Long Term Exchanges

"They sailed away for a year and a day"

I have noticed recently a slight increase in the number of people enquiring about or registering details for Longer Term Exchanges.

A former member wrote: “You may remember that I was one of your clients for house exchange in New Zealand, back in 1999/2000. I am writing to enquire if “Green Theme” is still operative, because we might be interested in looking for a house exchange again in New Zealand, this time for a year in Christchurch?”

We are, of course, very much still operative and happy to help people in finding an extended stay arrangement. However, when I receive enquiries about long term exchanges I do try to qualify my reply and be really realistic about the possibilities because there are far fewer people seeking long term exchanges than shorter term holiday exchanges. In addition, people seeking longer term exchange opportunities very often have very specific reasons for wishing to re-locate for a year or so: ie for work, for study purposes, to research a locality with a view to possible re-location, friends or family already living in the area etc. They are therefore much more likely to be very precise about their destination and to have other very specific criteria such as proximity to schools and standard of education facilities, accessibility to international schools if language is a barrier, availability of language schools, health facilities, ease of access to work location etc. When people do intend to work there can also be visa and other immigration implications for some destinations for stays of longer duration.

Of course some of the above criteria do not apply to retired people who are likely to be the most flexible group in the long term exchange category. I do not mean to put people off seeking long term exchanges: it is not impossible and if the criteria on both sides match up, it can work out extremely well and make possible in economic terms something which would be impossible by any other means.

Here are a few links to the listings of members who have recently joined seeking long term exchanges:
HE16702 House in PENCLAWDD, SWANSEA, WALES
HE16706 House in FORRESTERS BEACH, NSW, AUSTRALIA
HE16710 House in SOUTH PERTH, WESTERN AUSTRALIA
HE16713 House in MEDFORD, OREGON, USA