An important part of building your presence in HomeForHome is how you present the attractive things going on near your location. Some lucky people are located in touristic “hot-spots” like downtown London, romantic Paris, the timeless channels of Venice, the Mediterranean coast… But those who need to make their location more appealing must add extra information to catch more people’s attention and receive more home exchange requests.

In view of helping these last people find attractive things to add to their home descriptions, and focusing on the “Points of interest near your home” field, we have the following websites:

BritEvents.com - hosts a calendar of events taking place in Britain. There’s a chance an event taking place in your area is listed here because they seem to have just about everything: sports events, shows, plays, exhibitions, conferences, concerts, gigs, art & craft, and even a section of bizarre events which is presented “From World Gurning Championships to The Biggest Liar Competition, and The Coopers Hill Cheese Rolling Championship to the Bog Snorkelling Championship, we Brits are renowned for devising some of the oddest, most bizarre events imaginable to keep us entertained”. So, give it a chance and you may find an event that “spices up” your location.

enjoyEngland - in their own words “you’ll find everything you need to plan a day out or short break in England. Explore the map for top locations around the country, find inspiring ideas on where to go and what to do or use our day trip planner to find great events happening near you.”

These websites will also be appealing to those looking for a particular event or activity, or those who are not sure what would their next adventure be. Whichever your situation may be, you’ll stay there the cheapest way using HomeForHome.

Home exchange has been around for a while now and many people have made it their favourite travel choice. It is quite simple after you get into it, all you need are your communication skills to help you get through. First, you need to write a description to present your home to other users and to present yourself. Your personal information is as important as your home’s. Would you trust a person with your house if they don’t share anything about themselves? This is your presentation card. It should be neat and sincere. You don’t have to make it appealing to everyone, but do make it appealing to those you would like to receive in your home.

You will need to use your writing skills a little bit farther along the way: describe your home. We offer many check-boxes to help you list your facilities, services and home features, so you may want to use the description fields to let people know something else about your home. Is there anything nearby that deserves being mentioned? Maybe the beach is just a stroll away, or a delightful little market/restaurant, or your home’s location provides easy access to transportation, whatever you can think that makes your home stand out should be considered to be included. If you want to get some ideas, look around and check which homes from the listing you find more attractive and mimic their style, what do they provide that makes you consider them good choices? Does your home have any of those characteristics?

There are yet more opportunities for you to use your communication skills, one is contacting other users. If you find a home that you like, don’t be shy, send the owner a message and ask them to check out your own home. That’s a good way to start a “conversation” about a possible exchange. If the other user’s home is exactly what you are looking for, then send an exchange proposal instead. Communication is the key here, it’s the foundation on which the system is built, we just provide you the mean to know who to contact.

Image by Salvatore Vuono / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Does it seem clear by now that communication is very important? Well, the final step is probably the most sensitive one: making the exchange arrangements. You should always try to talk with the other end of an exchange at least once, of course you can use HomeForHome’s built-in contact options, a chat service, e-mails and all kinds of written messages to discuss details but there are so many free PC-to-PC call applications that it shouldn’t be a problem to talk (at least once) to get a direct idea of what the other user expects and feels about the exchange.

Are you ready to exchange your home? HomeForHome wants you to get the most out of home exchange, and to start on the right foot you need to consider things other than the advantages. Here we have some questions you may want to have answered before you accept any swap request:

Question Mark by Michelle Meiklejohn

1- What are the basic rules you want people to respect while using your home? We don’t want you to get bossy here, but it is perfectly normal to want some things discussed before accepting a home exchange proposal. Surely there are many things that come to your mind, so write them down to remember them later.

2- What are your expectations regarding housekeeping? Would you be willing to let your partner have paid help while you are gone? If they don’t want to clean during their vacations, it is probably a good idea to suggest an agency or person you trust to take care of the house.

3- Are there valuable items you don’t want accessible during the swap? You may want to draw your exchange partner’s attention to items that are really valuable to you and that you don’t want to get damaged. For example, a regular item, like a childhood toy may seem of little value when actually it may have sentimental value to you. Another good idea would be to keep your most valuable items in a safe place during the swap.

4- Have you considered your partner’s needs during their stay at your place? Little things do make a difference. For example, leaving enough space in the closets for guests to unpack their suitcases and have a more home-like feeling, having some food and drinks in the refrigerator for people to snack as they arrive, leaving enough toilet paper… Yes, little things like these.

5- Is everything working as it is supposed to? If you told your exchange partner you had a pool, but then it turns out it won’t be available because it needs repairs, then you need to let them know in advance so they don’t get disappointed. You may offer alternatives, like a laundry shop they can use if your tumble-drier broke down, maybe even offer to pay their laundry bill during their stay (as you would have to pay for yourself if you were staying home). Imagine how nice would it be if you received such an offer, it may not be an expensive gift, but it is certainly very thoughtful.

