Frequently asked questions
General
Home exchange
1. What types of homes do you offer?
Most Home Around the World members offer to exchange their apartments and houses and some offer their second homes. There is no reason why exchanges cannot include villas, cabins, caravans, boats, ski chalets and beach houses – in fact any kind of holiday accommodation.
2. Why don't you offer a free service?
It's about your security. It is possible to discover free sites on the net where people can list their homes. But an "open" system is very risky and not to be encouraged. People who pay even a nominal fee for a service are naturally more committed to the concept and are prepared to spend more time and effort in arranging the ideal swap. And if anything does go wrong, we will be here to help you sort it out.
3. Do I need a photograph?
Yes. We actively encourage our members to upload photographs, which will always attract visitors to your listing and can be changed at any time. Photographs may be of your home, internal, external or view or even of you!
4. How do I upload photographs?
Login and click on the link, UPLOAD/CHANGE PHOTOS to upload up to eight images from your hard drive. Alternatively, simply email us a .jpg attachment and we will be delighted to upload for you.
5. Do I need a credit card to sign up?
No. You do not need to use a credit card to list your home, although 99% of our members find it quicker and more convenient to use our secure server. If you would prefer to send payment by other means, contact us and we will provide you with details.
6. Is your site secure?
Yes. Your security is important to us.
When you supply your credit card details you will see a closed lock or a solid key at the bottom of your browser. Click on this and a pop-up window displaying security information will appear. This certificate is a guarantee that your account information is being transmitted in a Secure Socket Layer (SSL), the industry standard 128-bit encryption technology security protocol, which is widely used by the banking industry, as well as major e-commerce sites on the Internet.
Our agent in the UK, 'Secure Trading' and their effective encryption technology, encrypts both your credit card number and all your contact information as it travels through The Internet, making your on-line payments both simple and secure. The benefit is that you can join on-line in confidence.
Your payment will appear on your credit card statement as: "Home Around The World London".
7. Will my name and address appear online?
We value our members' privacy and your contact information is only available to other bona fide members. Visitors to the site see your listing, but are unable to contact you directly, unless they take out a membership.
Once a member, you may choose which of four contact details (address, phone, fax and email) you wish to have visible to other members. Almost all our members display their email address and some also display phone and fax numbers. Your contact confidentiality is assured.
8. Can I edit my listing?
Yes. Use your membership number and password to access your listing, make any changes, including your location and contact information, and your listing will be updated automatically. If you move home and wish to continue to use our service, simply edit your listing, altering the address fields on the form and your listing will automatically slot into its new location.
9. I am anxious about the privacy of the information I provide. I hate spam.
So do we. We value your privacy and would like you to be assured that we do not divulge your contact information to any third party sites. Your contact information is for our use only.
10. What shall I do if I forget my password?
Email us with your details and we will email you back with your login details.
11. What shall I do if my email address changes?
It is up to you to keep your contact information current. Please remember to update your listing with your new email address, so that other members can contact you. Also email us with your contact info alterations, so we may update our separate email database, so we can contact you. Members, whose emails bounce and who cannot be contacted by email, phone or fax, will have their listings removed from the site.
12. Do you offer rental accommodation?
Yes we do, but to discover these you need to visit www.rainbowstays.com, our non-membership sister site, which offers all types of gay and gay friendly accommodation, including gay rentals. Members, who list on the Home Around the World site, are eligible for a 50% discount to list their home for rental on Rainbow Stays.
13. Why do people exchange homes?
Here are the top 5 reasons:
Save: Save money on hotel, restaurant, laundry and even car hire bills.
Friendships: Friendships can arise naturally from sharing your home with others.
Experience: Live in another country and experience new cultures. Thinking about relocating? Gain an insider's perspective on an area.
Security: Your home isn't left vacant whilst you travel. Your home is more secure and you'll feel more secure.
Relax: Enjoy the relaxing pace of a Home Around the World holiday. Stay out late? Get up late! Be in charge of your own time.
