WHO WANTS A FREE VACATION AT YOUR PLACE?

Someone is eager to give you her house keys. Home exchangers all over the world agree to vacation in each others' houses every day. How do you target your swap offer emails to find the family who wants to exchange homes with you?

TRIP WISH

Most home exchange clubs let you specify which destinations interest you. Often you can make this a broad request, like "Italy" or narrow it down to a region such as "Tuscany" or even a specific town.

Exchangers can then search the listings to find those that list their own home town as a preferred destination.

For instance, I can get a list of home owners in California who want to visit Detroit. But what if few exchangers mention my town as a vacation spot that interests them?

First, remember that not everyone chooses to list their target destinations Others are open to all offers. The worst that can happen if you make an offer to someone who doesn't want to visit your town is that your offer won't receive a response.

FILLING YOUR DANCE CARD

The reader who wrote previously to ask if she should list her Tennessee home discovered that few people list Nashville as their vacation destination of choice. Should she be worried? In a word, no.

COMPLETE LISTING ARE RARE

On most swap club listings you can select just a few preferred locations. Many exchangers note their top 3 dream destinations. There is usually an option to list yourself as "open to offers" and most people select this.

SERENDIPITY

Home exchangers are an adventurous lot. Most experienced swappers have a story about an exchange offer they accepted just because the destination seemed interesting or the offer letter was appealing or the home looked nice.

Unless the listing specifies that the exchangers do not want to receive offers from your area, feel free to send a tempting offer email to anyone whose home interests you.

WHO TO CONTACT

Remember to approach just a few people per day and to answer every response you get back. People often send me a cut-and-pasted form letter then don't answer my response if they get a better one from the dozens of exchangers they contacted. Folks like that go right into my "bad" folder.

HOW TO "SELL" YOUR HOME

It is possible that no one has considered vacationing in your town. You can change that by sending out a brief, polite and enthusiastic exchange offer. Target it to just a few people at a time in your vacation destination of choice.

Let those new to the wonders of your home area know why they will have a great trip if they swap with you. Chances are that someone flexible and game to try new things will take you up on that offer.

BUT I'M SHY

You can also simply list your home and see what offers arrive in your mail box. Even if no one lists your town as a permanent "favorite", something may come up that requires them to visit the area. Someone's friend or cousin gets married in your town every day. Adults go home each year to visit their parents -- your neighbors.

GIVE IT A TRY

Home exchange club dues range from $0 to $99 per year. Whether or not your town is popular, why not try listing your home? The only thing you have to lose is a few bucks. You could gain the experience of a lifetime.