Long Term Property Swaps for Expats

Sabbatical swaps or long-term property swaps are becoming a new way for would-be expats to explore the options of living abroad permanently

Home swap holidays have been popular as a form of cheap vacation for quite some time now, and there are many Internet sites and magazines geared up to offer people the chance to holiday abroad with no accommodation costs by swapping houses while they are away.

The benefits of a home swap holiday are that you get to live as a part of the local community while you are abroad and not as a tourist, so the experience of living abroad for a short time is much richer. 

Expats, who are never slow to spot opportunities, are now using long term property swaps to allow them to work abroad and explore new countries prior to deciding to live overseas permanently, or as a means of taking a career break away from the norm.

If you have a new 6-month contract working in Canada - or anywhere else for that matter - how would you go about organising a long term property swap abroad then? 

Well, a long term house swap is not the same as a short term exchange.  There are going to be fewer people considering exchanging their home for extended periods, but there are certainly still people who are up for it.  A search on the Internet for “home swaps” or “sabbatical swaps” will bring up a long list of companies offering their services.  All will offer information and advice on your long term house exchange, but there are some basics that are essential.

Make sure, you, your partner or family are happy with where you want to live abroad.  If you are not tied to a location don’t just look for house swaps in the areas you have initially selected, there may be interesting opportunities in other locations - and do not ignore potential exchangers who have not listed your area in their destinations - an attractive offer may well persuade them to consider an exchange with you.

Look at the health care and education systems, work opportunities, tax regulations and of course any visa requirements in your country of choice.  The UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office website offers good country specific advice for those wanting to live overseas and can be a great place to start any research.

For the best chance of a successful home exchange, contact as many exchange partners as possible.  Describe your home, area, family, friends and send photos; they are going to be living in your house and you in theirs so it is important that you have a good relationship with your home exchangers.  The more you know of them and the more they know of you, the more comfortable you will feel in their home and the happier you will be to have them in yours.

It is important to draw up a written agreement with your home exchange partners to prevent misunderstandings.  List things that should not be used, what can be used and how and the manner you would expect your house to be left in.  Most insurance companies recognise the importance of not leaving your house unoccupied, so let them know about the exchange, therefore damages are usually covered while your home swap partners are living in your property.  It is also worthwhile letting your neighbours know what is going on so they know to expect to see strange people entering and leaving your house!

Finally, use common sense about sorting out a long-term exchange.  It can change a dull routine into a safe adventure, giving you the chance to explore new countries and cultures safe in the knowledge that you are saving a fortune on living costs and that your home is safe while you are away.  Ultimately, if you do decide that living abroad is right for you, you can use your time overseas to find a job, you can get a rental property and get your house ‘back home’ on the market to fund your full-time relocation.