apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

I would love to try. A bit scary though.

http://www.modernests.com
hatching new ideas for a warm, attainable modern home every day

I'm willing to give it a try. Anyone want to come to Austin during the two big music and film festivals?

Friends of my grandparents have done this before. I was with them on one of these trips and all went well except that the house we were staying at was burgled.

My parents have used home exchange sites for years--mostly swapping their San Francisco home with homes in Europe and NYC. We've also exchanged our Oakland house twice--for a beautiful apartment in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn and later, a ridiculously cute 18th-century carriage house in London. Granted, I knew the folks with whom I traded, although they weren't close friends, but we all took great care of each other's homes and were very happy with the exchange. So...anyone in a major European city, Buenos Aires or NYC want to swap with an artist and a musician with a charming Craftsman home in the Bay Area just 15 minutes from downtown San Francisco?

Fantastic experience, and much nicer to have kitchen, living room, bedroom AND a place that felt like home. The first couple days I was a little nervous about leaving any trace of my being there, especially when a phone call or two came asking about D's whereabouts, but that quickly dissipated.

Home exchanges are fantastic! I've exchanged homes for stays in Amsterdam, New York, and a couple of places in France. I was a little nervous the first time, but everything went perfectly. I use one of the major exchange sites, homelink.org. I really can't praise exchanges enough.

AustinSarah, take a look at my profile for my email if you want to try to do a swap in San Francisco. I haven't tried this before, but have been curious for a long time! Maybe we'll be each other's first. hehe.

I'd love to do it but am seriously trepidatious. I would definitely need to check out the people thoroughly beforehand.

I would love to house swap some masochistic fool in Boston that may want to spend the summer roasting in Phoenix but I am not going to hold my breath.

I have done it once, swapped my Amsterdam apartment for a nice place in Paris for the weekend. My next destination: NYC. Anyone interested in swapping their apartment for my beautiful and sunny Amsterdam place sometime this fall - let me know or check craigslist!

there are two reasons I've never tried this.
1. my two cats
2. i am self conscious of my not terribly central, slightly rough around the edges apartment.

I just don't trust anyone with my things. I'm weird that way. I even hate lending my books, because I'm afraid the person will fold the pages or crack the binding. So a house swap would be out of the question.

I am on a 6 month home exchange in Europe!

Curious? Check out my blog:

http://HomeRoamers.com