Win a one-year HomeLink.ca membership!
Written by: Julie Ovenell-CarterLast Friday I was on CBC’s BC Almanac evangelizing about the beauty of home exchanges–especially in recessionary times like these.
On the show, I announced that the good folks at HomeLink, the North Vancouver-based home exchange company that Brad and I elected to use for our first home exchange last year, have stepped forward to offer a terrific prize to one TheseBoots reader: a one-year online membership worth $165.
There are lots of home exchange services out there, but as I said in my original post, Top 10 tips for a successful home exchange, we chose Homelink because we’d heard good word-of-mouth from friends. And we weren’t disappointed. We secured our first home exchange to Paris within five days of posting, and our second to Berlin this summer within 10 days.
I’ll do a random draw for this prize on Wednesday, March 25 at 8 pm. This contest is open to Canadian residents 18 years or older. One entry per person.
How to enter:
Leave a comment below telling me something about you and home exchange: why you want to do it; where you’d like to do it; successful exchanges you’ve made in the past; something that concerns you about swapping homes. Basically, anything at all on the theme of home exchange…
Good luck and thanks for stopping by! (And just in case you don’t win this one, why not enter to win a $50 gift certificate at Zin on Robson? Or consider subscribing to the site so you never miss a contest…)
Kelly Booker
on March 22nd, 2009We are in a very fortunate position for an extended stay home swap because my husband is a technology professional and can work from anywhere as long as he has access to high speed internet and a nearby airport. I am a Spanish teacher taking an extended leave raising 2 young children and feel like I need some time in a Spanish speaking country to keep my language skills up. Our family would love to spend several months in Mexico or Central America.
duana mchugh
on March 22nd, 2009I heard your cbc interview and this prompted me to respond.
We have gone with friends on their home exchanges and think we should arrange our own. We are curious about local exchanges within BC and would like to try them plus know others would enjoy Victoria. Often we are just looking for a place other than a motel where we are visiting friends or family and don’t want to be underfoot
Duana McHugh
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 22nd, 2009Hi Sean,
I’m glad you mentioned Servas–I haven’t been involved myself, but I have friends who have, and they’ve enjoyed the experience very much. If anyone’s interested, the web site is: http://joomla.servas.org/
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 22nd, 2009Hi Ruth,
my husband is a teacher and I’ve looked into the Educator’s B&B network too. Haven’t used it, but it seems like a great deal…teachers helping teachers to see the world by letting rooms in their homes for around, what is it, $30/night?
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 22nd, 2009Thanks Valerie. Life is truly serendipitous, isn’t it? Good luck with your next-stage adventure. My husband and I will suddenly be empty-nesters this fall when my youngest heads off to university. I’ll be waving bye-bye to my son with much love in my heart but a huge smile on my face!
Greg
on March 22nd, 2009Hi Julie,
We, my partner Allana and I, would love to do home exchanges.
Our first great adventure is aimed at researching our collective ancestories in
the British Isles. While there we would cycle through as much of Ireland as
possible. Our current plans involve building a house at Lake Cowichan. It should be ready by Christmas so we could do the exchange as early as the following summer (2010).
The idea of putting a book together sounds like a lot of fun. There are many
wonderful things to do in the Cowichan Valley! We would be open to a Canadian exchange as well (Yukon, Haida Gwaii, Maritimes, etc.).
The interview, Friday on Almanac, was great, but way too short!!!
This would be an excellent topic for Cross Canada Check-up with Rex Murphy.
Thanks for the information and I hope we can take advantage of this super
idea in the near future.
john graves
on March 23rd, 2009What a great interview on CBC. As a parent of 2 teenagers I am keenly interested in this avenue to travel as a local person in countries around the world. My wife and 2 teens, 14 and 17, are eager travellers wanting to see the world.
Top 3 destinations: Greece my wife’s lifetime dream, Ireland my family’s heritage and Europe to visit Canadian War heritage sites (grandfather fought in WW1 in Paschendaele.
We look forward to exploring these opportunities more with your website and Homelink.
Cheers, John, Twila, Ryan and Kalyn
The Happy Travellers!!!!
Michele Carr
on March 23rd, 2009Dear Julie:
We have been thinking about doing a home exchange for a few years now but haven’t yet made the plunge. We would love to take our two boys to Europe, and do some cycling and mountain biking, and possibly do an exchange with another mountain bike family. We would need to go in the summertime as Adam is in school (at IPS with Brad).
Michele Carr
Janet Jones
on March 23rd, 2009I live in Victoria and have done a number of home exchanges with friends in Ottawa. They usually want to escape the snow in the Jan-April period and see the cherry blossoms here. I want to visit friends and relatives there and the weather not a concern.
