FAQs

Contacting Members

• 
  Everytime I try to contact a member, I am brought to a page urging me to join. What’s going on?

  Either you haven’t paid or you haven't logged in.

  As a visitor you have full privileges except for the ability to contact Intervac members. To start arranging an exchange, please click on JOIN INTERVAC, enter your email, pick a membership package and pay.

  If you've already joined, then you must login before browsing the listings. To do this, please go to the login page and enter your username (or email) and password.

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  How do I contact a member?

  Login and go to the Search page where you can search for members by name, ID or on the maps. When ytou have found a member click on "Send Message" on the left side of the member listing page. In your message box create and send your message.

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  How will a member respond to me?

  When you have sent a message it will be posted in the other member's message box and, simultaneously, an email will be sent with the full text of your message and all your details. The other member can reply by email or by sending a message.

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  I've written a number of messages to other members and I haven't heard back yet. Why?

  In your message box you will find that all your sent messages that have been read or answered will be marked accordingly. Unanswered original messages cannot be deleted and the system sends a reminder if messages are not answered after five days. If messages are not answered if often means that the member's email is not working properly so by all means get in touch with us if you would like this followed up.

• 
  Why doesn’t Intervac list members' e-mail addresses on your web site?

  Security is very important to us and we do not think it safe to display our members' email addresses except to other members that actually want to contact them. Also, by not listing each member's email address, we prevent unscrupulous people from harvesting all the addresses and adding them to a spam list.

General Home Exchange Questions

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  Do I have to swap cars?

  No. Not everyone trades cars.

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  Do I need an International Drivers License to drive abroad?

  It is a good idea to get one before you leave home.

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  Does my car insurance cover my home exchange partners.

  You need to inquire of your insurance broker if your home exchangers are insured while driving your car. If not, consider rental of an older model car.

• 
  Does my homeowner’s policy cover damage to my house while on exchange?

  You need to ask your insurance broker. We have had very few incidents of damage to people’s houses in the past 50 years.

• 
  How can I be sure that the exchange will be “equal”?

  Instead of thinking of an exchange as ‘equal’ think of it as ‘fair’. If the location of the 2 homes and size of accommodations are similar than you might consider it ‘fair’. Many exchangers with large homes often trade for an adequate apartment or condo if the location is right. And there is less housekeeping to do!!

• 
  How do I maximize my chance of getting a home exchange?

  Make certain that you home is well advertised and use your full allowance of photos to describe it, your neighborhood and its facilities. After that the more flexible you are the better your chances are in obtaining a home exchange. To increase your chances consider more countries and see if you can lengthen your travel time.

• 
  How far in advance do most people start planning a home exchange?

  Twelve months is usually the furthest in advance that people begin to plan an exchange.

• 
  If I want to swap for only a few days or for more than two months, is that possible?

  Yes. Home exchangers swap for as short a period of time as a weekend and as long a period of time as more than one year. Once you become a member, you can sort the listings by long-term exchanges, weekend exchanges and more.

• 
  If I want to travel in the next few days or weeks, is it too late to arrange an exchange?

  No. Click on the Last Minute Listings link at the top of this page and see for yourself that there are many people looking for exchanges in the next couple weeks. It’s never too late to organize an exchange as long as you flexible about destination and time.

• 
  Is it safe to leave my home to people I don’t know?

  This is the most often asked question! And. . . . the truthful answer is that you don’t really know. But as you prepare for the exchange you establish a unique relationship with your exchangers. Most are professional people with standards like yours, and being guests in each other’s home creates a very special bond of trust. By the time your exchange occurs you feel like you’re going to a friend’s home and your friends are coming to your home. In the more than 50 years that Intervac has been facilitating contact between exchangers, there have been no reports of theft and rare reports of damage. Occasionally, housekeeping standards differ, but members tend to take even greater care of their exchange home than of their own!

• 
  What about the possibility of cancellation?

  This rarely happens. But you should be prepared in case of illness or an emergency. Ask your exchange partner to prepare a contingency plan. Tell your exchange partner what you plan to provide in case you cancel – stay at a friends or mother-in-laws! Or in a motel.

• 
  What kind of people exchange homes?

  Families, singles and couples all use Intervac USA. Members are from all age groups from honeymooners to the retired. The majority are in the middle-to-upper income bracket. Attorneys, doctors, artists, real estate and business executives, doctors, educators, clergy, engineers, journalists are common occupations.

