Exciting news is brewing in the world of Home Exchange. A visionary team of enthusiastic home exchangers have come together with an approach that is going to revolutionize our community.
For over three years I have been writing the most popular home exchange blog that isn't affiliated with any swap club. Most websites and blogs take ads, or at least advertising dollars. This blog has never done that because I wanted to report on trends in home exchange -- and start some -- free of some company's business agenda.
Dozens of entrepreneurs have approached me over the years. Some wanted my input on their bright new idea for a home exchange club. Others asked me to join their companies. I have always had good reason to say "no thanks."
Passionate home exchangers have turned their love of this rich travel method into successful small businesses that make home exchange possible. Thanks to their swap clubs I have stayed in the beautiful homes of over 40 families and met interesting, well-traveled people from all over the world.
Since the first club was founded in the 1950's, home exchange businesses have offered pretty much the same formula. Let people describe their homes and charge them for displaying their listing to other swappers.
The "new ideas" in home exchange pitched to me have often been, at best, unnecessary. At their worst, folks have thought up some really terrible ways to make a cut each time two families decided to vacation at each others' homes.
For me, home exchange is a community. I am not interested in any project that doesn't help more good people become home exchangers. Needless to say I have never been tempted to become part of any new home exchange business.
Until now. I am proud to announce that, in addition to writing this blog, I am contributing a weekly advice column to a new home exchange club called RoofSwap.com.
RoofSwap.com has a professional team that loves home exchange and wants to make our community stronger. They looked at every home exchange club out there. Instead of trying to figure out how to turn the existing swap club model on its ear in order to make a profit from each vacation trade, the RoofSwap.com staff asked how they could make home exchange easier and more appealing.
What really excites me about RoofSwap.com is its commitment to outreach about home exchange. RoofSwap.com is actively educating travelers about the home exchange concept.
RoofSwap's team realized that just hearing about the home exchange concept will bring thousands of eager vacationers into our community. And RoofSwap.com is providing the educational resources to get those new exchangers off on the right foot.
Many new clubs put effort into trying to poach members from existing clubs. RoofSwap already has 14,000 listings because it combines the listings of some of the best swap clubs out there. I'm excited about the unique approach RoofSwap has taken to consolidating the listings and best ideas of some really great home exchange clubs. It means RoofSwap.com members have access to broader listings than members of single-source clubs, which often draw most of their membership from a narrow geographical area.
RoofSwap.com hired excellent web designers to create a sophisticated yet simple-to-use site. Creating a listing is quick and easy. Extensive resources at RoofSwap.com outline the steps to follow to set up and enjoy a home exchange. The RoofSwap forum lets new and seasoned exchangers trade tips and get their questions answered.
RoofSwap's site protects members privacy by letting us control when to share our personal information with possible swap partners.
The RoofSwap.com team is committed to excellent customer service and support. But what is more important to us as exchangers is that RoofSwap.com actively supports the best ideals of our community. RoofSwap.com donates 10% of profits to Habitat for Humanity. Nothing better reflects home exchange ethics than helping create homes for those who really need them.
Instead of gimmicks, RoofSwap.com is giving our community the tools we need to be bigger, stronger and healthier. For three years I have tried to educate home exchangers. RoofSwap.com is using the best minds in the field to bring home exchange from a hobbyist niche into mainstream consciousness.
Easy, clear and educational with an education to expand home exchange into the mainstream. RoofSwap.com is my home exchange dream come true. It's exciting to me that more people are going to learn about home exchange and find just what they need to get started vacationing for free.
I am excited to be part of RoofSwap.com's innovative work. I hope you will vote with your home exchange club membership dollars. Join RoofSwap.com to help our commuity grow. Or at least send in a question for my new RoofSwap.com advice column. You can reach me at NicoleF@RoofSwap.com.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
You can subscribe to this blog to receive each day's post. Just enter your email below :
Sunday, November 01, 2009
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
0 comments:
Post a Comment