I was somewhat disappointed to read a post recently on another home exchange blog referencing an email the author had received from a New York home exchanger requesting information about putting together a 'Home Exchange Contract'- or as we call it-'Agreement'.

ExchangeHomes.com offers templates for Home Exchange Agreements, Car Exchange Agreements and a Home Exchange 'Book' in both PDF and MS Word formats, as, I'm sure do most of the major home exchange organizations. What's so disappointing is that most of our members never explore the goodies that are available for them to utilize, and I guess it's the same for members of other clubs as well.

Agreements / Contracts seem to be a hot issue at the moment because recently I've repeatedly been discussing their importance with members. Just last weekend a lady who has been an ExchangeHomes.com for twenty years admitted to me that she has never utilized an Agreement and also that she had no idea she could download a template from the website.

The ExchangeHomes.com templates can be reached by clicking
>> Here or, anyone on the website can click the Help Center link, then Sample Forms and Agreements under the Miscellaneous sub-heading.

The importance of using a Home Exchange Agreement was also the subject of a recent ExchangeHomesBlog post- Finalizing Your Exchange.

I hear from a lot of members who steadfastly believe them to be unnecessary, but as I've been explaining to those I've had conversations with recently, I've yet to hear of an exchange that encountered problems following the completion and signing of an Agreement. Okay- it's probably not a legal document, but it serves to gather together every important point and issue that arose during the process of arranging the exchange; all those little details that spanned numerous emails, and several phone conversations. Everything is laid out in one document. It also acts as a final buffer against anyone who may possibly renege at the last moment.

As I point out to our members, if the person they are negotiating with is opposed to signing an Agreement, ask them why, and if they persist in not signing they should contact us immediately.

When, early in February, we went on-line with the major overhaul to our web site, we bowed to pressure from many members and visitors and introduced a two-tier membership system, effectively allowing non-publishing-or "Associate"-members to initiate contacts with members who paid to list their homes for exchange. We did however exercise an important constraint that limited Associate Members to a maximum of five email contacts during a twenty four hour period.

Once the upgrade got into full swing, we began receiving feedback split just about fifty fifty. Half of those contacting us congratulated us on the move, but the other half were suddenly very vocal in protesting the contacts they were receiving from non-listing members. Just as a side note, before finally deciding upon this two-tier level of memberships we had polled all current members requesting their opinions on the proposed change. Not one had responded with an objection!

Anyway, it was clear that we needed to appease the members suddenly unhappy with the two levels of memberships. Our programmers added a field to the page used to list a home exchange, specifically asking the Full (listing) member whether they wished to be contacted by: a) Full (listing) Members only, or b) Both Full and Associate Members, with the default being (a). In other words, if any Full Member was happy to receive contacts from Associate Members, he or she had to edit their listing(s) to indicate this.

Types of Internet Access Available

Again, due to requests from members and visitors, we've also changed the specifications on the"Add an Exchange Property" form to differentiate between the two major types of Internet access. Now we ask whether your Internet access is Dial Up or High Speed.

Several members told us that even while on vacation, they continue to need high speed Internet access.

Full (publishing) Members need to log into their listing(s) and update them as necessary because our programmers needed a default for those who had previously indicated that Internet access is available in their home and we decided that should be "dial up".

If you offer high speed Internet access, publish it in your listing!

With the launch of our brand new web site, one new feature we're offering is the opportunity for you to 'rate', or leave feedback on your past home exchange partners. When you think about it, cumulatively there must be many thousands of completed home swaps that can be rated. All you need to do is search to find the listings associated with your past exchanges, open them in a full page view, then click the link-top right- to 'Leave Feedback'. Links to all feedback left will then display at the foot of that same right side column.

Your contribution in this manner will be immensely helpful to your fellow members and the process is extremely simple. All you have to do is respond to a short list of questions covering both the home swap itself, and the condition in which you found your home upon your return. There is also a text area you can utilize to write about your experiences in your own words. The member being rated may find this section very useful to use as a reference.

We hope you will take the time to rate all your home exchanges, both past and yet to come. We want you to be completely honest and objective and share your experiences with everyone, whether they were positive or negative.

Copied directly from the CHECtravel website:

CHEC is a response to the demands of home exchangers and exchange club owners themselves. Together a need was recognized for an organization that could create and maintain professional standards for exchange agencies, as well as a code of conduct for individual exchangers.

End of quotation.

At the moment just ten home exchange clubs are certified by CHECtravel and we encourage all potential home exchangers to join a club displaying the certification you see displayed to the left. The logo indicates that the the club has been assessed and approved by an independent committee consisting of club owners, industry professionals and experienced home exchangers. All CHEC-certified agencies have agreed to uphold CHEC's high ethical standards of behavior for themselves and their members.

We also urge all our members, whether they be new or experienced, to join CHEC as a home exchanger. >> Click Here for more information.

Also, as an initial promotion, CHEC has told us that they are offering five of our Full (advertising) Members a free, one year membership. These will be awarded on a strictly first come, first served basis. To qualify you as a Full Member, you must enter the I.D. Number of the property you have listed with us when you sign up, plus, you must indicate that you are a member of ExchangeHomes.com .

Just as on our website, your privacy is paramount to CHEC. They never display any names or contact information in their member area database. All they list are city, country, exchange agency and exchange club number, with a direct link to the listing on our site. That way CHEC members can find fellow CHEC members in preferred destinations and home exchange agencies.

Even if you miss out on a free membership you should consider joining. Again, quoting from the CHEC website:

Individual CHEC exchangers benefit from the safety and security provided by CHEC member clubs. CHEC members enjoy peace of mind when exchanging with a fellow CHEC member who adheres to the same ethical standards.

Last week we heard of an unfortunate incident whereby an ExchangeHomes.com member is urgently seeking a replacement home exchange to England, preferably the west country.

They need an exchange between Saturday September 6th, 2008 and Saturday 20th September. To see their listing, click >> Here Any arrangements don't have to be simultaneous because their exchange property-located in Dunsborough, Western Australia is a rental property.

The couple looking for your help are new participants in home exchange. They were in negotiations with another couple in the west country, but these arrangements fell through suddenly and unexpectedly when a family situation made exchanging during these dates impossible.

If a trip to Western Australia appeals to you, please contact these members.