Home Swapping is an ideal way to holiday. Rather than spending excessive amounts of money on accommodation, you and another family can swap homes and enjoy one another’s hometown. What’s more, you have an entire house for you and your family so the kids don’t have to cramp into one hotel room with you to save cash and you have a kitchen handy for those time you just feel like a home cooked meal.
Now, thanks to Love Home Swap, you are not restricted to your inner circle of family and friends. This innovative new site allows you to register your home (or homes as the case may be) and browse homes of others around the world to find your ideal match. It is the best community of stylish home swaps ever assembled and we’re in love with the idea so we asked Debbie Wosskow, the founder of Love Home Swap, for her top home swapping tips and her top five home swap destinations.
Expert Tips
· Think about where you want to go and why
· If swapping with kids, swap with another family who have a kid friendly home
· It’s a bit like online dating- it’s all about communication.
· Expect to exchange at least 6-8 emails and I always suggest you skype and talk through the details before making final commitments.
· Ask questions like: What state will the house be in? Do you have or provide a maid and if so who pays them?
· Security is a big factor and I always suggest people befriend each other on Facebook before a swap. This lets you see their friends and ensure they are real!
· Check with your insurance and advise them of the house swap. You are covered only if you TELL them.
· Develop a ‘users’ manual for your home including information about the area and the nitty gritty like security codes, dealing with garbage, local transport and places of interest.
· Always have a friend or family member meet your house swap guest with keys for a tour of the property and handover.
· Make sure you leave space for the guests in the fridge, pantry and closets
· Leave an easy to follow emergency contact list
· Remember: It cuts both ways and respect is reciprocal!
Debbie Wosskow’s Top Five Homes
Canmore, Alberta, Canada
This bright and uplifting contemporary mountain home is set in the Canadian mountains of Canmore. Within close walking distance to shops, cafes and restaurants the property resides on the doorstep of Banff National Park. Perfect for hiking, mountain biking, fishing and horse riding in the summer and skating, snowshoeing and skiing in the winter, this is the ideal place to enjoy all seasons.
Tower Bridge, London, United Kingdom
This gorgeous floating house, The Harpy, formerly ‘HMS Harpy’ is originally an Edwardian Customs and Excise Pontoon Office, built in 1904, and was used as the royal landing stage until the owners acquired it in 1981. It is one of London’s few privately owned landing stages, a unique and unusual home with great views of Tower Bridge, the City skyline and Canary Wharf.
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
This epic castle-like home has been built into the hillside of the historic district in picturesque San Miguel de Allende. This property is truly breathtaking and is complete with a winding stone staircase that leads through outdoor gardens and into magical, inviting interiors. Views of San Miguel’s stunning sunsets, mountains and churches can be enjoyed from the windows, gardens and terraces of this magnificent property.
Napa, California, USA
Built in 2006 this home is a wine lover’s dream and provides the perfect setting for large gatherings with friends and family. The perfect house to accommodate entertaining, the gourmet kitchen compliments the many wonderful wines that can be brought home from the local Napa Valley wineries and with so many world class restaurants within 20 minutes, this is the perfect place to experience the best food and wine the Napa Valley has to offer.
Watamu, Kenya
Completed in July 2011 the owner of this eco-retreat spent 9 months building ‘Ruby Hall’ and designed the house with his best friend who’s an architect from the UK.
The property overlooks the waters of Mida Creek – a huge mangrove-fronted lagoon where you can go for a swim, or watch local fishermen from your bedroom in dugout canoes, see ospreys, flamingos, hawks and other wildlife, or just listen to the sounds of the local people who have been living in the same way for thousands of years. This is a truly remarkable home and there’s nowhere quite like it on earth.
