Hospitality Exchange or Home Exchange
Nicole Frank is one of the leading experts of the home exchange community. Nicole has been an avid home exchanger since childhood and has completed dozens exchanges around the world with her family. Nicole’s "Key to Home Exchange" appears weekly on RoofSwap.com with do’s and don’t regarding house swapping and tips and advice on a wide array of travel topics. Have a question for Nicole or want to share some insight of your own? Visit Member Forum section and post your comments and questions.
Did you know there are different kinds of roofswaps? There were several questions about these options this week on the RoofSwap.com Forum, which can be found at http://www.roofswap.com/index.php/forums/home
The Roofswap.com Forum is a place where Roofswap.com members share their experiences swapping homes and ask for advice on how best to do a roofswap. One of our members had a question about an offer he had received from another Roofswap.com member:
“I got a request for "hospitality". How is that different from roof swap? Should I do that or just home exchange. I am confused.
JohnJuan, Mexico”
HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE
If you have ever had house guests, you know what is involved in hospitality exchange. You may have a spare bedroom and enjoy meeting fellow Roofswap.com members. If so, you can offer hospitality on your Roofswap.com listing.
HOW DOES HOSPITALITY EXCHANGE WORK?
A Roofswap.com family may be visiting your area at a time when you cannot travel. You can offer to host them during their vacation. They will stay with you in your home. In exchange, you can ask them to host you when you visit their area in the future.
Hospitality exchange can be offered with the intention to visit the swappers and enjoy their hospitality, or it can be a one-sided offer that nets you nothing but good karma and a possible friendship.
You are under no obligation to extend hospitality to Roofswap.com members with whom you cannot do a home exchange. Many roofswappers are only interested in having exclusive use of other members’ homes.
WHO ARE YOUR GUESTS?
In a reciprocal home exchange it is important to get to know the other swappers before sending them your house keys. This advice goes double or triple for hospitality exchange. Remember, you will be sharing your living space with hospitality recipients. Be sure that they are clear on house
rules such as no smoking or shoes off indoors. Let them know if there are spaces or amenities they cannot use. Feel free to engage in email and phone communication for as long as needed until you are comfortable hosting a particular family. If you feel it will not work out you should let them
know as soon as possible. You are never required to offer hospitality unless you feel completely comfortable with the family.
BE KIND TO YOUR HOSTS
If you are the recipient of hospitality, remember what your parents told you about being a good guest. Don’t disturb the routine of the home. Limit your requests of your hosts. Be considerate if sharing spaces such as the bathroom. Do not assume you are invited to use the phone, internet,
laundry, kitchen or other amenities unless it has been discussed in advance or the hosts offer to let you use their things. Clean up after yourself. Bringing a gift from your home area is a thoughtful touch.
HOW LONG SHOULD THEY STAY?
In general, a brief stay such as a weekend is best for a first-time offer of hospitality. If you do not enjoy the guests’ company their time with you is brief. If you form a delightful friendship you can have them back again or extend their stay after they arrive.
WHERE CAN WE PUT OUR GUESTS?
I enjoyed a hospitality exchange in Toronto with a lovely swapper named Susan. She has become a friend and recently visited us again. Her home is set up with a basement apartment so it is easy for her to offer hospitality to others without displacing her own family.
If you have a cottage or “in-law apartment” attached to your home it is easy to offer hospitality even if you do not plan to use your half of the exchange. This kind of generosity is common among roofswappers. It strengthens our community with acts of kindness. If you are able to offer
this to other exchangers please consider doing so. Your good deed will come back to you.
STUDENT EXCHANGE
A Roofswap.com member who has a child may be interested in exchanging students with other roofswappers. Hosting a young person is like an informal student exchange program. This is a common way that teenagers learn a new language in an immersion environment. Two sets of parents can
work out a swap that allows their children to do a supervised stay in each other’s countries.
The suggestions about working out the details of the hospitality in advance and establishing a rapport with the other family are especially important for student exchange.
KNOW YOURSELF
Do people often say these phrases to you: “thank you” “how kind of you” “you are so thoughtful” ? If so, you are a good candidate for accepting hospitality. Conversely, if you frequently hear comments such as “get out of here, or I am calling the police” you might want to avoid hospitality exchanges.
The same self-examination is a good idea for potential hosts. If you like having guests, home exchangers can make interesting temporary roommates. If you are considering a move to a deserted island, do not burden yourself with host duties.
Hospitality exchange isn't for everyone but it is a great way to meet interesting new friends. If you have the space in your home and your life give hospitality exchange a try.
