this post was submitted on 16 May 2025

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I'm thinking about swapping my house with someone in another country. Any tips? (self.asklemmy)

submitted 2 weeks ago by rabber to c/[email protected]

16 comments fedilink hide all child comments

I am about to take a month mental health break from work and I want to trade houses with someone in Iceland. I'm on vancouver island so it's a good trade I think.

Has anyone ever done similar and how did you do it?

top 16 comments

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[–] [email protected] 31 points 2 weeks ago

Hi, we have done this about 20 times. Never had an issue.

It is a great way to see the world as you get to see a real local home, if you have kids they get their own rooms complete with toys and all. You typically find (and should prepare for your guests) a long list of recommendations and local attractions from pharmacies, bakeries, grocers to small local attractions that are not in guide books.

Oh, and accommodation is free. This enabled us to stay in Vancouver for 4 weeks as a young family as we only had to pay for the flights and rental car - yes, European, we get long paid holidays over here (😇).

PS: We‘ve use homelink.org ( not affiiliated) and were happy with their database. But I am sure there are others like it.

As you are from Vancouver Island you should not have any issues finding an exchange.

I hope you find a nice swap and find everything you need in your difficult time.

[–] [email protected] 26 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

…you can do that?

[–] rabber 13 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (2 children)

Why not? We both own our properties so one benefit to capitalism I guess.

I can't work remotely there, though, due to tax and liability reasons. And I could only stay as long as tourist visa.

Obviously trust is a big factor here which is specifically why I look towards iceland.

[–] BCsven 1 points 16 hours ago

There are visas for remote work, but honestly people take combined vacation and work trips combined all the time, as long as its not like you live there 6 months and do it that anyone will notice. And vacationers can't be expected to totally ignore their work email lest they go to jail.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Yeah but is that like a thing? Do people regularly do that?

[–] BCsven 1 points 16 hours ago

Was way more popular before airbnb

[–] [email protected] 18 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

Make sure your insurance covers it.

[–] rabber 12 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

I would trust an icelander with my life in general but that's a great suggestion.

[–] [email protected] 22 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

My sister in law married an Icelander. Great guy. I’ve met his family. Some of them not so great. Iceland is still a country with people, and people are still people. Some of them are shitty no matter where they’re from.

[–] rabber 6 points 2 weeks ago* (last edited 2 weeks ago) (1 children)

I've been there 6 times and I find that theft there is almost non existent. Yes people are still as shitty as they usually are but it's still a place with a state of trust which is something that constantly draws me back

Obviously would do some vetting though so that's my specific question here, where are the good people at and how do you know?

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago

I’ve never been there, just met them when they visited here.

[–] MyBrainHurts 9 points 2 weeks ago

My folks have done this maybe 10 times without issue. There are whole websites etc, happy to pass on the one my parents used if you'd like. (I'd have ti ask etc or I'd just share it.)

[–] [email protected] 6 points 2 weeks ago

This is the exact plot to The Holiday.

Don't fall in love with a dashing viking, because he'll show up drunk on your doorstep forgetting his sister mentioning she would be away and ask to crash because he's too drunk to get home.

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago

An old family friend has done this a few times. They have a place in Colorado. They've spent a month or more in Netherlands and NZ for sure, and I think a couple other countries. They've had good experiences doing it. I don't know the details though.

[–] [email protected] 1 points 2 weeks ago (1 children)

How does one live in another person?

[–] [email protected] 5 points 2 weeks ago

Very carefully