I'm thinking about swapping my house with someone in another country. Any tips?
I am about to take a month mental health break from work and I want to trade houses with someone in Iceland. I'm on vancouver island so it's a good trade I think.
Has anyone ever done similar and how did you do it?
This is the exact plot to The Holiday.
Don't fall in love with a dashing viking, because he'll show up drunk on your doorstep forgetting his sister mentioning she would be away and ask to crash because he's too drunk to get home.
Hi, we have done this about 20 times. Never had an issue.
It is a great way to see the world as you get to see a real local home, if you have kids they get their own rooms complete with toys and all. You typically find (and should prepare for your guests) a long list of recommendations and local attractions from pharmacies, bakeries, grocers to small local attractions that are not in guide books.
Oh, and accommodation is free. This enabled us to stay in Vancouver for 4 weeks as a young family as we only had to pay for the flights and rental car - yes, European, we get long paid holidays over here (😇).
PS: We‘ve use homelink.org ( not affiiliated) and were happy with their database. But I am sure there are others like it.
As you are from Vancouver Island you should not have any issues finding an exchange.
I hope you find a nice swap and find everything you need in your difficult time.
…you can do that?
Why not? We both own our properties so one benefit to capitalism I guess.
I can't work remotely there, though, due to tax and liability reasons. And I could only stay as long as tourist visa.
Obviously trust is a big factor here which is specifically why I look towards iceland.
Yeah but is that like a thing? Do people regularly do that?
Make sure your insurance covers it.
I would trust an icelander with my life in general but that's a great suggestion.
My folks have done this maybe 10 times without issue. There are whole websites etc, happy to pass on the one my parents used if you'd like. (I'd have ti ask etc or I'd just share it.)
An old family friend has done this a few times. They have a place in Colorado. They've spent a month or more in Netherlands and NZ for sure, and I think a couple other countries. They've had good experiences doing it. I don't know the details though.
How does one live in another person?
Very carefully