Home Exchange

Feb. 21, 2024
Ovid Life
9.2

Grand Score

10

User Score

Home Exchange classifies itself as the leading home-sharing site in the world. They have over 400,000 homes in 187 countries which place them over Love Home Swap. You earn points any time you host and then you can use the points when you stay as a guest. Points are also awarded just for signing up and listing. With Home Exchange, seniors can enjoy affordable travel while meeting new people from around the globe.

If seniors are infrequent travelers, then they can simply pay by the night. Frequent travelers might want to indulge in the Home Exchange’s subscription plan. Most seniors also appreciate the customized service. You can register for free to check out the hype. If home catches your fancy, then contact the owner to make the necessary arrangements to enjoy home-sharing.

vacation rental/home exchange

Grandfolk Scoring
  • Price 9/10 90% 90%
  • Features 8/10 80% 80%
  • Ease 8/10 80% 80%
  • Customer Service 10/10 100% 100%
Price
Price
Membership fees per year start out at $150. You can also pay per night at $15 if you are traveling as a guest.
Features
Features
Offers house swapping services around the world
Ease
Ease
The site lets members search available houses based on their specific criteria.
Customer Service
Customer Service
Customer service is available Monday through Friday Monday to Friday, 10am to 6pm. They are in Paris, France so time zones should be factored. You can also email them.

Positive Reviews of Home Exchange:

I had a question regarding guest points

I had a question relay guest points, Alejandro was very prompt, professional and helpful in her reply. Problem solved ! I have had many great experiences on Homeexchange and will continue to be part of the community for hopefully, many years to come.

Homeexchange is highly recommended

I have been a member of Homeexchange for over 15years, completing over 20 exchanges and I highly recommend using them for your holiday plans. The community is wonderful and if required, the support you receive from the Homeexchange team is exceptional.

We are new to Home Exchange and it has been great!

We are new to Home Exchange. We just hosted our first guests this past week. It was such a pleasant experience! Everything we have experienced so far has been wonderful! We have booked a few exchanges and look forward to those experiences and new friendships!

Negative Reviews of Home Exchange:

Each Hawaiian Island is very different!

I have a problem with my listing location for people finding me. I wrote 3 weeks ago and never heard back from you. Can you please help Debbie

With guest-to-guest it was better

With guest-to-guest it was better. Now we have to pay fees to receive people for free!! This doesn’t stand together!!

Tiny home

After signing up for HomeExchange, I found that it seems to be exclusively for higher-end homes, which excludes me. What I mean is that I couldn’t find a comparable home to mine in size – one bedroom, one bath. I couldn’t find anyone who wanted to stay in my home! Maybe I don’t understand how to use the website, but it just didn’t work for me.

Age Score:

9

10

10

9

50-64 Years

65-74 Years

75-84 Years

85-Above

Seniors who dream about traveling will appreciate the budget-friendly home-sharing options on Home Exchange. The site is easy to navigate, and you can run filters to find the perfect home for your specific needs. With Home Exchange programs, you can filter the exact things that matter to you to make your trip ideal. 

vacation rental/home exchange

Health Score:

10

10

9

8

 Great 

Good 

Fair 

Poor 

Health-related score

Pros:

Home Exchange is a secure site that lets you find the perfect home sharing agreement to meet your travel needs. With listings in virtually every country, you can find the perfect house to reside in while you soak up the culture. In addition, the site and rentals are very affordable so you can travel on a budget. 

 

  • A low-cost way to travel the globe
  • The opportunity to meet new people 
  • The chance to live like the locals and soak up the area culture 
  • If you have a second home, then you can use it for swapping instead of letting it sit empty
  • You have the opportunity to work directly with the homeowner to book the home swap 
  • Form a friendship with your guests or the host
  • Can cook your mails at the home and save money by not eating out

Cons:

Seniors are often very set in their ways so it’s hard to welcome strangers with open arms. Also, your home is your pride and joy so there is the possibility of damage. Home swapping does take time out of your day and you must focus on making your listing appealing. 

 

  • It’s difficult to welcome a stranger into your home
  • The possibility of damage to your home
  • Takes time to focus on home swapping
  • The homes might not appear in real life as they do on the site’s photos

Bottom Line:

If you want to travel without spending a fortune, then Home Exchange is a fantastic option. You can choose from thousands of listings around the globe. With Home Exchange, you not only have the chance to see the world but also build lasting relationships. Most seniors find the service easy to use and they are happy with the results. 

Frequently Asked Questions:

What are the benefits of Home Exchange?

  • You will spend virtually nothing on accommodations
  • You can cook in instead of dining out with saves money
  • You could live like a local
  • The chance to meet and become friends with new people

Are you charged for the service? 

You can pay a yearly subscription or by each night.

Can you list more than one property? 

Yes, you can list as many properties as you want.

T. Mashae Pearson - Senior Advisor

Shae is senior researcher with Grandfolk® providing in-depth product and service reviews to empower senior buying decisions.

 

Grandfolk Scoring
  • Price 9/10 90% 90%
  • Features 8/10 80% 80%
  • Ease 8/10 80% 80%
  • Customer Service 10/10 100% 100%