Homelink’s Home Swapping Review: Who Benefits Most?

Have you ever wanted to try swapping homes and exploring a new city without paying for accommodations? Homelink is a company that has been helping travelers swap homes for over 70 years, but is it safe? Do the risks of house swapping outweigh the benefits? Let's find out if Homelink lives up to its reputation.

One of the most vital parts of traveling is choosing where you'll stay. You can easily find a down-to-earth hotel, a social hostel, or a home away from home experience, but have you ever considered swapping houses with a stranger? How daring are you when choosing where you'll stay abroad? 

We've reviewed many Airbnb alternatives like Homestay.com, HomeExchange, and Vacasa. What is the difference between these home rental platforms, and how does Homelink set itself apart from the rest? 

Check out our extensive review of Homelink and see if it's the right accommodation option for your next trip!

What is Homelink?

Homelink is a website where people can list their homes online to swap with another user on the platform. By swapping homes with the other person, you can provide and receive a free stay while on vacation. 

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How did Homelink start?

Homelink started in the 1950s when two ambitious teachers offered to swap their home with a family across the country. Since then, it has grown and modernized into its current company. Now, it's easier than ever to list your home on their website and search for other people who've also listed their homes in different countries. 

Is Homelink free?

No, Homelink has a paid subscription for all members who want to use the platform. It's free to create a profile, but if you'd like to message any homeowners that interest you, you'll need to subscribe. 

They offer a 1-year subscription that costs $150, or a 2-year subscription that's slightly cheaper at $275. Both options have a special that provides the subscriber extra months and cancellation insurance. 

Unlike other budget-friendly vacation rental sites, a Homelink annual subscription is actually cheaper than 1 or 2 nights in an Airbnb, making it an affordable option for travelers!

How to use Homelink

Start exploring Homelink's options through these steps: 

1. Click the Start Free Trial button in the top right-hand corner.
2. Fill in your personal and home details. 
3. Add some photos of yourself and your home to put on your listing. This can either be your main home or a second residence. 
4. Once your profile is all set, you can begin looking for house swaps in your destination of choice while saving them to your wishlist.
5. Once you have your heart set on a few options, you can pay the subscription fee and contact the owners!

Features of Homelink

Easy to use

The Homelink website is very easy to figure out and navigate. With a straightforward sign-up process, you can check out listings in a matter of minutes; there's no need to pay the subscription fee to view the listings. 

Detailed listings

The listings on Homelink are detailed and thorough, often listing how many people they can accommodate, including children, pets, and the number of bedrooms and bathrooms. Additionally, they include many detailed photos of the home and the homeowner's family. You can easily click through their profile before you contact them about a possible swap! 

HomeLink assistance

Should anything go wrong during your home exchange, you can contact the Homelink representative in your country. They will walk you through any issues you may face. 

Available locations

Homelink has users in many locations worldwide and is available in over 100 countries. Although it's relatively easy to find users in developed nations like Canada, the US, the UK, and France, it can be difficult to find users in countries such as Turkey, Thailand, or Colombia.

What are the homes like?

There are many different kinds of homes listed on Homelink for you to choose from. This includes beach houses, cottages, apartments, and farmhouses! Most Homelink users are looking for a home that's a similar size to theirs. Frankly, a huge benefit you can get from traveling this way is a more authentic and genuine local experience that other vacation rental homes lack.

Homelink vs. HomeExchange

Despite being quite similar to HomeExhange, there are some key differences when using Homelink.

• HomeExchange is a newer company offering homes in more countries than Homelink.
• The subscription fee is slightly more expensive.
• They provide insurance and protection for users.
• The platform acts more like a vacation rental service, offering users one-sided rentals where a family lets you stay in their home. It also gives you "GuestPoints" to use towards other stays.

Homelink vs. Homestay.com

Now, Homestay.com and Homelink are very different, but both are great budget-friendly options. 

• Homestay.com operates similarly to Airbnb, where users can host guests in their homes.
• Homestay.com claims to be more "wallet-friendly" than other vacation rental platforms.
• It provides a similar "home away from home" feeling as a house exchange would.
• More suitable for small groups looking for extended stays.

Is exchanging your house a good idea?

Exchanging your house is excellent if you have a suitable home to swap in a desired location worldwide. Unfortunately, it can take time to find suitable house swaps if you have a home in a rural area or a not-so-great location in a city. 

So, Homelink is a great way to provide and receive free accommodations while having your home looked after on vacation. Given all the great benefits, does this method still prove to be the best option? 

Is it safe?

Homelink reports that in over 70 years of operation, it has noted no thefts or vandalism. Although there have been previously reported issues, they are most often misunderstandings that were quickly resolved. 

In fact, Homelink's subscriber base falls primarily in the 30s-60s range, with many professional couples, families, and retirees looking to swap. This helps increase safety as most of its users are responsible professionals capable of keeping a home clean and damage-free. 

That said, Homelink is only a house-swapping platform. It doesn't share the responsibility for any issues you may encounter with your personal home insurance policy and the surrounding rules regarding "house-swapping." It also doesn't take into account liability for its users. 

All this means is that all house swap responsibilities are on the user, and it's up to you to vet a potential guest thoroughly. Like Couchsurfing, they're there to enable house swaps, and it's up to the user to keep their safety in mind. 

Homelink does require all members to follow their "10 Principles for a Successful Home Exchange," which details the responsibility, honor, and respect for users and their homes. The platform encourages all users to sign an agreement with their potential house swap to keep their home number out of the listed address.

Is Homelink worth it?

Overall, Homelink is an excellent option for young professionals, families, and retirees to receive free accommodation in exchange for swapping their homes. The platform is easy to use, with various available home options in multiple countries for that demographic. What's more, the platform is and has been safe to use, given Homelink's promise to delivering a good reputation for responsibility and safety over the past 70 years. 

However, Homelink is not the best option for young travelers who rent their homes or don't have suitable accommodations to swap. Suppose you're a young traveler looking for free accommodations. In that case, you might want to find another low-cost platform such as Couchsurfing or Workaway. 

While Homelink is a good option for travelers, it's not the only option! Check out the other reviews of vacation rental platforms and see which one is right for your next trip.

Our Rating: 3.9/5

Pros:

• Lots of beautiful homes are available for swapping
• Easy-to-use platform
• Affordable yearly subscription costs

Cons:

• Safety is in the users' hands
• Not great for young travelers
• Limited country choice

Get planning with Pilot

Now that you got the ball rolling on where to stay, let Pilot help you plan the rest of your travels!