Tips for a Successful Home Exchange

Preparing for your home exchange

• Leave the name and phone number of a neighbor or friend your exchange partner may contact with questions.
• Leave a list of emergency numbers, including fire, police, your doctor, and a local clinic or hospital.
• Leave the names and phone numbers of repair services.
• If your exchange partner needs babysitting services, leave the name and phone number of a service or available babysitter.
• Leave your cell phone number and any other numbers where you may be reached while traveling.
• Work out in advance an arrangement for phone use in your home. How will the phone charges be handled? (For "Use of Phone Agreement," click here.)
• Work out in advance pet care arrangements. Put instructions in writing. (For "Pet Care Agreement," click here.)
• Leave instructions for plant care.
• Leave owner's manual or written instructions for operating the TV, VCR, CD player, microwave, washer/dryer, home alarm, air conditioning & heating systems, and vacuum cleaner, and directions for garbage & recycling pick-up. What about the computer? OK if home exchange partner uses it? (For "Use of Computer Agreement," click here.)
• Put your newspaper(s) on hold unless your exchange partner wants it delivered.
• Put a "hold" on your mail at the post office.
• If you will be away longer than a week, prepay your bills.
• Leave space in closets & drawers and lots of hangers.
• Leave clean linens on the beds, clean bath & kitchen towels, plenty of toilet paper, Kleenex, soap bars, bathroom & kitchen cleaners, and vacuum bags.
• Lock valuables away in a room or compartment. Some home exchangers prefer to lock one room off for storage of personal items, small pieces of furniture and home decor items.
• Leave a freshly mowed lawn and a yard or garden that's been recently tended. If you have a pool, make sure it's clean.
• If you plan to exchange cars, leave copies of your insurance and registration. (For "Use of Car Agreement," click here.) Get your car washed and tuned up.
• Work out in advance a plan for exchanging house and car keys.
• Leave a small amount of fresh food--cheese, bread, fruit--and a few bottles of water, soda or perhaps a bottle of wine for your exchange partner's arrival. It's a courtesy and convenience your guest will appreciate after hours spent traveling to your home.

At the end of your vacation, preparing to leave your exchange partner's home

• Put clean sheets on the beds you've used and clean towels in the bathroom & kitchen. Leave a note telling your exchange partners that you've done so.
• Wash and dry all linens and bath & kitchen towels you've used. Fold & put them back where you found them.
• Sweep floors, vacuum carpets, mop, if necessary, and wash & put dishes back where they belong.
• Straighten up all rooms you've used.
• If you want to go the extra mile to show your appreciation, leave your home exchange partner a gift. Think ahead on this. Before your vacation, buy a coffee-table book about your area or a souvenir from your state/province to leave behind--OR--leave a bottle of wine, a scented candle, a box of sweets, a gift pack of scented soaps, or a basket of fresh fruit.
• Leave a small amount of fresh food--cheese, bread, fruit--and a few bottles of water, soda or perhaps a bottle of wine. It's a courtesy and convenience your exchange partner will appreciate after hours spent traveling home from vacation.

After you get back home

• Only In America would like to hear about your home exchange. We encourage you to e-mail us, telling us where you went, how long you stayed, and what grade you'd give your exchange experience overall. Share your impressions with us. Feedback from our members helps us update our home exchange tips and information to include in letters between exchangers prior to the exchange.