Make a swap!

If you’ve seen the movie ‘The Holiday’, then you’re familiar with the whole concept of ‘we go there – they come here’ home swapping.

Normally this is done overseas where two families agree to swap homes for an agreed amount of time, thus enjoying each other’s humble (or not so humble) abodes while avoiding many of the expenses associated with holidaymaking.

With overseas travel still some way off, what’s stopping us from applying the same concept at a more local level? Nothing, that’s what.

For example, imagine a family cooped up in the city since the pandemic started, who haven’t breathed country air or seen the sea in over a year.

Then, imagine a family living in beautiful west Cork who have been isolated and restricted to 5km travel for the best part of a year.

Now swap them around and you’ve got yourself two holidays for the price of none, almost!

There are several websites that offer the service and the amount of Cork homes already signed up is surprisingly high.

One such site, homeexchange.com, has a hugely extensive network with hundreds of Corkonian homeowners, both city and county, advertising their homes right now.

How it works

First, create your listing and fill out your profile. This initial part is free and allows you to choose your favourite destinations as well as adding photos of your home and dates of availability.

Then, begin your search for homes in places that are of interest to you. You can then send personalised exchange requests and communicate with hosts through a built-in messaging service.

Finally, make it official by signing up to the service for $150 (€125) annual fee and finalise the exchange with your host/guest. This fee is paid once a year and allows for unlimited exchanges.

Homeexchange.com is just one of several websites on which Cork homeowners have set up profiles, and a quick Google search will have you scrolling though possible destinations in no time.