Home-swapping in action —Joy of New Zealand talks to CasaVersa

Joy grew up in Nigeria, moved to the UK in her 20s and recently relocated to New Zealand. She’s a world nomad, a lecturer in health care and is married to Andrew. With three kids under the age of 4 (including twins!) she’s really got her hands full, so we’re very grateful she found the time to chat to us…

Joy has swapped houses several times in the last 3 years and, in the process, has become a real addict. We caught up with her a few days ago, for a chat about about how she became such a fan of home exchange.

CasaVersa: Joy, how did you get into the whole home exchange idea?

Joy: Actually, it’s an interesting story. After my first child was born (he’s almost four now, but I since went on to have twins!) I joined an online parenting group. Mums on it talked about everything — so many different subjects. It was much more than just a forum concerned with raising babies.

Anyway, someone online started talking about ‘World Schoolers’ — people who take their kids all over the world, on extended vacations, treating the trips as a kind of education. And I thought: “How can they afford to travel for this long?”

I guess I wasn’t the only one asking this question because, soon after, a separate group was created called “World School House Rent and Sit” and I joined. Andrew (my husband) and I were then living in the UK and we wanted to travel to Birmingham for a long weekend, to visit his sister. But she and her husband lived in a very small house and there really wasn't room for them to host us, particularly since we had a baby.

CasaVersa: That’s often the case in big cities — and hotels are really costly too.

Joy: Right. Then I saw an ad for a swap in Birmingham. I thought it might be a stab in the dark but I got in touch with the couple who’d advertised and they said “Yep, we’d love to see another part of the UK for a weekend.” So after chatting on the phone we just agreed to do it!

CasaVersa: You jumped right in? Good for you. But were you nervous?

Joy: A little trepidatious, yes! I had a chat with my neighbours though and told them I had guests coming — I didn’t tell them they were strangers! But in the end it worked out really well and so I figured, “Hey, it’s time to spread my wings.”

CasaVersa: Further afield than the UK this time?

Joy: To the land of sunshine! 5 days in Spain. My husband was very skeptical — he kept complaining and telling me “It’s going to be awful — we’re going to ended up having to go to a hotel and spend lots of money.” But he was completely wrong!

The woman whose house we were staying in arranged for us to be picked up from the airport, she’d made us food for when we arrived, and she was really helpful. She’d also arranged for someone to come in and clean the house for us every two days. I guess this was her way of being able to keep an eye on things but it was fine by us.

CasaVersa: How was the house?

Joy: Perfect. Not a mansion but more than acceptable — something that I would have even been prepared to pay for — I mean, a reasonable amount. But of course, we didn’t pay anything!

CasaVersa: It sounds like you realised you were onto a good thing?

Joy: Precisely. A few months later, I then found another house, back in Spain, but this time advertised for 10 nights. Another family with kids — and as a mum with young kids, I now realise I like swapping with other young families.

CasaVersa: Because you understand each other?

Joy: Yes, and they have reasonable expectations — they don’t expect to come back to a completely pristine house! I mean, we always leave things clean tidy but young children cause a lot of mess, as everyone know, and people who don’t have kids can sometimes be very house proud. When you’re in a home where young children live, there aren’t usually too many priceless objects dotted around the house!

CasaVersa: Good point. And when you swap with other young families, there’s other stuff that goes with it?

Joy: Of course. High chairs, plastic cups, small plates and bowls…pushchairs, toys…the list is endless.

CasaVersa: And if you swap cars, car seats!

Joy: Car seats! Ah yes! When we went to Prague, we both left our respective cars at the airports and so when we landed, we just drove ourselves to each other’s homes, along with the car seats. Our flights crossed over so we didn’t even meet — it’s all a question of trust.

CasaVersa: After all these swaps, how does your husband feel now? Has he changed his mind?

Joy? He’s completely on board. And what’s also interesting is that as we’ve continued to swap, the quality of the houses we’re staying in has improved too. And he knows how much money we’re saving too — not just on accommodation but on having a kitchen and a washing machine to hand.

CasaVersa: How many swaps have you done to date?

Joy: Ah…8 now. One, recently, was in the New Zealand countryside. It was only two hours drive from Auckland, but had a completely rural feel to it. We arrived as complete strangers but everyone was incredibly friendly. The neighbours across the road knocked on the door and said “We know you’re the swappers, come over if you need anything.” And another neighbour kept chickens and bees and invited the kids over to see them. The kids were thrilled, of course!

CasaVersa: That’s an experience you don’t get when you stay in a hotel! Where are you going next?

Joy: I’ve arranged something for next month in the the north of New Zealand. We all want to see more of this new country we’ve arrived in. But I’m thinking further afield too— especially as it’s coming up to my 40th birthday.

CasaVersa: What’s your ideal swap destination?

Joy: Japan is calling to me actually. And then, with luck, when the kids are a bit older, we’re going to try and move to Singapore and start exploring South East Asia.

CasaVersa: Swaps in Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia…?

Joy: Exactly. I want my kids to see the world and I think this is the perfect way…

CasaVersa: Joy, thank you very, very much for talking to us.