Is Home Exchange Worth the Hype?

Still life of a black suitcase with a straw hat in the living room of an apartment. — Getty Images

Why blow your travel budget on hotels when you can live like a local, often for little or nothing at all? That’s the question many Canadians are asking, prompting them to seek out alternative holiday accommodation options. One such option is home exchange, a growing trend that turns ordinary homes into extraordinary travel experiences. Instead of booking rooms, you simply swap keys.

Home swapping is all but eliminates costly lodgings, freeing up vacation funds for deeper, more meaningful travels. You get more than a place to sleep, you get a real neighbourhood, a real kitchen and the freedom to explore more.

Lower Costs, Deeper Experiences

Unlike house and pet sitting, where you look after someone’s home and their pets while they’re away, home exchanges are typically a straight swap: you stay in someone’s house while they stay in yours.

Some people make arrangements with out-of-town friends or family to swap homes when they’re going on holiday. Doing it in this manner takes a lot of the initial worry out of the process, as you’re dealing with people you already know and trust.

However, it’s a big world out there, and a trusted home exchange platform makes it easier to access more homes, explore more destinations and find the right match for your travel style.

First Steps

Leanne Graber, owner of North Vancouver, BC-based HomeLink.ca, says that home exchanging is growing, thanks in part to a surge in people seeking getaways that favour sustainability, affordability and authentic local experiences. The pandemic also increased demand for private, self-contained accommodation options. Now, as hotel prices rise and options like Airbnb become more limited, home exchanging provides a more affordable and flexible alternative.

The actual process is pretty straightforward. First, you join a house exchange platform. These websites are membership-based and offer access to a variety of exchanges for an annual fee. Simply browse through available listings and make contact. From there, you’ll iron out the details and swap keys.

Benefits and Practicalities

Graber’s parents started HomeLink Canada in 1986. It’s part of Homelink International, which dates back to 1953. She took over the business in 2020 and, as one might expect, knows the ins and outs of home exchanges.

Home exchanging enables homeowners to access cost-effective travel, she explains. And because accommodation costs aren’t a factor, travellers can repurpose that part of their budget on a longer stay or more indulgences.

Staying in someone’s home allows you to immerse yourself in local culture, rather than just scratching the surface as a tourist ticking off experiences on a bucket list. In many cases, you’ll meet the neighbours and even become part of the community, all while enjoying the comforts of home: a kitchen, a comfortable living room and a backyard.

Requirements and Insurance

Home exchanges aren’t limited to houses. You’ll find a variety of housing options from condos to cottages, which can be a great change of pace. Graber says the exchanges don’t need to be equivalent, so that you might swap for a cabin, RV or even a houseboat. You don’t need to own a home to participate in a home exchange, she says. Renters can also join, provided they have their landlord’s permission.

What about pets? You can bring your pets—many home exchangers do—but it all depends on what both parties agree to in advance. Car swaps are also common, especially for international exchanges, but they require extra care and attention. Be sure to check that your insurance covers foreign drivers (and that theirs covers you), confirm license validity and discuss all the details clearly before the trip.

Graber recommends checking your lease, homeowner’s insurance, and HOA/strata rules to make sure guest stays or home swaps are allowed. Platforms like HomeLink help keep things organized through formal exchange agreements signed by both parties, as well as post-trip reviews and star ratings, which help build trust. Whether you’re swapping locally or internationally, it’s important to check visa requirements (if applicable), obtain any necessary permissions, and ensure that insurance (for both home and car) is in place to avoid any surprises.

The Experience

Wendy Vreeken Banham and her partner Pat live on the east side of Vancouver Island, near Saratoga Beach. Retired professionals, they’ve been exchanging their beachfront home with other homeowners for nearly a decade. I asked them about their experiences.

Q: What inspired you to try home exchanging initially?

We first heard about home exchanges from my brother. Pat had a golfing trip planned the following year for Scotland, so we thought we’d try to find something in Edinburgh. We thought if we could save on accommodation, we could afford to make a real adventure out of it. Lo and behold, after putting in a bunch of time approaching people, we found two great places!

Q: How do you manage trust and communication when you’ve never met the other homeowner?

Communication is done through website, but I also ask to exchange email addresses quickly. It is all about trust. You have to trust that the pictures they posted with their listing are true and accurate, and they have to extend that trust to you as well. Through frequent communication, you get a sense of who the person is. And by the time the trip happens, you have definitely formed a relationship.

In preparing for our first exchange, I made a point of hiding various valuables, but now I don’t worry about it too much. They are in your house, but you have to remember that you are in their house at the same time. I was shocked when we got to the flat in Amsterdam and the lady who lived there just had all her jewellery lying around on her vanity!

Q: How do you prepare your home for your guests?

We leave the place very clean and we write a welcome note accompanied by a bottle of wine, with a charcuterie board in the fridge. We leave a couple of empty drawers for clothes, and make some space in the closet. I’ve also compiled an exchange binder that contains information about the house, as well as suggestions for things to do and places to eat and drink. We give them our neighbours’ phone numbers, having let our neighbours know about our plans. Our attitude is “mi casa es su casa.”

beautiful buildings in Amsterdam, the Netherlands — Getty Images

Q: How has doing home exchanges changed the way you travel?

It has given us greater flexibility in terms of our travel budget. The money we save by exchanging can be spent on other things, like side trips! In Scotland, we went to the Isle of Mull. In Holland, we took a quick flight to France to visit a friend. It loosens the purse strings a bit. Can you imagine how much a month in Amsterdam would have cost?

Q: What are your top dos and don’ts for someone new to home exchanging?

Be clear about your expectations and leave a clean house with some room for your guests’ stuff. Make sure you have a way to communicate during the trip, whether it’s email or texting. And always answer any messages promptly!

You should take even better care of your exchange home than you do of your own. You’ll get great online reviews, and that will help you find future exchanges. Above all, relax, try not to worry and have fun!