This is a quite common and sensible question.
From the ‘50s onwards nobody has denounced severe damages, intentional breakages or theft to their properties while on a home exchange.
Surely, some kind of little accident can happen to everybody, but it’s nothing that foresight and good manners can’t prevent.
For instance, if you are couple with no children that lives in a finely furnished house, with a lot of precious or fragile ornaments, maybe you’d better look for people like you as for tastes and “family situation”.
Nothing against children, but it’s quite obvious that playing or moving around the house they can be more careless, awkward or incautious than adults.
To protect your house from any possible damages we suggest three basic, simple rules:

1. Look for a couple or family as much similar as possible to your own.
2. Put everything that can be easily breakable or precious in a closet, drawer or little storage room and lock it: this will remain an off limits area and your stuff will be safely kept.
3. If you are worried or concerned about a home exchange, make sure that both parts complete and sign an agreement where you state clearly what has to be done and who pays in case of damages and/or breakages.

If you follow these simple rules, all the rest will be easy, relaxing and fun!