How Does Home Swapping Work?

If you’re reading this, home swapping probably interests you. And it should—staying in beautiful homes belonging to real people is an authentic, affordable way to travel the world. But you likely have some questions. You may be wondering:

• How does home swapping work?
• What does hosting entail?
• What’s expected of guests?
• How do I start home swapping?

Here, we’ll answer your questions about home swapping, and you’ll hear from two of our Kindred community members about their experiences. Let’s jump in.

How does home swapping work?

Home swapping is when travelers stay in each other’s homes while they’re away. Home swappers save thousands of dollars on travel accommodations and get to immerse themselves in local neighborhoods while enjoying the comforts of home at the same time. Traditionally, home swaps were one-for-one exchanges—for example, a couple from Los Angeles would exchange their home with a family in Florence simultaneously. But now, there’s greater flexibility with networks like Kindred.

Kindred is a members-only home swapping community—made up of both renters and homeowners—who want to travel affordably by swapping their homes with trusted, like-minded people. You can still swap simultaneously, but it’s not required. At Kindred, we use a give-to-get membership model, meaning that the more you host members in your home, the more you can stay in other members’ homes. You’ll earn credits for every night you host, which you can use to stay in other Kindred homes later. All Kindred members are both guests and hosts, so everyone has an equal stake in the game. 

Members use the Kindred app to provide details about their homes, introduce themselves, and share when their homes are available. There’s no nightly rental rate for swaps. When you’re a guest, you’ll only pay for cleaning and a small service fee. When you’re a host, we provide everything you and your guests need for a safe and comfortable swap—more on that later.

Meet our members

The best way to understand what home swapping is all about is to hear directly from seasoned swappers. Meet Leanne from Phoenix and Bob from San Francisco.

Leanne and her family began swapping in April 2023. She used to manage an Airbnb but is now a Kindred convert. When she hosted on Airbnb, she felt like guests viewed her home as a product and weren't always respectful. Now, she loves being part of a community based on mutual respect. “I’m a very trusting, altruistic person, and I’ve stocked my home with the intention for guests to use anything and everything in the space,” she says. “I have met other hosts who share that mantra as well.”

Bob joined Kindred in November 2023. He’s hosted Kindred members over 20 nights, stayed over 30 nights as a guest, and learned a lot about home swapping. “There is something magical that happens when people open their homes to travelers,” he says. “There is a strange sense of connection that occurs without even meeting people in person. There is a trust that bonds the community where everyone simply knows privacy will be respected, and people will act like guests in someone’s home, versus renters in someone’s property.”

On that note, let’s take a closer look at the swapping experience.

What does hosting entail?

The idea of strangers staying in your home may seem daunting and even a bit scary. But once you learn about the process—and know that the Kindred team will support you every step of the way—it’s a lot less overwhelming. Here’s what goes into hosting.

List your home’s availability 

When you’re available to host guests, you’ll simply share those dates on your profile. You can note when you’re open to a one-for-one swap as well as dates your home can be booked because you’ll be away. Then, you may start receiving requests.

Review and approve guests

You’re 100% in control of who stays in your home—you’ll approve every single guest. You're not obligated to accept any member requests, and there are no minimum hosting requirements. If a fellow member requests to stay in your home, you’ll receive their details, including:

• The member’s profile, which can include photos and/or video, details about each person in the household, and the member’s experience on Kindred
• Context on their trip and any additional guests they'd like to bring
• Ways to connect with the member, including video calls

Once you receive the request, you’ll have some options. You can approve the request, message or arrange a video call with the member, propose other dates, or deny the request. 

Put your mind at ease with Host Protection

If you’re feeling nervous about accepting guests, just remember that Kindred is here to protect you and your home. We offer a $100,000 Host Protection Guarantee in the event of any damage. Plus, we’re the first in the industry to automatically include $1,000,000 in Liability Insurance Coverage for all hosts, free of charge. If you have questions or need to report an incident, just contact your concierge.

Get your home ready—with Kindred’s help

Remember, Kindred members aren’t renting your house. Think of it like a friend who’s coming to stay with you. You want your home to be tidy and comfortable, but it’s still your home, filled with your things. You don’t need to get rid of your stuff! 

You’ll just take a few steps to prepare your home for guests, like putting away personal toiletries and decluttering surfaces.

We’ll also provide a Kindred Host Kit for you with the following:

• A lockbox for your house keys
• Toiletries, towels, bathmats, sheets, and duvet covers for your guests
• A new sponge for the kitchen
• Sticky notes for guest communication, including privacy stickers for off-limits drawers, cabinets, and closets

Leanne preps her home by simply putting valuable belongings away in a closet. “If there are items I want to stow, then that is where they go during stays,” she says. But she also implicitly trusts her guests. “I don’t expect someone to steal anything. I feel as though people on Kindred are more respectful and mindful than regular Airbnb guests.”

While it’s not required, some Kindred members go the extra mile to make their guests feel at home. Bob’s one of them. “When I prepare to host someone, I make sure I have put fresh flowers throughout my place. I write a five-page handwritten letter welcoming my guest. I will sometimes put fresh fruit, cheese, and yogurt in the fridge,” he says. “I take great pleasure in knowing that my guests, who I’ve never met and don’t even know, are feeling welcome in my home and enjoying an over-the-top experience.”

Leanne has been on the receiving end of these special touches. “A host left me a gift card to her favorite coffee shop. It was so thoughtful! I’m always the one leaving maple syrup or smoked salmon from my hometown of Vancouver for guests, but to be the recipient was a superb treat.”

What’s expected of guests?

Now that you’ve read about hosting, you can see everything provided for guests. You’ll have fresh linens, new toiletries, and thoughtful touches from your host. In return, you’ll follow our Member Code of Conduct. Kindred is based on trust and reciprocity, so we ask that you care for every member’s home how you hope they’ll care for yours. Our guest guidelines boil down to one litmus test: Treat every home as if it were your best friend’s grandmother’s house! If you’re wondering whether something’s acceptable to do as a Kindred guest, ask yourself if your best friend’s grandmother would be okay with it. No? Then you probably shouldn’t do it.

“When I’m a guest, I go out of my way to leave no evidence I was ever there except to show my gratitude and appreciation,” says Bob. “I find it nourishing to be on my best behavior when no one is watching because someone has put their trust in me.”

How do I start home swapping?

First, find out if your home is a fit. We accept apartments, townhomes, and houses alike so long as they meet our criteria. Once you’re approved, you will:

• Get full access to the Kindred website and app
• Create a profile with details about you and your home
• Coordinate professional photography of your home, courtesy of Kindred
• Unlock five credits (equal to five nights—learn more about Kindred’s credit system here) to stay in Kindred homes before you host

Book a trip

Browse the Kindred network of houses and apartments to find the right home for your next trip. You can search by location and dates and filter by bedrooms, pets, and swap type (simultaneous or unilateral stay). You can also create travel wishlists, and we’ll notify you when homes become available in those destinations.

When you find a home you like, simply click “Request to stay.” The host will review your request and get back to you.

Our concierge team is always happy to help with bookings. Contact hello@livekindred.com for assistance.

Connect with the community

Once you join Kindred, you’ll gain access to member groups and events so you can meet and trade tips with fellow travelers—like Leanne and Bob. 

“I’m proud to be a member of this community of like-minded explorers,” says Bob. “In a world that is so crazy and divisive in so many ways, being part of this kind, trusting community is good for the soul!”