like a washing machine breaking, etc). This book seems to indicate that you should swap homes with friends you meet through home exchange websites and plenty of sites are listed to make your experience enjoyable. The Home Exchange Guide is a well-researched book and the details explored will save you a lot of headaches and money. ~The Rebecca Review

Terrific Concept To Save Travel Money

HOME EXCHANGE GUIDE: HOW TO FIND YOUR FREE HOME AWAY FROM HOME! by M.T. Simon and T.T. Baker. The authors have compiled an extensive guidebook, the first of its kind, telling readers all they need to know about how to find a wonderful, free place to stay almost anywhere in the world, by offering their own home in a holiday exchange. The book details how to go about finding the homes in the place you desire to go, what questions to ask, how to make all the arrangements and set up your own home for the safe exchange. You'll learn about perks you can offer or expect, such as car exchange, etc. Authors also cover how to handle disappointments, what to do in emergencies, and how to leave the home as you hope they will leave yours. Such a home exchange frees up your money to be spent on nice extras instead of lodging, for a super vacation almost anywhere you dream of. Although the book does not list the homes for exchange, you will find a great listing of websites and places to find the homes listed and to list your own. For travelers who find the idea of a home exchange appealing, this book is an indispensable guide which covers almost any aspect you could think of