Do I have specific needs for my home exchange vacation, like bringing a pet? Pick a club that has advanced search options.
Is money a concern? Either join a club that is free or browse an open club that allows non members to contact members with listings.
Is privacy important? Choose a closed site, open to members only, that has no visible contact information.
Do I speak a language other than English? Look for a club that is international, based in your country of origin or one that offers free translations.
Am I extremely busy? Pick a site that provides a “concierge” service and does the work for you.

KYT has looked at all the clubs and researched their features to help you make an informed decision. Some things to think about:

• Cost: Yearly costs for clubs range from free to over $1000 (for a specialty club). Most are under $100.

• Year founded: The oldest clubs started in 1953 and new ones have started almost yearly since the 1980s. If a club has been around a long time, it usually has built up a fairly large membership and a good reputation. Newer clubs may have innovative features that the older ones do not offer, although many older clubs regularly upgrade.

• Country of origin: Although all clubs are based in a specific country, most offer worldwide listings. There are a few specialty sites that are specific to the country of origin. Sometimes the club has more listings in the country of origin and is written in the language of the country. Many sites also offer translation services.

• Communication: Blogs, forums and emails are all methods of communication offered on some of the club sites. It is especially helpful when clubs offer email updates when new listing are added in “wish list” countries. KYT tells you which clubs communicate.

• Updated: Home exchange clubs vary in how easy it is to find out if listings are current. While most of the larger clubs are careful about removing older listings, some clubs date last updates or date of enrollment and expiration. That makes it foolproof.

• Open/Closed: There are several different methods of contact for home exchange clubs. If a club is deemed open, visitors are free to browse listings and contact members. Membership is required in order to post a listing. The advantage of open clubs is that they offer a wider range of potential swappers. Closed clubs require membership in order to contact other members. Their advantage is additional privacy and security. Another new trend is to offer a membership at no cost that allows one to list their home. These members cannot contact others; however they can be contacted by all paid members.

• Reverse Search: Reverse Search allows an exchanger to look for other exchangers who are interested in coming to their location. Some clubs offer reverse search options to country only, others are more specific.

• Second Home: Many home exchangers have second homes. KYT lets you know if there is an additional charge for listing another home.

• Number of Listings: KYT has estimated membership size. This is as up to date as possible, though of course, these fluctuate daily. It is quite difficult to compare number fo listings due to the variables in enrollment plans and exchange agency policies for removing listings.

• Balance of listings: This can be quite important in determining the likelihood of finding a suitable exchange. For example, if an American wants to exchange with a European, it would be beneficial to join a club that has has a large membership in Europe. KYT estimates the number of listings in many countries.

• Advanced Search Options: Some sites offer many search options, which makes it easier to find a trade if you have specific needs. For example, if you travel with a pet, you may want to search only for pet friendly homes. KYT tells you which sites offer options and what the options are.

• Visible contact: Some people prefer complete privacy on their listings. KYT lets you know which sites have what degree of privacy.

• Helps: Some home exchange clubs have loads of information for the exchanger, which can be used in addition to the resources on KYT.

• Guarantees: Some home exchange clubs offer guarantees if an exchange is not made during membership.

All this information and more is available in either the Club Finder or View All Exchange      Clubs sections of KYT.

Arranging A Home Exchange