Meeting the Home Exchanger

Next week we will be on vacation. It isn't a home exchange trip but a home exchange family will use our home while we are gone. This was a last-minute request, something I usually avoid like the plague.

It is a local swap, however, so there are no airline tickets or other advance financial committments involved. And the swapper is coming to meet us and get the keys directly, which means we can confirm our instincts about the exchanger.

But what if you meet your swap partner and don't feel comfortable? This is a tricky situation.

One thing to look at is the source of discomfort? Does the swapper have a different personal style? Someone who wipes his nose on your window curtains is not going to take good care of your home when you are not there. You will not have a relaxing vacation if you cannot trust an exchange partner's judgment.

Be careful, though: an issue of differing personal styles or cultures may not be a reason to cancel an exchange. Experiencing different ways of living is one of the benefits of home exchange. It provides a richer travel experience in a new region.

The bottom line is that you may well have to cancel a swap if you meet your exchange partner and s/he scares you. But because backing out of a swap is the cardinal sin of home exchange, tread carefully. Simply saying "we have changed our mind" reflects badly on you. Explain why you are not comfortable with the swap but do not leave yourself open to negotiation. "No" needs to mean "no". Just be clear about why, both for the benefit of yourself and your swap partner.