6 things to consider when looking to swap apartments

Swapping apartments is a great way to save on accommodations when you travel! It can feel like you’re living the lifestyle you’re used to in a completely different city. A bit of comfort plus newness. The ideal experience! To capture that feeling though, you need to do some up-front work to set expectations.

If you're planning on swapping for someone else's apartment on your next trip, consider these things first: is apartment living in your destination city what you'd expect it to be; how does swapping an apartment differ from swapping a home in your destination city; and whether your guest expects the same experience as they get when living in an apartment in their home town.

1.Do you know about apartment living in the city you're traveling to?

It's not uncommon for people to expect the apartments they stay in to have the same characteristics as their departure city. Home swapping is different than staying in hotels. You can’t assume anything. So, before you make a decision to stay in an apartment, research the neighborhood first. It shapes the experience.

Every city is different and apartments form characteristics that adapt to an ever changing city density. For example, in some emerging cities there may be extremely luxurious apartments in bad areas. In other cities, a somewhat grubby looking place might be right in the center of the action!

Think about what you truly love about living in your apartment and make sure those characteristics are truly present in the apartment you are swapping for.

2. How are the amenities?

One of the benefits of living in an apartment is the amenities! For example, if you’re used to working out daily, make sure the apartment you swap for has a gym with equipment that you typically use. Most hosts that have a gym in their building overlook posting detailed pictures of the equipment. It’s ok to ask your host to post a few detailed pictures of their gym equipment on their listing page. In fact, it may be helpful for others who want to swap as well. And, of course, return the favor. Post as many detailed pictures of the amenities in your building so that your guests have a good idea of what to expect.

Getting a good sense of amenities doesn’t just apply to gyms of course. If there’s a pool, does it come with towels? No, then ask where you can you get towels. Is the sauna co-ed? Yes, then, if you are comfortable with it, make sure you pack accordingly. Are there additional concierge services that you are accustomed to? No, then ask your host where you can go to get things like laundry and grooming done.

3. What to consider with security

One of the best things about your apartment building may be a doorman. But, how good is the security in the apartment you’ll be going to? Is there a doorman? Is there an access code? And, if there’s an access code, how secure is it?

One of the riskiest things that happened with Airbnb in early days was an issue with security codes being obtained by perpetrators. Hosts would openly share their building access codes, those codes would be spread on the dark web, and when guests arrived bad things would happen.

Before you make a swap, make sure to ask your host if their apartment code is widely known. Ask how often their neighbors have guests over. Know if their neighbors have parties. It may be an uncomfortable question to ask, but it’s important if you want to be safe.

4. Getting around

Will you be renting a car to take a roadtrip? Then ask about parking. Is a car even needed? No, then ask about transportation. How walkable is the neighborhood. Oh…and don’t forget common rideshare pickup spots and options.

If you’re in a bigger city, the apartment building might not have a convenient place for rideshare pickups. Ask about corners that your host typically catches a ride from.

Depending on where you go, Uber might not be there. Ask what the local ridesharing options are. You may need to download Ola or some other app that don’t use in your home country. Depending on where you go, ridesare might not be an option at all. Your host could recommend a driver for daily hire or a cab company to call.

5. Is your pet joining you?

Your host should tell you if pets are allowed in the building. Bringing a pet in apartment buildings that don’t allow pets can cause your guest to incur fines. If pets are allowed, make sure you ask where you can go to walk them. You might also want to know about pet shops near by so that you don’t have to travel with bowls. Depending on how long your apartment swap is for, it’s also great to know if there’s a quick place to go to grab you furry friend’s favorite food. If you think this will be the case, make sure to call ahead so that your pet has their preferred brand. Because, after all, just like you, they want to feel comfortable in their home away from home.

6. How to make your guest feel at home in your apartment

If you have a doorman, you want to make sure your guest feels welcomed by him/her. Make sure you let your doorman know that you’ll have a guest staying in your home while you are away. Here are a few other tips:

  • Make sure your guest has access to amenities - leave extra key fobs, towels, or anything else they will need to enjoy your home

  • Let your doorman or neighbors know that you will be welcoming a guest so they can look out for them and make them feel part of the community

  • Leave a few tips for your guest so that they know where to go for a morning coffee, where to go for local shopping, and what to watch out for in the neighborhood [protip: after you’ve made your apartment swap on the48dots, there’s a whole section for tips that you can exchange with your guest]

  • If pets are part of the home swap, make sure you let your guest know where to go in order to walk them

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Everything you need to know about making an Airbnb home swap