We will probably keep encouraging you to think about these small things that could make the difference in future posts, so write us and lets us know of any “little things” that made a difference during your previous home exchange experiences that you would like to share with other swappers.

Money by Danilo Rizzuti

Oh well… The economy seems to be struggling still, recovery seems to be taking a break in a distant location and we need to keep thinking about lowering our budgets and saving for rough times. As we have mentioned (maybe too many times now), home exchange is by far the best solution for a low cost accommodation during vacations and trips of any kind. With HomeForHome you can reduce this line of the vacation bill to a nice and round zero. Besides, it does not imply a cut in the quality of the place where you will be enjoying your time away from home, which would certainly happen if you opt for other inexpensive lodging deals.

Off season deals are also a good way to lower your vacation budget, for example, right now most European destinations should be uncrowded and probably prices are not as high as in the summertime. Another advantage of off season travelling is the reduction in the time spent waiting in lines at most attractions and tourist sites, which allows you to visit more places.

Adding to the savings, another option will also help you support your local economy: travel to a destination in your own country. By doing this, you will probably reduce the cost of transportation and also your money won’t leave borders. If you look around the web, you will find several resources that can help you find the right destination for you, but if you really want to get into domestic travelling we would like to recommend you Britain Express - UK travel and heritage guide.

Britain Express is one of the most complete online travel guides dedicated to the UK we have found so far (we are open to more suggestions, of course) and it covers anything from accommodation to specialized  travel services. Attractions, tourism guides, heritage information, events, photos, maps, trip planning tools, travel directory… You name it, it’s there.

So, take a moment to visit Britain Express and then come back to HomeForHome to find a swap match for your next trip to Britain’s best.

If you have joined the group of active environmentally aware travelers or if you are on the verge of doing so, HomeForHome has some basic ideas to help you get started. These tips are applicable everywhere so you may use your home exchange as an excuse to get used to them and then apply them year-round.

Food. Buying local food is an easy way to reduce CO2 emissions. There is no need to transport the goods from a distant location, so not only the CO2 release is cut, but there is also zero added cost due to transportation somehow lowering their price. There are farmers that are producing organic, fresh fruits and vegetables, reducing the impact of farming on the environment and promoting sustainability. Locate and support local farmers that are embarking on such projects to help them sustain their production. Buying seasonal food is another way to cut back on CO2 release, since there is no extra energy invested for either transporting or preserving of these products, and being fair, fresh goods taste better.

Shopping and entertainment. As in the case of farmers that are applying “greener” technologies, there are several businesses that are adopting sustainable practices. Ranging from restaurants to art exhibitions, there may be local entrepreneurs near you that want to help the environment too and by supporting their business you help us all.

Walk more or use public transportation. Walking is probably the best way to get around in a place we are eager to learn about. It will give you first hand contact with the locals and the reduced speed will certainly help you appreciate architectural and landscape beauties you may otherwise miss. If you want to visit several locations that are separated by a great distance, then instead of walking you may use public transportation to decrease your trip’s carbon footprint. Usually, local governments take good care in having the local landmarks in the way of public transport routes.

Electricity. Before you leave your house to your home exchange, unplug any appliances that are not going to be in use while you are gone. Another easy way to save on electricity is to turn off the lights when you are the last to leave a room. These small actions will not only save money in your electrical bill, but also will save on the precious resources used to generate electricity.

These are just a few of many good small ideas to help our big home (the one we cannot exchange), and we are sure your imagination and creativity can come up with many more to put in practice in your next green swap.

For some it is the most romantic day of the year, for others not so much, but one way or the other, you are probably going to share a special moment and even exchange presents with your significant other. For the most enthusiastic ones and, why not, all those looking for a good excuse to travel we have our HomeForHome (obvious) suggestion: a getaway exchange. Many of our members could be just looking for the same deal: a weekend exchange in a romantic place for a different and unique celebration this February 14th.

HomeForHome has members all over the world, so near of far, your Valentine exchange could be around the corner. For some people, it may be too little time to plan and coordinate an exchange, and that is understandable, but for others it may be easier. For example, if you already had a successful swap in a place you just loved, contact your previous home exchange partner and check if their place will be available during the 14th. Check the forums, there are many topics asking for weekend exchanges.

With only a few weeks before Valentine’s Day you may also find good last minute deals on flights and that wouldn’t hurt the Valentine budget either. A special dinner vs a unique romantic getaway, what would you choose?

One main decision that you need to make when you decide to travel is where to go. It is not an easy decision, there are so many options! Our world is full of great places: exciting, exotic, untouched, bustling, breathtaking… As a year ends, the most renowned travel reviewers select the best travel destinations for the coming year. Today we will present you with the selections made for 2010 by Frommer’s, Encyclopedia Britannica Blog and Lonely Planet, to help you narrow your selection to the best of the best.

