FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT HOME EXCHANGE
How can I trust my home to a stranger?
Most Intervac members are mature (average age 40+), established family-oriented professionals, executives, business-owners or retired people who are financially successful and respect property. But prior to committing to an exchange you should always get to know your counter-party through letters, fax and phone which establishes mutual trust. References can be requested from prior exchanges or neighbours. Home exchange is clearly based on trust - but during Intervac's long history (since the early 1950's) there have been only infrequent and minor problems related to home exchanging.
Do exchanges include cars?
In most cases exchange of cars is an important part of the exchange deal.
What about insurance?
You should check your insurance coverages - most insurance companies prefer that your home is occupied during your absence and most car insurance policies cover guest drivers. If necessary additonal short-term specific coverage can be purchased under your policy.
Who would ever want to come to my area?
Even if your area is not considered a major tourist attraction, don't forget that people visit relatives almost as often as they visit locations; and staying in a separate home while visiting relatives is for everyone's comfort. Our experience is that one can have a better holiday away from large or tourist- oriented places.
How can I be sure that the exchange will be "equal"?
If both parties have a similar offer (ie. size of accommodation/type of car) the exchange is a fair one. In general, the exchanges seem to work best between families of a similar age bracket and/or of similar professional/financial means. However, the key issue is also the location. Many exchangers with large homes would be happy to trade for an adequate apartment/condominium in central Paris, London, Rome or San Francisco.
We are non-smokers/have pets, etc. - can these preferences be handled?
Intervac's listing codes cover the above and many more preferences related to home exchange. Emphasize any special requirements in your offer letters.
How much work is it to arrange an exchange?
The exchange process depends on the initiative of members to contact other members with information packages/offers which are more detailed and personalized than the brief advertisement in the catalogues. Based on the feedback from our customers some send and receive up to 50 offers. It depends on what you are offering and where you want to go. We provide our members with a checklist on how to organise an exchange.
What are the benefits of home-exchange vacations?
Besides cost savings (hotel/car rental/restaurant expenses are largely eliminated) and having more space and freedom of a private residence, one experiences another country like a "local" rather than a tourist. Based on our personal exchanges in several countries - you get to know another family, become immersed in another way of life (including shopping in local stores, using public transit), you often meet your counter-parties' friends and neighbours, kids (and parents) play with new toys and you often are forced to communicate in a foreign or sign language. This personalized and realistic travel experience cannot be matched by a guided/packaged tour! Many exchange families remain life time friends.
We have heard of other home-exchange organisations. Why should we list with Intervac?
Since home-exchange has recently become "trendy", a number of start-ups have appeared - and gone away too. Before listing with any home-exchange organisation know the following: how long have they been in business how many families/households do they represent (note: one organisation converts households to members by saying that each household averages 4 people. If we did this - Intervac could claim to have 45,000 members. Of course a larger database gives one a better chance to find suitable matches. What geographical coverage do they offer? Intervac's coverage is 78% Europe and 20% North America - with unbeatable coverage in countries with high interest to travellers: USA, GB and France (each with approximately 1,000 to 2,000 listings annually).
When a country "grows too fast" we curtail its membership growth to keep our overall membership "in balance". We also strive to balance our database between family and retired members as well.
