Preparing your home takes time and effort, but it is worth it. It is understandably disconcerting to enter a home with the owner not there. So anything that you can do to make the experience more comfortable is always greatly appreciated. We have culled tips from several home exchange clubs (Geenee, Digsville, Homebase Holidays, Home Exchange), blogs (especially “Home Exchanger”) and added some of our own. Geenee.com offers an excellent printable House Book and check list to simplify all of this.

Trader’s Home Companion: We suggest buying a binder (your Trader’s Home Companion) with plastic sleeves, ideally with tabs. Pages can be added and subtracted easily and instructions will then be available each time you arrange a swap. Include:

• Instructions or manuals for all appliances and electronic equipment (try running a washing machine in Paris without instructions…)
• A page that states that the exchangers are your guests and authorized to be in your house.
• Emergency list:

o Phone number of emergency local contact person (neighbor or property manager)
o Nearby hospital
o Numbers for police and fire department or 911
o Car insurance information
o Car repair shop
o Alarm code

Be a Concierge: In “Trader’s Home Companion”, create a section for local attractions. Include area maps, brochures, local restaurant menus, and any other suggestions you may have to help your exchange partner enjoy the visit.

Space: Many of us have homes that are filled to the brim. Some temporary modifications need to be done in order to make your home exchange partner comfortable.

• Provide at least 12 inches of closet space for adult guests. Sometimes people consider pre-exchange preparation as a good time to go through closets and get rid of things. Often people box things up temporarily or rearrange. Be sure to leave plenty of hangers.
• Provide a drawer or two for each guest.
• Provide room in your bathroom for the exchange partner’s toiletries.

Kitchen: Digsville.com’s Tips of the Trades offers the following suggestions:

• Be sure all the major appliances are in good working order. If you've been living with a blown-out refrigerator bulb for a while, now is the time to replace it.
• Stock up on kitchen staples such as oils, vinegars, flour, sugar, salt and basic seasonings. Most exchange partners will agree to use basic kitchen and household supplies.
• Supply adequate pots and pans.
• Sharpen your knives.
• Keep your cookbooks and favorite recipes within easy reach for the guest chef.

• The best way is to make a copy of the key and mail it to the exchanger well in advance. That way there is no worry. Then the key can simply be left in the home if it is not needed to lock the door or it can be mailed back.
• A neighbor or family member can be given the key. The exchange partner should be provided with the telephone number of the key holder. This method usually works well, but sometimes can be a problem. For example, in our last exchange, the key holder got confused and did not appear at the appointed time. She ended up having to leave work to deliver the key that she thought she was supposed to bring the next day!
• The old “the key is under the doormat” scenario can also work if both parties feel comfortable.

Cleaning: The cleanliness of a home is of major concern to most home exchangers. However, there is great disagreement as the meaning of the word “clean”. One man’s clean house is another man’s pigpen. Also, clutter can make a universally accepted “clean” into an uncomfortable place. So, if you are as housekeeping challenged as I am, the best plan is to hire a cleaning service right before the exchange and to have some place to store excess clutter. It might be a chance to make lemonade out of lemons (again for us housekeeping challenged folks) to get rid of some of the stuff that’s been accumulating in your home.

What else?

• Provide plenty of clean towels and linen.
• Remove any valuables or place them in a locked area of your house.
• Any items that you do not feel comfortable with others using should be marked as
such.
• Arrange with a neighbor or friend to be on call in case of problems.
• Stay in touch via email or phone.
• Home exchangers tend to welcome each other with a small welcome gift – flowers or a bottle of wine.
• Remember: The unexpected may happen. Treat it as an adventure!

Arriving at Your Destination