London - You probably wouldn’t let a complete stranger stay in your house alone for a week.
But you might be more inclined to do so if it meant you could stay anywhere in the world for free.
This is what Marion and Phil Hunter do. They are part of a growing band of travellers who swap their homes with people living abroad to cut holiday costs.
Marion, 71, and Phil, 73, pay for flights and other expenses, but not a penny for their accommodation. It has saved them thousands.
The retired couple have already been to Australia and South Africa and the South of France is next.
In return, families they have never met stay in their converted 1920s cottage in the Cotswolds.
Marion, who was a travel agent, says: ‘We’d never have been able to afford as many holidays to far-off places if we’d had to pay for hotels.
‘On top of this, the places we stay are so much more comfortable and homey than a hotel or villa.’
The Hunters discovered home-swapping two years ago through a chance conversation with a passenger on a flight back from South Africa. They had paid a fortune for their holiday, but the woman boasted she had stayed there for free in some amazing properties.
Home swapping is not new - the oldest specialist firm dates from 1953. But the internet and social media have made it easier.
Websites list houses people want to swap and charge an annual membership fee. With HomeExchange you pay £100, Knok £99 and Love Home Swap from £144 to £240 depending on the level of membership chosen. But it is vital you look at what’s on offer before you sign up.
Each listing will include a description, photos and available dates. Some owners will offer to swap cars, too, and others may require you to look after pets. There may be restrictions and some ban children.
If you join, you will have to provide similar information.
You won’t be able to stay anywhere for nothing unless someone has stayed at your home already.
Love Home Swap lists a four-bedroom villa in Miami Beach, Florida, that sleeps nine. It has a pool, library and pergola dining area, plus a Lego station for the kids. A four-bedroom villa in the same U.S. resort would cost £3,300 a week to rent with HomeAway.
Planning and communication are key to a successful trip. Love Home Swap says members send an average 20 messages before travelling.
And you should always make video calls on Skype or Facetime so you can see each other’s homes.
Agree beforehand who will pay bills, if they can use the phone, who pays if something is broken, and if you want them to strip the beds.
You’ll need to leave house keys for your guests with a trusted friend, neighbour or cleaner and ask them to keep an eye on things. And make sure valuables are locked away.
Some websites offer the option of asking visitors to pay a deposit against damage or loss. You can also seek a trip deposit - often £1 000 a week - in case other owners cancel.
Tell your insurer, as home swapping can invalidate your policy.
Some companies will reduce the level of cover offered, exclude theft or accidental damage by guests, charge extra or limit the amount of time they will cover guests’ stays.
You’ll also need to leave a manual with everything from emergency numbers to instructions on how the TV works. Finally, you don’t always need to go to the home of someone staying with you. You can accrue points if you let someone stay in your home. You can then trade these points to stay somewhere else.
bischoff@dailymail.co.uk
Daily Mail