Frommer’s has featured the following destinations:

Tunisia
Copenhagen, Denmark
Hanoi, Vietnam
Santiago de Cuba, Cuba
Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Hawaii (the Big Island), United States
Salta Province, Argentina
Isles of Scilly, England
Mexico City, Mexico
Melbourne, Australia
Florida Panhandle Beaches, USA
Kerala, India

Encyclopedia Britannica Blog published the selection made by travel expert Natasha von Geldern:

1. Brazil
2. USA
3. Iceland
4. Cuba
5. South Africa
6. London
7. Nepal
8. Melbourne
9. Hong Kong
10. Kyrgyzstan

Lonely Planet picked the following countries in their top 10:

1. El Salvador
2. Germany
3. Greece
4. Malaysia
5. Morocco
6. Nepal
7. New Zealand
8. Portugal
9. Suriname
10. USA

What do you think about this top destinations? Where would you like to go during 2010? Make your choice, find your home exchange opportunity in HomeForHome and swap away!

The New Year is on the road, and you probably made some resolutions and set some special dates aside in the calendar. Of course, with a brand new year, it seems like you’re going to have time for everything, but as the days start to go by, there are things that start trailing behind in the agenda. However, we want to encourage you to reserve some time to plan your vacations. If you choose home exchange, it is a good idea to get ahead of things, since it takes time for some people to find a good match to their swapping intentions.

There are several alternatives to plan your holidays using HomeForHome, whether a short trip to that nearby location you’ve always wanted to visit, a romantic getaway to Paris, a relaxing family vacation in a rural area or the coast, an intense trip to a busy capital, a cultural swap to a distant destination, whether you prefer skiing or surfing or trekking or if your favourite sport during vacations is intensive recreational reading, all these options are waiting for you a few clicks away.

We want to help, so here are some items for your agenda:

- Update your HomeForHome profile, share something new, add more photos, get involved in the community forum, get out there.

- Check your passport and all related travel documents you may need (travel assistance/insurance, credit/debit cards, etc.). You don’t want to find out in the last minute you were supposed to have them renewed a week ago! Remember that your passport needs to be valid for the duration of your trip and some countries even require travellers to have at least six months validity remaining on their passports.

- Mark dates that are set apart for other important activities and exclude them when you search for a place to stay, flights, etc. Also, if you know your house will be free during those dates, mark them as “available” in your HomeForHome availability calendar, since it may help you find non-simultaneous swaps.

- Take the initiative, contact other HomeForHome users, ask them about their homes, their availability, invite them to check out your home. Maybe you can make some new friends along the way.

Home exchange offers great opportunities, and it is quite a simple deal: you agree to exchange your home with someone and you both expect to find everything as you left it when you return. However simple, home exchange is a serious deal. You shouldn’t take it lightly. There are important things that need to be considered because it is a system based on trust and you need to know the other party on a certain level to trust them with your home (even if it is your second home). Communication and understanding are the key to succeed at swapping.

Compare the places you have stayed during your previous vacations to your own home, you’ll probably arrive at the conclusion that your home is far better equipped than any place you’ve ever stayed in during your vacations, so what would you be willing to do to get this extra comfort with no cost at all? Wouldn’t you be willing to take some time to get to know the people you’ll be sharing your house with and let them know you too?

Communicate, take time to learn about your possible swap partner’s preferences and see if they match yours. Start with the information they share in HomeForHome, but dig deeper. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and don’t be afraid to set some ground rules about things that can and can’t be done at your house during the swap. Eventually, you will find a partner that makes you feel comfortable with them staying at your home. Be patient. Until that moment comes, don’t feel pressured to agree on an exchange that doesn’t satisfy you. Chances are you will have to pass on some offers, so be polite and say no gently until you find your match.

HomeForHome has over 8000 listings worldwide (and rising!). With so many offers, we are certain your perfect home exchange is just a search away. However, how should you get started? Obviously, you shouldn’t have to look through 8000 offers (or even half so many!) to find a good prospect. To make the most of your searching time, it is better for you to decide about a few details before you get started: Have you decided to visit a particular country/area? Remember that the wider the area, there are more chances to find a good match. Are you interested in a particular date? For example, if you are attending an event, you may check the date and use it to perform your search, so you don’t have to look through offers that strictly excluded that date already. Do you have a preference about staying in a house or flat? Answers to these questions may be useful when you use our “Search” features. If you take a look at our search options, you will find several things you can specify to make the most of your search. Of course there’s no need to specify all the search options, but you may want to include all your “musts”, like Internet access or a washing machine.

There are circumstances when performing a detailed search may not be the best way to get started. For example, if you are looking for a long term exchange, there’s another option that could make it easier: search the “Community“. There you’ll find a forum for people looking for long term exchanges, were you can discuss issues about this kind of swap. You are welcome to start a discussion of your own, so other interested users can contact you. The forum is also a good choice for those who do not have a preferred destination and are really looking for interesting opportunities around the globe.

If you need to learn more about how to use any of these features, then just send your questions to help@homeforhome.com and our Support team will be glad to assist you.