The next "Great" idea...house swapping

[Zirondelle]

Working all the angles here.

We have two beach houses in San Diego, both directly on the beach. They are partially open in the Fall, Winter, and Spring, but totally slammed in Summer (we rent them).

The idea occurs to try and swap them in the Fall-Winter-Spring for places in France during the same periods. Unlike the swap sites you see on the internet, we'd like to swap for a longer period of time, 3 months at least but really pointed towards 6 months.

Any advice on this?

BTW, we have great weather pretty much all year here in San Deigo, frankly I prefer Fall and Spring to Summer as it is cooler and much fewer tourists.

As always, thanks ahead of time for all feedback.

-Z

[Bevdeforges]

There are some house swapping groups (agencies?) and some of the international expat groups arrange house swaps (or have considered doing it). Probably safest to go through an agency of some sort. I know someone who has done quite a bit of house swapping and you really need to have a solid agreement because whoever takes on your house has access to your mail, your car (apparently that's part of the deal) and lots of other personal aspects of your life. Pays to vet the potential swapees carefully.
Cheers,
Bev

[Zirondelle]

Originally Posted by Bevdeforges

There are some house swapping groups (agencies?) and some of the international expat groups arrange house swaps (or have considered doing it). Probably safest to go through an agency of some sort. I know someone who has done quite a bit of house swapping and you really need to have a solid agreement because whoever takes on your house has access to your mail, your car (apparently that's part of the deal) and lots of other personal aspects of your life. Pays to vet the potential swapees carefully.
Cheers,
Bev

Thanks Bev. These are good points for folks swapping their actual residence and I take your point, but our beach houses are rentals so less of a problem.

Any URLs you can point me to? I have a list of the usual suspect URLs somewhere, but almost all of those are short term with a month usually being the longest time of swap.

When you use the term "international expat groups," have they a meeting place? Gang Tats? How can I find such?

Smiles and thanks again.

-Z

[rynd2it]

Originally Posted by Zirondelle

Working all the angles here.

We have two beach houses in San Diego, both directly on the beach. They are partially open in the Fall, Winter, and Spring, but totally slammed in Summer (we rent them).

The idea occurs to try and swap them in the Fall-Winter-Spring for places in France during the same periods. Unlike the swap sites you see on the internet, we'd like to swap for a longer period of time, 3 months at least but really pointed towards 6 months.

Any advice on this?

BTW, we have great weather pretty much all year here in San Deigo, frankly I prefer Fall and Spring to Summer as it is cooler and much fewer tourists.

As always, thanks ahead of time for all feedback.

-Z

Having lived just north of San Diego for twenty years it strikes me you would better posting on the UK forum. There are many reasons but the main one being language. If someone is just going on an extended vacation (from France) learning English might be too much of a challenge. There's a strong UK ex-pat population in and around San Diego, the food is more to UK tastes and I completely agree on the weather. The only other issue would be the travel - long flights and not cheap these days.

Just a thought

[-mia-]

Originally Posted by Zirondelle

Gang Tats?

Yes. But if you don't know them we can't tell you.


House swapping has aways been something that I've been tempted by. We couldn't do three months though. That sounds like quite a lot. Your other issue could be the time of year. You probably don't want to target families, but rather retired folks as they will be more flexible with travel dates.

Sounds like a great idea. Good luck!

[Zirondelle]

Originally Posted by -mia-

Yes. But if you don't know them we can't tell you.


House swapping has aways been something that I've been tempted by. We couldn't do three months though. That sounds like quite a lot. Your other issue could be the time of year. You probably don't want to target families, but rather retired folks as they will be more flexible with travel dates.

Sounds like a great idea. Good luck!

...umm, for Switzerland we certainly could make an exception especially in Winter. Not sure if I have gained any additional PM privaleges, but perhaps we can talk.

Also, I've got some fake "San Diego old guy" tats we can let you use, but be carefull they easily wash off at the beach.

[Zirondelle]

Originally Posted by rynd2it

Having lived just north of San Diego for twenty years it strikes me you would better posting on the UK forum. There are many reasons but the main one being language. If someone is just going on an extended vacation (from France) learning English might be too much of a challenge. There's a strong UK ex-pat population in and around San Diego, the food is more to UK tastes and I completely agree on the weather. The only other issue would be the travel - long flights and not cheap these days.

Just a thought

Great idea, I'll post something in the Brit forum...

Thanks!

[-mia-]

Originally Posted by Zirondelle

...umm, for Switzerland we certainly could make an exception especially in Winter. Not sure if I have gained any additional PM privaleges, but perhaps we can talk.

Also, I've got some fake "San Diego old guy" tats we can let you use, but be carefull they easily wash off at the beach.

Oh, I forgot that some people actually like winter and cold and snow and mountains. LOL.

I have to say, I'm glad in my rebelleous youth I never got a tat. (Sorry, I mean except the expat gang one of course. )

Though I keep getting tempted to pierce my nose.... Fortunately, I'm afraid of pain. It's the only thing that keeps from going down the mutton dressed as lamb road.