Personally, no. I'm much too private a person to have other people living in my house, amongst my things - nor would I want to live in another person's house as I would be very uncomfortable about using their own things and would do too much worrying about not leaving it exactly right.

I think for the right people, it's a great idea if the knowledge is understood and accepted that some people are careful and respectful of other's belongings and others are pigs and you understand that you never know what you will get ;)

I would seriously think about it but doubt we could ever do it. Joe is in a wheelchair so we'd need to exchange with someone who has a wheelchair accessible home.

I don't think I would do it either. However when I was in Italy a couple of years ago we struck up a conversation with a lovely couple who do this all the time. They live in Australia and travel all over the place exchanging house for house, use of automobiles etc. She said they have friends now all over the world. And the best part they can stay for a month or two if they choose the right exchange partner. Like I said not for me.

june

Nope. When I travel, my idea of roughing it is no room service. Cleaning, cooking, doing laundry, etc. is not my idea of a vacation.

Not in this house, but if I had a vacation condo or a little cottage somewhere I might. They would hold much less personal things and I think I'd feel comfortable doing so IF I went through an agency or traded with people I knew (like here at the KT).

I'd stay in someone else's home, but I'm not sure I'd trust a stranger to stay in mine (without me here). It's not just whether they would care for my home and belongings, but what if they weren't honest or worse yet actually did some criminal activity? Maybe there was something on the site that shows they've been checked out (references, etc) but if so I didn't see it. I'd love to visit the world and stay in various homes but I'd be a wreck about what was going on at my own home.

I'd do it if we exchanged our Maui condo for someone's home. I was about to say we could exchange vacation condos, but then...why not just rent one another's places?

I've gotten pretty familiar with letting someone live in my 'home' because of the condo. None of my worst fears have come true: no 'guests from he//'. The worst damages we've suffered have been from the cleaners! (Not a wide choice on a small island.) It may be that if you have something rather 'nice', and not just some cheap, dumpy beach house, guests respond and take care. Or, maybe we've just been lucky!

I wouldn't do it.

lydia1959 wrote just what I was thinking.

I think it's a great idea and I'd love to do it one day.
We used to have a British tv show here that followed two sets of travellers as they exchanged homes and almost everyones experiences were positive. Everyone treated the homes with respect and left them exactly as they found them. The homes were used as a base for day trips while they really explored the local surroundings. It was primarily somewhere to rest up/sleep before heading out to explore some more. They were all 'like minded' people ... people who enjoyed travelling but didn't like staying in hotels. Many really enjoyed shopping and being able to cook for themselves with locally produced food from the markets etc.
And lets face it if you're not having to pay for accommodation (which takes up a huge amount of your vacation budget) then you can spend so much more time and $$ on the really fun stuff!

Exactly, Kiwi, really if you are out seeing the sights how much time are you really going to stay in the house? We're going to Europe this summer and wish I had looked into this before. The biggest expense is sleeping accomidations. I'll be spending more on that than the airfair. Then there is the car rental expense. More money saved if cars were in the exchange.

I do understand how some people wouldn't want strangers or anyone staying in their house.

If you and your family ever want to come to Kentucky, Kiwi, let me know. ( :

my sis lake home is on select lists...so far the same people have rented it out since her passing (the only way my niece can afford the taxes)

i'd have to do a ton of decluttering and store private papers elsewhere, before i could do it...

I wouldn't mind living in theirs but don't want anyone in my home if I am not there. You might come home to an empty house.

I couldn't do it. My husband uses a wheelchair. Besides that, he's very picky. He needs his air conditioning, TV, and food and drinks available. I don't like the idea of "strangers" in my house. Not for me.

I`ve stuck my neck out sometimes in my life, though have a fairly conservative streak in me, as well ...

... but I`d do it!

I haven`t talked to people who have done it, but know that many do and have really happy experiences.

I think much of it is done through exchanges, and have no idea what kind of screening is done.

I would not do it. Sounds like fun if someone else wants to do it :)

Sue

Strangers sleeping ( or worse) in my bed or my kids beds-NO WAY!