Rentals vs House Swaps: Are House Swaps Right for You?

Remember hearing about Airbnb for the first time?

The novel concept of welcoming visitors into your home for a small price was a revolutionary idea in travel. It seemed to offer a perfect balance of savings, cultural immersion, and comfort.

But since its launch, Airbnb has evolved and changed.

One development is the skyrocketing price of Airbnbs. They’re no longer budget solutions to avoiding pricy hotels.

Thankfully for travelers who want to save on lodging, there’s a new solution on the rise for travelers. One that can help you save while exploring the world without forking over thousands for lodging.

Welcome to the era of home swaps. Like the name suggests, house swaps involve staying in someone’s private residence while they do the same in yours.

Remember the film The Holiday in which Cameron Diaz swaps her LA mansion for Kate Winslet’s cozy cottage in England?

It’s like that, except your host isn’t Jude Law’s sister. (Unless you have some seriously good karma.)

How do they work?

House swaps are gaining traction because they allow travelers to exchange free lodging with another renter or owner. So long as both parties agree on the dates and are interested in each other’s space, they can arrange a swap at any time.

Many of my friends in Barcelona have done house swaps with great success—so I can tell you personally that house swaps are a solid idea so long as you use a trusted platform.

Here are three of the most popular house swap platforms today:

• HomeExchange: A massive network that will connect you to house swappers around the world
• Love Home Swap: A membership-based platform that’s a bit more exclusive
• ThirdHome: A lux option that allows you to exchange homes in upscale areas

These companies should give you a solid start in the world of home exchanges. But if you’re still not sure if home swaps are right for you, then keep reading. These are the top five signs that it’s a good fit.

You’re not worried about others being in your space

I recently spoke to a colleague about house swaps. One of his immediate concerns was someone being in his space.

I made a joke about the fact that he must be hiding something. In reality, however, we all have different attitudes toward privacy.

For example, I’m a pretty hardcore introvert who wouldn’t think twice about strangers spending time in my space—just so long as I’m not expected to rub elbows with them.

But if you’re someone who tends to be a little bit germophobic or just straight-up private, then house swaps aren’t for you.

While it’s highly unlikely that a guest would rifle through all of your drawers and you do have the option to make certain places off-limits, this is more of a psychological barrier.

In other words, if it’s gonna irk you thinking about someone putting their dirty little piggies all over your suede furniture, you might not be the perfect candidate for a house swap. (Totally understandable.)

You’re struggling to find affordable hotels

Your decision might also come down to affordability. Most house swaps are free.

You might pay a one-time or monthly fee to use a platform—which makes sense. The platform needs to carefully vet its users and provide support.

But aside from that one-time or monthly fee, you won’t pay a thing.

All you need to do is ensure that your apartment is on par with the one you’d like to swap with. As in, it should be in a decent location for what the guests are looking for and have a solid design and good setup.

You’re looking for long-term lodging

One of the best things about house swaps is the sheer range of personalization.

Not only can you find like-minded people to swap houses with, but you can also choose the length of your stay.

Interested in a single weekend stopover? That’s on the docket.

But if you’re looking for an extended stay, then you can also find long-term offers.

House swaps are increasingly popular for those who are traveling for business or education. For example, a nurse completing their residency might look for a house swap to save on costs while finishing their degree.

Or maybe you just want to kick up your feet for a whole month in Italy or Croatia. So long as you can find someone willing to swap houses, you can take on a multi-week trip easily.

You need added amenities—from pet care to car swaps

Once again, personalization is one of the coolest features of using a house swap.

Two of the more unique factors I’ve seen on swapping platforms are pet care and car swaps.

In terms of pet care, you can swap houses with the promise of taking care of pets. To be fair, I’ve only seen this advertised for cats—they’re a lot more low-maintenance than dogs.

If you’ve got a cat at home who needs some TLC while you’re gone, then consider swapping houses with someone who also has a cat. That way, pet care is baked into the exchange. (Also, cuddles!)

Depending on where you live and where you’re heading, you might also need access to a car. If that’s the case, then consider looking into a swap that includes a vehicle. Just remember that you’ll need to abide by local laws and have a relevant license.

You’re okay going DIY

Some travelers have avoided Airbnb because it doesn’t offer the same amenities as a hotel. In fact, the platform has come under fire for adding hefty cleaning bills and asking many guests to handle cleaning themselves. (Usually both.)

You might face similar demands on a house swap (although maybe not with a luxury platform).

If this is a turn-off for you, then stick to a hotel. But if it’s not, and you’re okay handling basic chores from switching sheets to loading dishwashers, then get a house swap immediately.