Mumsnet Homeswap makes me feel inadequate.

[waps]

Help, I thought I had a nice house that was reasonably tidy until I found Home Swap. I thought I might need to clean the fridge perhaps and maybe descale the shower to keep up. But then I saw what was on offer and there is no way I could allow these people to scrutinize my home. A couple round the corner from me are offering an immaculate lakeside house, their Lexus and use of their gym/spa. I offer a child and cat infested house, a grubby mummy wagon and 40tonne truck dodging as you walk to the shops. Please someone make me feel better, does anyone else consider a mild level of squalor essential to a healthy immune system or am I just a slattern?

You are normal!

I'm not sure I believe that these homes are in fact on offer to swap. It's weird, why are they ALL of this strangely high standard, where have MN been advertising to get these houses registered? Not on here for sure!

I've just cleaned all our toilets on the way up to bed to make myself feel better. I've decided that I might as well pay for a luxury villa and hire car with the same money I would have to spend on a specialist cleaning crew. Dusting tomorrow .

A couple round the corner from me are offering an immaculate lakeside house, their Lexus and use of their gym/spa. I offer a child and cat infested house, a grubby mummy wagon and 40tonne truck dodging as you walk to the shops

do they also have a helicopter, for avoiding the trucks?

I wonder if MN have joined in with an existing system Rough? I can only imagine they got confused and thought we were that 'nice' lot at Netmums. I bet they wash their woodwork down every Thursday.

Wouldn't surprise me Ponder. Their profile says that he is 'in property'.

I have to say I was amazed at what was up there. My place is pretty reasonable (if I say so myself) but even I was wondering whether I should have serious work done on it after this. Those properties were definitely in the 'house porn' category and I can't quite believe they are really on offer. I am not sure I will get any kind of response from anyone during the £1 offer period, and I am certainly not going to be paying £199 in the vain hope that someone will be daft enough to want to rent my more normal house when all theirs look like something out of Country Life international. I even lived in a stately home at one stage in my life and even that was not up to the standard of these babies internally.

oh, i thought it was just me!

Somehow I can't see someone wanting to swap one of those amazing houses for a 3 bed semi in surburbia!

anyone interested in my 1950's ex-council house on the edge of some municipal woodlands for a week in Aug when the park is full of bored teenagers?

thought not takes own advert down

Exactly, waps, I think that it must be an existing system that MN has acquired or attached their brand onto. (Like the Guardian gardening website, which is actually j parkers catalogue sold under the Guardian banner...). Which is a bit disappointing really. I was one of the people who completed a survey a while back and said I would be interested in a MN houseswap, but it was because we are a lovely little community here and I figured I could dig out dirt on people before handing over my keys we'd all have toys for the DCs. In fact, I'm pretty sure most of those places are professional holiday lets. The photos have been styled and taken by pros, thats certain.

I thought my house was nice and know a couple locally who did a very successful houseswap a few years back so thought I might be in with a chance till I saw those houses

They are definitely professional lets, and the photos are professional as well. I tried taking some in the same style and it was almost impossible (although DH, who is an ex-programme maker and very good at such visual things pointed out I needed a special lens). Plus there are no personal things around at all.

On the other hand, anyone near the Olympic stadium is clearly in with a chance ... many people seem to want to be spending those dates in the UK.

It is not MN exclusive but we are loving the property porn and there are some FAQs here and info on how it all works.

There is a helpline number for enquiries, lines are open Mon to Sat 9am to 6pm and number is 08450 805155 - or email is [email protected].

There is also another Site Stuff thread discussing the Homeswap here.

Yup I thought that when I looked at the site. I have done a home swapto florida years ago that was very succesful .
Spent weeks preparing my house cleaning parts of it that never get cleaned normally..inside dishwasher , side of washing machine ..I was knackered and ready for a holiday. Got to the florida home and it was feckin filthy!!!!

will follow with explanation to why it was successful..we had a quick clean up and house was fine. Had two 9 yr olds with ready made toys/bikes/pool toys and computer and piano to play with as well as a car. So despite the muck it was worth it

Yeah, I'm a fan of home exchanging and was happy to hear that MN was interested in this too. However when I saw the site I was sooo disappointed. I don't really know what they were thinking as it just seems miles away from what a MN site should be. There are so many better options out there. Why would I pay £99 and then have to go through loads of luxury homes trying to find the rare few that might be suitable?? I've been a member of the Guardian's home exchange site now for over 3 years and that only costs me about £30 a year(!) and to me has a much better selection of suitable homes. I've done some really great swaps and this march will be the first with the little one where we'll be heading to Wales for a week. Can't wait! :)

I think having read the FAQs there is one question that occurs to me ... what if you shell out for membership and your home is considered too everyday for a swap by other people on there? So you don't get offered anything at all??

I think I will cancel my membership before I get stuck in the trap of accidentally paying a lot of money for something that is pretty unrealistic as an option except for a select few people.

Yeah I noticed that too, looks like it's direct debit thingy so after the 4 weeks they hope you forget to cancel and then get £99 or £199 taken out of your account! Ggrrr!

I think the conclusion on the other thread was that it was in fact an existing house swap site MN had joined forces with. Don't know if anyone established which one.

How do you cancel? I can't seem to see where you contact them to do this?

Hello.

In answer to your Qs: if you find, during the four-week trial, that Mumsnet Home Swap is not for you, then email [email protected] before then end of your trial period, stating that you want to cancel, and they'll ensure that no money is taken from your account.

We'll also have a word with the LoveHomeSwap folks about making this info more prominent during the sign up process.

Just wondered if anyone has investigated the nct house swap register, it seems a bit better?

I've not listed my home on the nct swap site (I always use the Guardian's exchange site). However to me the homes on the nct site sound much more suitable than the mn site. Plus its free and the homes seem to be mainly UK homes (I couldn't face a plane journey now!). The only downside is there doesn't seem to be too much choice when I looked.

Hi all,Im new to this and have just been looking online about swapping homes for the holidays. We are a regular uk family and would love to swap with another family, that live in a normal home, cobwebs inc. I think the price to join on here is silly. The whole point of swapping houses is to save money, we certainly cant afford even a caravan holiday this year, so home swapping seems the natural choice! Anyone feel the same? Regards