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Never organise a house swap

37 replies

Chandra · 28/08/2005 00:25

Well, as usual, nothing really important to ask but I'm a bit puzzled about the following:

Some friends of us contacted us via e-mail some months ago asking if we knew of somebody in our city willing to do a house swap. I felt a bit ackward about it as they have not contacted us in several years and the last contact we had was when we rang them to say we were pregnant but they had to interrupt the call and never rang us back, nor even when they knew DS was born. We only knew somebody in the position for a swap and talked to her, when I sent them her details they answered that they were willing to prepare a website to show their house and get more people interested in order to "choose" the swapper they liked best (but we needed to "publicise" their house IYWIM). I tried to wash my hands out of the issue and they finally agreed to exchange with our neighbour.

OP posts:
giraffeski · 28/08/2005 15:22

Message withdrawn

moondog · 28/08/2005 17:44

No,I mean where did you go?Was that through MN or did you know her in RL?
(Had a double take when you said 'Italy I think' until I twigged!)

giraffeski · 28/08/2005 18:07

Message withdrawn

giraffeski · 28/08/2005 18:08

Message withdrawn

moondog · 28/08/2005 18:08

Great!
Anyone fancy Kurdistan??? lol

giraffeski · 28/08/2005 18:11

Message withdrawn

Chandra · 28/08/2005 19:45

I think they could go well, at least it appears tob e in TV programs, but I don't recommend you be caught in the middle, too much responsability!

I'm off to iron the bedding.

Nah....

OP posts:
jennifersofia · 28/08/2005 20:03

Sorry about all the agro, Chandra, poor you!
Just a note too to say that houseswaps can be brilliant! We do them all the time, but do arrange it through an organisation, which makes it easier.

moondog · 28/08/2005 21:42

May I ask which one js?

Chandra · 29/08/2005 01:41

OK, went this night to empty the washing machine and I have to report back to bring back the fait on house swapping.

Well, I found no note but... friends repaired all damage to neighbours house, blinds are back in its place, the house is spotless and looks beautiful. I believe my neighbour is going to be very impressed, they have left clean (and ironed) bedding in all the beds and left the fridge stocked for a week! (I know it was empty this morning so quite a nice touch!)

The rest of the extra bedding was folded up over a table all ironed (no wonder they took so long last night and this morning). I took the wet laundry home to dry it here to avoid ruining the nice effect

So one worry over, I just hope that they find their house in a similar condition. But I'm still a bit annoyed about the lack of attention, have got a message with the instructions about the keys, very technical, how to do it, where to send them, nor a please or a thank you... but still, feeling better about the house being in good shape.

OP posts:
Tortington · 29/08/2005 02:56

phew! glad things turned out kinda ok!

bluealb1 · 07/09/2005 11:58

I have done 2 house swaps to Australia and have just organised one for friends this year.I would wholy recommend house swaps as long as you go into all the details you should.It is something you need to plan and organise but i did it myself and not through the big companies as i feel they take your money and then do nothing else for you.We are going to do Aus again nextx year.

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