An overseas holiday is always going to be a costly affair, but if you have your heart set on that trip to Europe then perhaps you should consider joining the thousands of people who have benefited from the international home exchange system.

House-swapping is a concept that?s been around for a while now, and South Africans are slowly starting to realise the advantages of packing up for a couple of weeks and staying in someone's home on the other side of the world.

So how does the system work?

House-swapping, also known as home-exchange, is quite simply when homeowners agree to swap homes for a certain period of time, and one of the biggest advantages is that you can arrange to stay pretty much anywhere in the world on condition that you leave your host's home the way you found it.

There are a few things to take into consideration before embarking on a home-echange for the first time. To get started you'll need to register with an international home exchange organisation, and secondly, make sure that your own home is in tip-top condition. Ask yourself: is it comfortable and clean enough for another family to call home during their stay?

Do your research and choose a reputable home-exchange organisation to belong to, taking into consideration that they will need to have a large database of other willing homeowners around the world.

Sign me up!

HomeLink International home exchange and house swap is the world's largest home exchange network, and has an office in Claremont, Cape Town. Homelink say that they have 14 000 homes in 45 countries on their books, with members paying an annual subscription fee of around R880. This entitles you to have your home listed on their directory, and to browse available properties around the world.

When registering on the site you have to give a detailed description of your home and when you would like to travel overseas, but after that it's up to you. A spokesperson from Homelink SA says that members are encouraged to make contact with one another and arrange the exchange themselves.

Although there is always going to be some risk to allowing strangers to rent your home, there are a number of definite advantages to house-swapping:

  • House-swapping is a great way to experience another country like one of the locals ? think of it as a cultural as well as a lifestyle exchange.
  • You can save a fortune on accommodation. Some homeowners also include the use of their vehicles in the swapping deal, but make sure your licence is valid in the country you're visiting and that all the insurance is taken care of.
  • Lasting friendships are often made through home-exchanges, and some homeowners will be happy to let you stay again once relationships are formed.
  • Homelink has a huge directory of properties, so there's a range of destinations to choose from.
To ensure that your house-swap goes smoothly, here are a few helpful tips from experienced 'swappers':
  • Make sure both parties know exactly what the swap consists of. Be absolutely honest in describing your home ? don't try and disguise your bedsit in the city as a country estate! Include detailed info about rooms and outdoor areas as well as the type of neighbourhood you stay in.
  • Be flexible when it comes to dates and working out a schedule.
  • Clean your home before leaving, and make sure you clean the swap-home thoroughly before you return home.
  • Lock away any valuables in your house... just in case.
  • Leave a list of of emergency numbers (Fire, police, ambulance, friend/relative) in case of a disaster.
  • Also leave a clear list of any maintenance issues such as rubbish collection day, plant watering schedule, appliance instructions etc.
  • Leave a few 'welcome' goodies in the kitchen.
Most swapping agencies have guidelines to stick to concerning the condition of homes, but those who've done it say that the key is simply to have mutual respect for each other?s property.

Roy Watts from Cape Town has been a member of Homelink for about 10 years and has been on a number of exchanges, from Dublin to London. Asked if he has any horror stories to share of his travels, he simply says: "You must note that most of the people in the directory tend to be fairly wealthy and they are retired. A bond forms when you live in someone else?s home and they in yours, so there is a respect there."

Homelink says that they are sometimes forced to blacklist members from joining the following year if another member complains about the standard of their homes. This is also why they persuade newer members to contact some of their older clients as a reference.

So put in for some time off from work, take a couple of photos of your lovely home, register with an agency, and decide where in the world you'd like to go!