Ten steps to success

Ten International Principles for a Successful HomeLink Exchange

    • 1. Describe your home honestly in your listing and in all correspondence. You want your exchange partners to be pleasantly surprised when they arrive, not disappointed. Never hide
      the existence of pets.

      2. Leave your home clean. Standards of cleanliness vary, so make sure that floors are cleaned, perishable foods emptied from fridge, oven and stove-top grease-free, bath and shower free of mold and grime, windows see-through, and surfaces dust-free. No need to repaint the house!

      3. Clear away enough of your personal belongings to leave space on shelves and in wardrobes and drawers so that your guests can empty their suitcases, arrange their things in bedrooms and bathrooms and feel at home.

      4. Leave at least two sets of clean sheets per bed and two sets of towels per person.

      5. Compile a clear, useful “Guide to Your Home and Surroundings”. This should include local tourist information, instructions for household and electrical appliances, pet and plant care, details of rubbish collection, etc. Phone numbers of a recommended doctor, dentist, babysitter, good restaurants, and helpful friends are always welcome too.

      6. Use our “Home and Car Exchange Agreement” forms to avoid all misunderstandings and clarify who pays what in terms of telephone, electric bills, gas consumption, insurance excesses in case of accidents, and staple foods such as flour, sugar, oil, etc.

      7. If arrangements are such that you cannot meet, arrange for a family member, neighbour or friend to come by and welcome your exchange partners when they arrive. They will certainly have questions, and such a welcome will be much appreciated.

      8. Leave the makings of a first meal. Nothing fancy, but your guests could be tired and hungry and grateful not to have to go out for dinner
      .
      9. It has become a HomeLink tradition to leave a small gift of welcome : a bottle of wine or champagne, a local speciality.
      Always a special surprise.

      10. Close the door, turn the key, and go off on vacation knowing that your home is in the good hands of another HomeLink member like you.

Exchange Evaluation

In order to ensure the quality of our network, HomeLink invites members to fill out this form after each exchange. Based on the 10 Principles for a Successful Home Exchange, the Exchange Evaluation Form will allow us to continue to uphold the HomeLink standards of quality and promote the true spirit of home exchange: respect, mutual trust, open-mindedness, and sharing.

Please answer each question by clicking on the stars – one star being the lowest score, five stars being the highest.

1. Exchange Home Description  How accurately was your partners’ exchange home described in their home exchange listing and in subsequent correspondence?

2. Cleanliness  To what extent did the exchange home meet the HomeLink standards of cleanliness (floors cleaned, refrigerator emptied, oven and stove-top grease free, bath and shower free of grime, windows clean and surfaces dust free)?

3. Space for your belongings  Did your home exchange partners leave space on the shelves, in wardrobes and drawers, allowing you to arrange your things in bedrooms and bathrooms?

4. Bed and Bath Linen  Was sufficient linen left for you and your family to use during your stay (at least two sets of clean sheets per bed and two sets of clean towels per person?)

5. Home Guide  Did your home exchange partners compile a clear, useful guide to their home and surroundings (including local tourist information, instructions for household and electrical appliances, pet and plant care instructions, phone numbers of recommended doctor, dentist, babysitter, restaurants, helpful friends, etc.)?

6. Exchange Agreement  To what extent did your exchange partners respect the Exchange Agreement Form that was signed by both parties prior to the exchange?

7. A Warm Welcome  Did your exchange partners organize a warm welcome for you? Did a family member, neighbour, friend, or your exchange partners themselves, welcome you upon your arrival in their home?

8. Welcome Meal  Were the makings of a first meal left in the house for your arrival?

9. Welcome Gift  Did your exchange partners leave a small gift of welcome for you?

10. Upon your return  Did you find your home neat and tidy, in keeping with the HomeLink standards of cleanliness (as described above in Question 1)?

Please note that your comments may be shared with your exchange partner unless you
de-select the box below.
[X] You may share my comments with my exchange partner
[X] I agree to let HomeLink use my comments to promote home exchange.