Home exchange

House Exchange (also home exchange, or - after the oldest provider - also called " HomeLink " ) includes the ability to own their own home or apartment with another offer to exchange a limited time. The exchange is free of charge, because the participants make their home available to each other. Only the membership fee on joining the organization that mediates the exchange, is at the top ( and usually a year) to be paid.

Development

Home Exchange is designed as an affordable alternative for travelers who prefer to travel individually and are willing to let other people live in their own homes. An exchange can take place simultaneously or at different times. The exchange usually fall to only the costs for traveling and food.

The idea of ​​home exchange at time comes originally from the USA. The world's oldest provider is HomeLink. The network currently operates offices in 28 countries. In the 1930s and 1940s, the program originally began as an exchange program for university lecturers. Exchanged in 1976, the then U.S. President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalyn the house on their peanut farm in Georgia with a Brazilian family in Recife. In Germany there is since 1953 a corresponding organization.

This type of travel have different file sharing networks made ​​on the subject that are commercially active. In most cases a fee will be charged to place an ad and get in contact with other travel prospects. This annual fees fall to between 30 and 100 Euros or up to 140 Euros. The largest providers reported in 2006 after just over 10,000 ( HomeLink, Intervac ) or 8,600 ( Home Exchange) exchange offers per year.

Contract

This ability to find a property abroad is becoming increasingly popular in the German speaking countries. Participants reported mostly positive experiences. However, the Stiftung Warentest recommends agreeing in advance of the apartment swap all the key data and the liability provisions accurate and complete personal liability insurance and a home insurance, which include the associated risks. The Home Exchange organizations held model contracts prepared, which would also deposited there.