« January 2005 | Main | March 2005 »
Many customers wonder whether their location is too obscure. Here's an example that demonstrates some home swappers are interested in places we may consider off the beaten track.
While the Jersey Shore is a bonafide attraction within the US, I was surprised to find this Icelandic member chose it as their number one destination. If you live on the Jersey Shore, perhaps you would be interested in a Reykjavik home swap. 
The architect-owner of this hip, contemporary apartment in Barcelona is looking to do a home exchange in the US, particularly in New York City.
The flat is located just 50 yards away from the Pablo Picasso museum, one of the top museums in the world. Tapas, sangria and salsa dancing are all part of the cosmopolitan Barcelona package.
Ole!
THE most common question we are asked is, "How do you know your home exchange partner won't damage your home?"
To answer this question, we usually point out that in the 50+ years Intervac has been in business, there have been very few problems, and the problems that did occur were quite minor (like a blanket mistakenly put in a dryer).
But home exchanging does require a leap of faith in the beginning. Obviously there are some
ways to guard against damages occuring. We always recommend house swap partners put in writing a home exchange agreement specifying particular concerns. Getting to know and trust your home exchange partner is also crucial - and will happen as you secure your exchange. If you are still uneasy, you can ask for references from past exchange partners, as most of our members are experienced home exchangers.
Bush's Goodwill trip to Europe seems to be inspiring some humor among our home exchange members. We received an email from a French member that joked, "Now that Chirac and Bush have made up, why not do an exchange with us?" Hee!
Seriously though, many of our members have asked whether Europeans are less likely to want to home swap with Americans given recent political events. And we also heard from Europeans worrying that Americans would not want to come visit them either. This did not come to pass, on both sides, which is a wonderful thing. One of the neat things about home exchange is getting to know other cultures and people. The more we know each other, the better we all get along!
I know I go on about how Italy is the most competitive destination (especially Tuscany) ...and it still is. However, Intervac has signed on some wonderful Italian properties in the last week. Here's another one.
This beautiful villa is located in Torino (known in English as Turin), home of next year's Winter Olympics. Known for its famous "Shroud of Turin" and world-class skiing, this beautiful city is located in the Italian Alps.
The owners of the villa want to go to the US Northwest in addition to other locations.
The owners of a Cambridge apartment, close to Harvard Square, were looking to go to the UK. They are experienced exchangers, having done 7 home swaps.
The owners of this Plymouth home specifically wanted to go to Boston. They are also experienced swappers - 10 swaps and counting. 
The home exchange agreement specifies that anything broken has to be paid for or replaced.
The Dutch family who live in this Rotterdam townhome were looking to go to France or somewhere else in Europe, however they were unable to resist a California wine country home. Rotterdam is a Dutch port city, filled with cosmopolitan restaurants and bars. It is also close to the attractions of Delft, famous for its white and blue china, canals and flower markets.
The American family who own the wine country property wanted to go to Italy. However, a summer sojourn in the Netherlands was planned instead. This is yet another example that if you are interested in a member's listing, pursue it even if it doesn't list your location as the preferred destination.
This charming Roman flat reminds me of the apartment Gregory Peck lived in in Roman Holiday.
I don't know if princesses from unknown European locales will come visit you here, but you would be 100 steps from the Piazza Navona.
The Italian member is looking to go to the US or Carribean, as well as Australia. 
The owners of this Redding, California home live in luxurious comfort right near some of California's biggest outdoor attractions, like Lake Shasta. Redding is also right in the middle of the California Gold Country and home to the new, much-discussed Sundial Bridge. The owners have never before done a home exchange, and wanted to go to Paris.
They have set up a home exchange with a French family who live on the outskirts of Paris. The French home swap partners have already done seven exchanges, and wanted to go to the US or Canada. Exchange accomplished!
Today I had a question from a member wanting to know whether her potential home swap partners will take care of her cats.
This depends on who you exchange with. Some of our members specify "no pets" and some are open to the idea. It's best to be upfront with potential home exchangers right from the beginning if you are looking for someone to look after Fluffy. The first time you contact someone to pitch an exchange, you should mention that your furry friends are part of the package.
If you do get agreement from your house swap partner to watch over your pet/s, I suggest that you use our home exchange form to finalize the agreement.
