Looking for a cheap vacation? Consider trading houses with someone at your chosen destination.
By GEORGE HOBICA
Published December 21, 2003
When Caryn Louise Leschen wants to save money on vacation travel, she doesn't log onto Priceline or Travelocity. Instead, the San Francisco graphic designer visits the home swapping area of Craig's List www.craigslist.org where, for free, prospective home swappers can list their apartments or houses and find others looking to trade cheap sleeps.
If she finds a match, Leschen stays for free in Paris or London, for instance, while a Londoner or Parisian stays in her bay area pad.
The home exchange business is booming, but free digs are just one reason. In addition, your home-swap partners can take care of your pets (saving kennel costs), water your plants and, in some cases, let you use their car.
You will also reduce restaurant tabs, since your temporary home will have a kitchen. Peace of mind is another plus: Your swap partner is watching your home while you're watching his - making it look lived in and discouraging potential intruders - and can sort out a leaky water heater or other crisis.
Although the majority of home swaps go without a hitch, problems can arise. The most common complaints: minor damage to property and disappointment when the home's description doesn't measure up to reality.
Guard against the latter by dealing with a reputable agency and asking for lots of pictures or, better yet, a video. Ask for references from previous swaps, and make sure your homeowner's insurance covers damage to your property caused by someone you've swapped with; the same goes for your car if that's part of the exchange.
Another possible problem is that you or your exchange partner will have a last-minute emergency or illness, making the swap impossible to complete. It's good to have a Plan B, spelled out in writing, just in case.
In fact, it's a good idea to write up an agreement specifying what both parties expect from each other (Is cleaning included? Is your car part of the deal? Who's going to water the plants and mow the lawn?). The more specific this agreement, the fewer problems or misunderstandings you'll have. You can find more tips on the various Web sites listed in the accompanying box.
Leschen, who swaps homes often, has her own set of tips:
"Clean your house thoroughly before your guests come, and put anything fragile on a high shelf with a note saying, "Breakable - do not use,' " she advises.
"Label your cabinets so they know where things are, and write a little "owner's manual' for the house and neighborhood, including instructions on how to take out the trash."
She also suggests hiding or storing valuables in a safe deposit box or leaving them with friends, "but tell them where to find the family photo album or other precious things that cannot be replaced in case of a fire."
Home swapping can be a leap of faith, but like any adventure that involves a bit of risk, the rewards can be great.
- George Hobica is a freelance writer who lives in New York City.
For more information
Craig's List www.craigslist.org Most home swap agencies charge an annual fee, so if you're really cheap, go here and click on the city you want to visit and then on "housing swap" under the housing heading. Listings are free to place and respond to.
HomeLink P.O. Box 47747, Tampa, FL 33647; phone (813 975-9825 or toll-free 1-800-638-3841; Web site, www.homelink.org Claims to be the largest and oldest. $110 a year for online and printed directories; $70 for online-only access.
Intervac U.S. 30 Corte San Fernando, Tiburon, CA, 94920; phone toll-free 1-800-756-HOME 4663; Web site, www.intervacus.com e-mail, info@intervacus.com $65 per year for Web-only access or $125 for printed directories and Web access.
The Invented City 41 Sutter St., Suite 1090, San Francisco, CA 94404; phone toll-free 1-800-788-2489; Web site, www.invented-city.com Although it has the fewest listings of the agencies shown here, it charges the least: $50 a year (annual renewal fee is $25).
Home Exchange P.O. Box 787, Hermosa Beach, CA 90254; phone toll-free 1-800-877-8723; Web site, www.homeexchange.com $49.95 for one year for Web-only access, $99.95 for three years.