We both have a base with full kitchen, so costs are reduced to the flights. Sometimes we overlap a weekend so we can see each other. It gives me a deadline for total house cleaning and sorting and when I return all the major chores are done and I can enjoy the house, garden and summer.
Megan Kopp
on March 23rd, 2009Hi Julie,
Haven’t tried a home exchange yet, but giving the idea a lot of thought as of late. We’re taking a 6-week trip to Europe when my dot graduates and this might be the ticket for cutting Euros!
Jerry
on March 24th, 2009Hi Julie,
Interesting idea. Great interview.
I’d love to do a roots-trip to Europe.
Joanna
on March 24th, 2009We went to Arizona late Feb, early March on a home exchange. The house had 3 bedrooms, a den, kitchen, living room and two computers we could use. Accommodation was zero for the week.
Not everyone from a sun destination wants to rush to our BC winter weather, so we made this exchange non simaltaneous. That is, we stayed in their home in Feb, while they were away RVing and they will stay in our Vancouvr Island home this summer, while we are away at relatives in Alberta.
Although international exchanges have always been popular, shorter distance swaps are growing in popularity. One can exchange homes for a weekend get away or one to three week vacation and for longer terms.
We arranged our home exchange through a BC based company, Global Home Exchange at 4homex.com.
Murray Atherton
on March 24th, 2009Julie……
We live on the waterfront, but to get to our home, you have to be ready to drive on a dirt ‘road’ (and I use the term loosely) wich has 3 downhill switchbacks….not for the faint-of-heart….but so worth it once you get here.
How would I promote our ‘little piece of heaven’ without scaring away potential users?
Shirley Carter
on March 24th, 2009Entering contest for Homelink 1 yr membership. I would love to do an exchange for a month with someone in Sweden where my ancestors are from. Some of my concerns are the security of our home in BC, and if someone would really like to come to a location that takes 5 hrs to drive to from Vancouver. Your program on CBC almanac was very positive about home exchanges & has got me thinking…
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 24th, 2009Hi Murray,
I think you just have to be honest, but not alarming. People are willing to endure a lot for a waterfront view! And sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words–be sure to post a photo of your driveway on your home exchange profile page…
Shannon
on March 24th, 2009I have been researching home exchanges on/off for a couple years now. What seems to be too overwhelming to accomplish is (1) compling the house manual , and (2) moving out our private papers/documents. Those two things, in addition to clearing out alot of our belongings for that clutter-free, house-for-sale feel, seems too big a job. How would you prioritize this and do you think this is all necessary?
Thanks for your blog and great tips!
Sally Freeman
on March 24th, 2009Good Work Julie,
I’d love to do a home exchange but hesitate because our home is rather ‘high end’. How does that work? Are you able to get a house as nice as yours in another country?
Thanks
Sally
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 24th, 2009Hi Shannon
The house manual is an important part of the home exchange process/experience to be sure, and it does take time–so make it a project for the doldrums of winter to write your house book. Or at least give yourself a few weeks to put it together. We keep ours on the computer so we can easily update it.
Also, as for private papers: you likely don’t have your most private papers scattered all over the house do you? The really important and confidential docs you can just gather up and put in a safety deposit box. (Come to think of it, that’s where they should probably be all the time anyway!) Think about it: are people really going to pay $3,000 in international airfares to come halfway around the world to snoop through your old VISA statements? Would you do that to someone else? Pretty unlikely I think. You have to be able to trust people, or home exchange won’t work for you. It’s a really important thing to ask yourself…can I trust people enough to share my home with strangers?
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 24th, 2009Hi Sally,
well, you are always free of course to approach anyone you like with a request for an exchange, but I wouldn’t limit myself to homes that are only high-end. It would really limit where you could travel–I mean, only the top micro-percentage of the world’s population lives the way even a middle class family lives in Canada! Also, just because someone else doesn’t live in luxury themselves doesn’t mean they wouldn’t be entirely respectful of your home.
I have heard many stories of people successfully swapping a luxury home for a humble cabin, or vice-versa. It really just depends on what your expectations are–of people, travel and accommodations. As I said in the interview, I would be open-minded and see what comes along–as long as a place is clean, quiet and well-tended, what else do you really need when you travel? It’s my experience that you’ll likely be spending more time out and about than indoors anyway!
Peg Campbell
on March 24th, 2009Hi Julie,
I’m on sabbatical all of 2010 and would really like to do a home exchange or two while I have the time away from teaching. Was thinking of the educators b+b or sabbatical.com but will now check out the North Van Homelink as well.
My house might be quite desirable during the olympics and I’d love to be far away during that time. Am hearing so much about people planning to charge huge amounts for their homes during the olympics. What do you think about that?
Peg
Linda Shaw
on March 24th, 2009I’ve been researching homeexchange for the last 7 years and have never done it. I’m a regular “guest” on homelink and homeexchange, if I win I’m hoping this will give me the push to do it.