14. Will I save a lot of money by home exchanging?
Yes. Lots! Think about it. There will be no more hotel, restaurant and even laundry bills. Shopping for food in another country becomes part of the fun if you decide not to eat out every evening. And think about the convenience.
15. Can I exchange my car?
Yes. Many members offer the use of their car or bicycles when exchanging homes. We recommend that you have a formal contract as a safeguard, should any problems occur. Read about how to arrange a car exchange in the ESSENTIAL GUIDE. For added security, download a sample Car Exchange Contract.
16. Can you offer advice?
We have updated the useful and informative ESSENTIAL GUIDE to guide you step by step through the home exchange process. If you have any questions not covered in the FAQ or GUIDE, please do not hesitate to contact us.
17. How do I arrange an exchange?
It's simple. Once you join, you have complete contact details of all the other members. So, browse the listings and email those members whose listings are of interest to you. Introduce yourself and ask if they might be interested in an exchange with you at some time in the future. And that's when the fun starts.
Don't forget that other members will read your listing and will also be contacting you!
The GUIDE explains all and even provides sample letters to help you.
18. What is the difference between a home exchange and a hospitality exchange?
A home exchange is a direct exchange of homes. Your exchange partner stays in your home, while you vacation in theirs. Some exchangers manage to arrange to meet each other for one night and some exchangers never meet, although all exchangers will have been in communication with each other and have established a firm friendship before any exchange occurs.
A hospitality exchange is an indirect exchange of homes. You stay with your exchanger, who "hosts" you in their home. Your exchange is "banked" until a future date when you return the favour. This way, you each receive free accommodation and you also get to enjoy each other's company. You spend as much or as little time as you wish together. This is often an ideal way for single people to travel.
19. Will anyone want my home?
Our members are more interested in the location of your home, than your home itself. Your home acts as a base to explore the city or the area in which you live.
Homes with photographs and which offer more amenities in popular gay-tourist locations like San Francisco or London, for example, will naturally attract more interest. There are no hard and fast rules however. People are different.
Rural homes are also of interest to members who may be eager to escape the hustle and bustle of the city-scene for a while.
As we say in the ESSENTIAL GUIDE, "Never underestimate the value of your own home. There's always someone out there who may be looking for exactly what you are offering."
20. If I am a guest in someone's home, will they show me around?
They may or they may not. There are no set rules. Most hosts simply offer a bedroom and you are free to come and go as you please. If a friendship develops you may of course decide to do things together, but don't assume it is your host's duty to entertain you.
As you and your host communicate together, you will be able to make the arrangements that suit both of you.
21. Should I be nervous about leaving my home to people I have never met?
It's natural to be hesitant, but in reality the only problem people occasionally encounter is a difference in housekeeping standards. The majority of our members are professional people with high standards. Don't forget, they haven't met you either and will have the same anxieties about you!
You will discover most exchangers take even greater care of your home than their own and will invariably leave your home cleaner than they found on arrival. And you know house-proud gay people are reputed to be! We take your worries seriously and if you have any grounds for complaint against another member, we would like to hear about it.22. What if there are any problems in my absence?
For added peace of mind, why not ask a good friend or neighbour who lives nearby to assist, should your exchanger require advice about your home or the neighbourhood? Your friend could also be responsible for welcoming your exchanger at the airport, and handing over the keys to your home.
23. What about insurance?
You should inform your home insurance company that you are leaving your home in the care of non-paying guests, as insurance companies prefer your home to be left occupied at all times. And rather than worry about people you have never met living in your home, just consider the added security you now have knowing someone is caring for your home in your absence.
24. Who pays the bills?
Most people who exchange homes continue paying their own bills, with the possible exception of the phone bill, which can easily be itemised for the exchange period.
25. It all sounds so easy. Shouldn't I have some sort of formal agreement?
Some members take comfort in drawing up an agreement, which should be signed by both parties, prior to an exchange. An agreement should summarise all the issues you have dealt with in your correspondence. This is of particular use if you are exchanging your car.
We provide you with sample agreements, which you can adapt for your own use.
We also suggest you email us a copy of your agreement.