House Swapping - What is it?

Commuter Swap is a quick and easy way to find and swap a home temporarily on the internet. It's the only site tailored specifically for the needs of commuters or those interested in a housing swap but not necessarily the French villa.

Commuter Swap is safe and reliable. When you register on Commuter Swap, your personal information is kept private. You will be able to list your property online and search for a home in a location where you are looking to swap. Commuter Swap provides pictures, maps, video and other detailed information, so you can search for exactly what you are looking for with ease! If you do not see something that works for you, keep checking back as our listings are constantly changing.

It’s simple! The Commuter Swap internet listing service matches you and your home with a homeowner and home in your desired swap location. It's that easy!

So, search and browse for free. Pay a nominal $10.00 fee to list. (List for FREE, limited-time offer!)

Give me an example, please...how does Commuter Swap work?

There's no denying that many of us spend ALOT of time in the car. The mere fact that the cost of living continues to rise, while our salaries stay the same, forces many people to live a considerable distance from where they work.

Let's take the Baltimore and Washington, D.C. area for instance.

True, it is a straight shot down I-95 from Baltimore to our Nation's Capitol. However, think of that stretch of expressway littered with cars....packed with commuters who are going to D.C. for their job every morning and returning back home late at night...the sheer idea of waking up and falling asleep to a packed highway everyday makes you wonder where the joy is in life, doesn't it?

However, when you work with Commuter Swap, you are getting rid of that long commute every day because you are living close to your office.

Sounds interesting, right?

Think of it this way.

You realize you are sick and tired of your commute. Someone else, who has to commute from D.C. to Baltimore every day is just as tired as you are. Therefore, you go onto Commuter Swap and list your home. That person who lives in D.C. is also listing their home on Commuter Swap...and we are one step closer to creating a match made in Heaven...or at least somewhere that doesn't require a painful commute in order to get there!

At this point, you and the commuter from D.C. both have your homes listed on Commuter Swap and you recognize that you are both after the same thing: a better standard of living! A match is made and you and the commuter from D.C. start working towards an agreement to swap homes. You are still responsible for paying your mortgages, as is the commuter from D.C. The difference is, you now are able to live closer to work, for an agreed upon period of time, and you are getting more rest and experiencing less stress! By living in D.C. and trading your home with a D.C. commuter who needs to live closer to Baltimore, you both are able to experience more daylight hours, greater flexibility with your schedules, and ultimately...a better work/life balance!

Finally, with Commuter Swap you are protecting yourself. Unlike a rental situation, you and the other commuter have worked out a contractual agreement that says you are going to respect each other's property, reimburse each other for utility bills that are generated while you are in each other's houses and generally leave the house in the condition you found it in. You both reach an agreement on what will be moved in and moved out, so you have the ability to enjoy your things while you are in the other person's house. How many extended stay hotels allow you do to that?

The best feature about Commuter Swap is that it is flexible, so it is completely possible to meet your needs and the needs of your commuter counterpart at the exact same time. You are able to work together to detail all the features of the home exchange; from the amount of time the contract stays in effect for, to the furnishings you want in your home-away-from-home, to how utility bills are paid, it is all dependant on what you both feel is important!

Furthermore, Commuter Swap is not only for businesspeople. This is the ideal program for vacationers or any other person who is looking for a temporary home, but really doesn't want to run up a big hotel bill or impose on relatives!

Check out Commuter Swap today and realize that just because you live in another city from where you work doesn't mean you have to rent an apartment, spend long hours in the car, or run up a bill in an impersonal extended stay motel in order to have more downtime, relaxation and ultimately, a good life.

Any person with a need to swap their home with another home closer to their desired location.

Yes. Many commuter swaps are currently taking place every day.

Commuter Swap is the quick and easy way to find and swap a home, short-term or long-term. We are the only site on the internet that has been specifically tailored for commuters in mind. While we know there are many home exchange sites out there, we know that you are looking for a shorter drive time to work and the ability to come home to somewhere comfortable at the end of a long day and not necessarily the villa in France or a beach house in the Bahamas, which is what many home swap sites specialize in.

Unlike some other home swapping services or extended stay housing services, you are able to pre-determine all of the terms involved in the swap. You do not have to run the risk of renting your home below rental market pricing and you dictate the contract terms, allowing you to make sure you can cover your current mortgage payment every month.

It is important that you feel comfortable while you are in your home away from home. Commuter Swap provides a safe, reliable and anonymous home trading service. We undertand that when you swap your home you are putting a lot of trust in the other person. That is why we encourage you to do background and credit checks on anyone you are considering swapping homes with (check out our tips and suggestions section for other great ideas). Finally, we do not release your personal information. You communicate anonymously with other parties via our website.

Commuter Swap is the answer for the modern worker in this new economy or anyone who has a need for a home exchange to save money, time and frustration. Check out Commuter Swap and register today. You will improve your life and be able to spend more time with your friends and family. After all, life is about more than just punching a clock and going to work!

When you start to consider Commuter Swap, it is important that you examine your own personal situation and examine how your life could improve if you were able to live closer to where you work.

We know that moving is not always an option. Not only is the real estate market incredibly tumultuous right now, but there are other factors that could keep you from selling your home and moving as well. When you list and swap your home through Commuter Swap, we will be able to help you reap the following benefits:

• Reduction in stress.
• Increased quality of life.
• Helping the environment by reducing your carbon footprint.
• Saving money and building your bank account.
• Creating flexibility, keeping your office close to home.
• Being able to have more time to spend with friends and family.
• Helping you improve your health, giving you more daylight hours so you can exercise or be more active after the workday.
• Helping you to be able to do more of what you enjoy, before and after work, instead of spending time in traffic.

Commuter Swap is an organization dedicated to the idea of improving the lives of our nation's workers. Just because you may be on the low end of the corporate totem pole, a contract worker, or in middle management doesn't mean you have to sacrifice a happy life. You may not have the option of working at home at your job, but why not make your home closer to where you work?

There are millions of people who are just like you. Rejoin society and get off the highway. List your home on Commuter Swap today and improve your health, reduce your stress and live a happy life while bringing home your paycheck!

1. Get it in writing

   Any agreement should be in writing and ideally should be reviewed by an attorney. Spell everything out and make sure the contract is as specific as possible.

2. Do your due diligence

   • Check out the property carefully.
   • Check out the individual. There are numerous background check services available at nominal costs.

3. Be flexible

   Instead of jumping into a full time swap, try a few days a week and see how it goes. Again, it's up to you.

4. Resources

   Suggested background check services

   •http://www.intelius.com/
   •http://www.tenantverification.com
   
   

   A few key points to include in the contract:

   • The date the swap will be finalized and the date you'll move in
   • Items to be included in the swap if any, such as carpeting, lighting fixtures, appliances and so forth
   • Items not included in the swap
   • A legal description of the property
   • A provision that the parties are responsible for paying utility bills, other house-related expenses
   • Terms for a security deposit, if desired
   • Language that requires the return of your deposit if the swap isn't completed due to some contingency
   • Language that details when you can do a walk-through before the swap date to make sure everything is in order according to the guarantees made in the contract
   • A clause that makes the offer contingent
   

   • Sample Contract