My home is located in a very nice area of Vancouver, but the house is not luxurious, should I still do a homeexchange?
john moran
on March 24th, 2009I have been eager to do a house exchange for some time but my wife is rather reluctant, after listening to you on cbc radio i think you have convinced her to try it. We have travelled a fair bit in recent years but the accommodation and restaurant costs really mount up. What would we do about leaving food, would we leave an empty fridge or just some basics ?
Claire Fox
on March 24th, 2009Hi Julie
I heard part of the interview on B.C. Almanac and it made me want to explore house exchanges. We would love to spend extended time in Greece and Italy probably early Summer or Fall 2010.
I was impressed with your knowledge of the industry and would feel very confortable using Homelink.
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 24th, 2009Hi John,
it seems from our experience (and that of others we have spoken to that) that the common rule is: do unto others. So, for example, it is nice to leave the basics–a loaf of bread, a litre of milk, some eggs and juice–so your tired and disoriented guests can at least make a light meal for themselves when they first arrive. When we used something substantial from our guest’s pantry (a can of corn, a bottle of wine), we replaced it. We helped ourselves to condiments, though, just as we would expect our guests to help themselves to salt and pepper in our home. And we left a gift at the end of our stay…
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 24th, 2009Hi Linda,
Location, location, location: it’s always the same with any real estate! Luxury is a bonus. (And clean is an essential!) Go for it!
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 24th, 2009Hi Peg,
I think you’d have no problem doing a swap during the Olympics, and I know that HomeLink (and I imagine Intervac as well) had a special push on 2010 exchanges on their web site recently. As to charging money–sure, if you want to. To me, it seems good karma to give your home to someone who might not be able to afford an Olympics visit to Vancouver and enjoy a vacation in your dream destination in exchange. But hey, your relationship with money is your relationship, not mine, and I’m not getting in the middle of it!
grace
on March 24th, 2009you convinced us so we are going to try it but will start with Canada first. anyone in Nova Scotia want to come to beautiful BC
Lynn Fuhr
on March 24th, 2009We would also like to escape the madness of the Olympics next year for somewhere warm and sunny. We have considered home exchanges in the past but thought our outdated house was not much of a destination. Now that we have renovated, it is could be a real possibility. What is recommended with regards to pets? Is it fair to expect someone to walk the dog and pat the cat or is it better to send pets to a kennel?
Julie Ovenell-Carter
on March 25th, 2009Hi Lynn,
It is not uncommon for listings to say something like “we have a cat, but will kennel it if you are uncomfortable looking after it” or “we are looking for people who would be want to stay close to home and would agree to walk our dogs twice a day.” To me that doesn’t seem like much of a holiday, but to each his/her own! I think the important thing is to be very clear with yourself and others about your bottom line: if you find the perfect exchange in Prague, but your exchange partners have a cat allergy, you might find it’s time to park Fluffy in the Cat Hotel for a week or two!
Chris Coon
on March 25th, 2009My Family and I would like to take a trip to Europe during the Olympic congestion. We have done house swaps with friends and know the in’s and out’s of having people stay in ones home. (The prep involved) We know another family who do this every year so getting extra advice is not a problem. You have to keenly scope out the family who will occupy your home. (Occupation, Are they somewhat tidy? But really, you can see pic’s of their home to give you an idea of how they live. Are they having friends come as well). It’s possible!
Anyway, house swapping is a brilliant idea if one wishes to escape the frantic pace of Olympic fever– especially if one commutes to the big city!
Ron Estey
on March 25th, 2009I listened to your interview on Almanac while waiting for the ferry to Port Hardy at the dock at Prince Rupert. I wasn’t sure that I had got your website correct until just a minute ago! The past few days have been very busy for me.
I thought your interview was insightful and inspiring!
Now that our kids are gone we may soon be interested in home swap but we still have an old cat and middle-aged dog to look out for. However we will definitely look into this farther and I wish to thank you for providing the start to our adventure. It does sound like a very relaxing way to visit another country and I am sure that we will do this within the next 2 years. We would love to go to New Zealand.
Lille Skvat
on March 26th, 2009Great contest! A shame it’s only for Canadians!
We are 2 adults (me, a Spaniard, and my husband, a Dane) searching for a home exchange. We have an apartment in the center of Copenhagen (Denmark), and we are interested in exchanging it for an apartment somewhere else. We are interested both in short and long periods. We are specially looking for places outside Europe, but any offer will be considered.
We will of course make a contract including all the important aspects for the exchange.
If you are interested, or if you know someone who could be interested, please contact us through http://lilleskvat.blogspot.com/2009/03/apartment-swap-home-exchange-in.html or my email (lilleskvat at gmail dot com).
We are looking forwards to hearing from you