How boomers can arrange great home exchanges

Recently my daughter set up a successful home exchange vacation in Seattle. When I posted about it, I received a comment from Anne Pottinger, a boomer who runs the ExchangeHomes.com Web site and writes the ExchangeHomes.Blog.com.

I asked Anne if she would do an e-mail interview about the benefits of home exchanges for boomers. My questions and her answers are below.

Rita: How did you get started with your home exchange business?

Anne: I'm a Brit born and bred, and moved to the U.S.A. with my family in 1980. Home exchanging was already prevalent throughout Europe, and we immediately used it for trips back to England. At that time I couldn't find any North American companies, so launching my own seemed like a great idea. This I did in 1986 and in the beginning I worked in cooperation with a friend in London.
 
Back then, listings were circulated three times per year using printed directories. We moved onto the Internet in 1995 and ceased to print directories at the end of 2000.

Rita: What are the parts of arranging home exchanges do you like the best? the least?

Anne: I most enjoy looking through the variety of homes on offer, studying the photographs, and imagining myself and my husband transplanted to live in that environment for just a brief period of time. We list our own home exchange as being 'open to offers,' and I love receiving an e-mail
completely out of the blue from some unexpected location, inviting us to consider a tempting home exchange with the writer.
 
I can't really pinpoint anything I don't like about arranging a home exchange. I do get a little peeved occasionally when someone contacts me, obviously without bothering to read my very detailed listing first, stating that they are a party of eight (my listing stipulates no more than four),
that one of their party has cat allergies (I make it very clear that cats live in our house), etc.

Rita: What are the top three advantages of home exchanges for baby boomers?

Anne: The number one advantage, now more than ever, is the substantial financial saving. Not only will they not pay anything for accommodation, but many home exchanges also include a car -- another significant saving. Think of it as bartering.
 
Many home exchangers are also happy to care for each other's pets, thus saving on expensive kennel fees. But always look upon this as a perk rather than a requirement -- you're already saving a bundle by home exchanging so don't ever push the issue. Many people are just not pet oriented!
 
Second: When home swapping you enjoy all the creature comforts and privacy of a home, but it can be located anywhere in the world -- England, France, Italy, or Mexico. You name it!
 
Third: Homes that are occupied are much less vulnerable to crime than those left unoccupied for weeks at a time. Even insurance companies agree that this is so.

Rita: What has been the most favorite home exchange vacation that you've arranged for yourself?

Anne: Without a doubt an exchange we made to a home on the Big Island of Hawaii, south of Hilo. It was absolutely idyllic with the Pacific Ocean lapping against the decking outside our bedroom and wild sea turtles visiting and eating mango slices we threw to them.

Rita: What are the top three tips that people should know when setting up home exchanges?

Anne: Here are my suggestions:

1. Allow plenty of time. Not only will you find a better choice of opportunities, but more important, you'ill need time to exchange e-mails, IMs, phone calls, etc., discussing the multitude of details. Home exchange arrangements don't happen overnight.
2. Always be 100 percent honest and up-front about the home you're offering for exchange. Never create a situation where your partners arrive to find a home different than you've described.
3. Always take the time to complete a written Home Exchange Agreement, detailing everything you've discussed and agreed upon. The majority of good home exchange clubs offer samples, and they're worth their weight in gold because with everything documented in writing there can be less opportunity for error.

Another great source of information can be found in a book offered at HomeExchange Academy.com. It's written by a veteran home exchanger and packed full of useful, pertinent advice. It also provides samples of all the documents you're likely to need.

Rita: Thank you, Anne, for taking time for the great interview.

Photos of two homes listed on ExchangeHomes.com: Upper, France; Lower, British Columbia

Comments

[Carol Orsborn]

Hi Rita,
I got a Google alert leading me to see that you read and liked my comments about boomer bashing and commented on the Seattle post Intelligencer site. Just wanted to reach out and say thanks!

Carol Orsborn, Ph.D.
www.TheBoomerBlog.com

[seekandfun]

Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life. Any mature woman who thinks she is stuck with a loveless life will discover that it needn't be so. Come ---SeekSeniors.com--- to give your love, life and get your life, love.