Home exchange: How to travel cost-effectively and stress-free!
Discover the advantages of exchanging apartments as a cost-effective travel option - tips and experiences from Christian Rumpke.

Home exchange: How to travel cost-effectively and stress-free!
The idea of home swapping is gaining popularity as a cost-effective and personal travel option. Christian Rumpke, an experienced home exchanger, has already carried out around 30 exchanges in various countries such as Prague, the Pyrenees, Northern Norway and Menorca. In a post by LZ Rumpke emphasizes the friendliness and trustworthiness of the partners you can meet during an exchange. This type of travel allows you to create a deeper connection with the destination you are visiting.
The handover of keys when exchanging apartments can take different forms. It is often done in person, but can also be done securely by mail or at a prearranged hiding place. It is important that the location of your own apartment has a significant influence on the exchange options. Attractive locations usually lead to higher chances of finding suitable exchange partners.
Online platforms for home exchange
People interested in swapping homes can usually be found via special online platforms such as HomeExchange, HomeLink or People Like Us. Users must register on these platforms and create a personal profile that contains information about the apartment and the desired exchange times. User verification is also required, for example via telephone number, email or identification documents.
The platforms use suggestion algorithms to find suitable exchange partners based on specified criteria such as city, location and square footage. To make your search stress-free, those interested can expand their profile with individual requests, such as keeping pets or special equipment. Rumpke recommends checking reviews from other users and, if necessary, making telephone or video calls to clarify important details.
Legal framework
Another crucial point when exchanging a home are the legal aspects. Users should check their rental agreement to find out whether apartment exchanges are permitted. Rumpke recommends informing your landlord about the exchange plans, as this may make it easier to agree. Before the exchange, a clear contract about the general conditions should also be drawn up.
Valuables and important personal items should be kept safe as strangers will be in the apartment during the exchange. According to the information from haus.de The average time to move after a successful exchange is around two months. For shorter exchange periods, users can also register their apartments on the platforms.
In summary, home swapping not only provides an economical alternative to traditional vacation rentals, but also creates opportunities to strengthen human connections and experience new cultures up close.