Advice on Home Exchange

Jack Ehlers is a U-Exchange.com member from Prescott, Arizona and a veteran home exchanger. I asked him if he had any advice for people who are new to home exchanging and Jack kindly responded with this letter to share with others.

Regarding home exchanging, I have several comments. Updating our total exchanges to 22 with only one less than perfect result. Nothing stolen or broken but housekeeping was not this couples' long suit. Aside from that the experiences have been joyously memorable. I had no trepidations about exchanging when we started in 1996, I was more concerned that no one would want to exchange with us! How wrong I was.

Since our first venture to England in 1996 we have had literally hundreds of requests to exchange! Jean and I have done as many as 3 exchanges in a calendar year. My second exchangers were from Sheffield, England, 1997. He was a retired medical doctor, she a retired teacher of gifted children. We became such good friends that in that time from 1997 to today we have been to Spain, France and Colorado with them plus visits to their home and them to our home on a yearly basis.

Sadly the doctor died 3 weeks ago of cancer and we are terribly upset. The reason for this tale was to show just how emotionally attached you can become with your exchangers. For those who wish to travel but have reservations about exchanging, put your fears aside and jump in. After all, it is about trust. If you lack that quality then you should continue to stay in hotels and eat your daily meals in restaurants and never become acquainted with the locals. Such a sterile experience. When you leave the place you visited, who remembers that you were there? Take a chance, Columbus did!

Jack Ehlers
Prescott, Arizona
U-Exchange.com Member