How to Safely Host a Home Exchange: 8 Essential Tips
If you’re wondering how it feels to let other members stay in your home, you’re not alone—it’s natural to have questions at first! In this guide, we share 8 helpful tips from experienced exchangers to make hosting easy and enjoyable
Can you let strangers stay in your house with all your personal belongings?
That’s a great question. The truth is, everyone has a different level of comfort when it comes to letting someone—a couple, or a family—stay in their home, surrounded by all the things that make up their daily life.
The good news? With a little preparation and the right mindset, you can find your comfort zone and embrace home exchanging with total peace of mind.
Here are 8 things you need to know:
1. You have full control.
Home exchange is about people, not real estate. At PLU, you’ll get the chance to communicate at length with potential exchange partners before you agree. By the time you’re on a first-name basis and know their kids’ hobbies, your guests feel less like strangers—and more like friends you just haven’t met yet.
2. Use common sense.
Before leaving, lock away valuables (if any) and move fragile items to a safe spot. Your guests will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and you’ll feel more at ease.
3. Make space for them.
Your guests will arrive with only what fits in their suitcases. Free up closet space and point out where they can store clothes and belongings—it helps them feel instantly welcome.
4. The bed question.
This is a common concern for people new to home exchanging. If you have a guest room, prepare it and let them know. Some members keep an extra set of sheets just for exchanges. And remember: every hotel and rental bed you’ve ever slept in has been used by countless others. The key is cleanliness and comfort.
5. Be clear about what’s available.
Bikes in the garage? Parking pass? Beach towels? Pantry food? Console games? Make it clear what’s available and what’s off-limits. Guests love clarity—it makes them feel at home while respecting boundaries.
6. Stay in touch.
Even if you’re continents apart, communication is easy via our website. Or, a quick WhatsApp, text, or email lets you answer questions or share last-minute tips. Most members reply within hours.
7. Relax about the little things.
Yes, the corkscrew may end up in the wrong drawer, or they might replace your pasta with another brand. But those are tiny details compared to the joys of home exchanging.
8. Remember: every guest is also a host.
Most exchanges are reciprocal. Even when they’re not—say, through a Globe or a Pluto—your guests are fellow hosts. They’ll respect your home just as they hope you’ll respect theirs.
Peace of Mind Comes With Practice. Letting others stay in your home can feel like a leap of faith—but it’s also the start of incredible travel adventures and lasting friendships. With trust, preparation, and communication, strangers quickly become friends, and your home becomes a bridge to the world.
So, can you let strangers stay in your home? Absolutely—because soon enough, they won’t feel like strangers at all.
People Like Us is the world's most trusted home exchange community. We believe in sharing, trust, generosity, respect, communication, equality, cooperation, honesty, hospitality, friendship, flexibility and adventure. We take pride in our homes and we care about the environment in which we live: our village, city, country and our planet. We care about the ethos of home exchange and we do it because we love the experience and the friendships that it generates.
Locations
Contact
People Like Us
Home Exchange Pty Ltd