• 
  I don’t live in a tourist area? Will anyone exchange with me?

  You never know where people will want to visit. Many people use their home exchange as a base from which to explore a wide region. Other times, they may have relatives or a specific event to attend. No matter, where you live, as long as you plan ahead and are flexible about destination and time frame, you have a great chance for achieving your dream vacation.

Home Exchange Tips and Tricks

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  How do I start looking for an exchange?

  You can sit back and wait for people to contact you or be proactive. Search the listings. As you browse through the listings and find ones you like, you can send a note proposing an exchange or requesting additional information from that person. If you do send a message and that person responds, you will receive an e-mail message directly from them.

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  What items should I agree upon with my home exchange partner? (Click "Answer")
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  What should I do to prepare my house for our home exchange partner? (Click "Answer")
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  How should I leave my home exchange partner's home when we leave? (Click "Answer")
• 
  Where can I find some copies of home exchange agreement forms?

  We now provide an online agreement form which you can use to use both to register your agreement and to agree the main items with your partner. Note you badge now depends on the number of exchanges you register using this form.

Intervac Questions

• 
  Does Intervac accept rental properties?

  Yes, and you can search separately for vacation rentals. While it's not the core offering of our service, we recognize that many people who own a vacation rental may want to also offer that property for exchange so we enable you to do both. We do not however accept rental only properties.

• 
  What if I want to list my second home?

  You will need to obtain a new membership as we can only list one home per mebership

• 
  What should I look for in a home exchange organization? (Click "Answer")

Membership Packages

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  I don't feel comfortable paying online. How else can I pay?

  It’s very safe to pay online since we process all Visa, Mastercard and American Express orders securely with Authorize.net, a trusted payment system owned by VeriSign Inc. However, if you prefer, you can pay off line. One way is to print out our registration form, fill it in with pen or pencil and send it to Intervac USA, PO Box 590504, San Francisco, CA, 94159 with a check or credit card number and expiration date. Alternatively, we can process your order over the telephone at 1-800-756-4663.

• 
  What does the Auto-Renew option mean?

  The Auto-Renew option offered on the payment page allows members to renew their membership automatically when it expires. This means the member will lock in today's price even if prices rise in the future. It also means that your membership won't lapse for a day because you are away on vacation or too busy to renew your membership. And if you tick the Auto-Renew box and then change your mind about renewing one year later, we will cancel the auto-renew option even if you have already paid for a renewal package as long as you alert us within a few days of the charge showing up.

• 
  Which membership package is for me?

  The basic membership package is for one year. Our site is easy to use and intuitive so this is a good value package.

  Do you want some help over the telephone, however, getting started? If so, the Intervac Advisor package is perfect for you.

  Do you want to receive a 10% discount by joining for two years rather than just one? This really depends on whether you plan to do a number of exchanges over the next couple years or if you are just planning for one trip in the next 12 or 15 months.

Photos & Listing Information

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  How do I build my listing (Click "Answer")
• 
  Can I change my photos when I have posted them?

  Yes. To change your main photo just upload another one. To see the photo you have uploaded remember to refresh your browser. Press F5. To delete other photos you will find an orange garbage icon to do the job. Then upload another.

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  How many photos should I post under each category?

  It is a good idea to use your full allowance of twenty photos. We would suggest you post 10-12 pictures of your home, 1-3 pictures of yourself and your family and allocate the rest to local attractions, things to do and such like.

Renewing/Upgrading Membership

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  How do I Renew?

  You can click on this link, Renew and just add your email. The system will take you on from there.

• 
  Can I still obtain a catalogue?

  We have ceased to publish catalogues.

• 
  If I renew before my membership expires, will my new membership period begin when I renew or from the day my existing membership ends?

  When you renew for say 12 more months, we add 12 months to your membership package from the time the existing one ends.

Searching

• 
  How do I search?

  You will find comprehensive search facilities by clicking on "search" in your home page. You can search by country, city or region, by exchange type, by keywords, by facilities, by holiday dates by numbers of people and by a combination of any or all of the above. Remember, however, that the more detailed your search the more you will restrict your options.

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  How do I conduct a reverse search? By City or by Country?

  You will find comprehensive search facilities by clicking on "search" in your home page. You can reverse search by country, by city or by region. Remember, however, that some people do not want to be too precise in their destinations, they prefer to be flexible and post countries rather than cities in their Destination Wish List

• 
  How do I get my listing on the hot list?

  You will find the link to Last Minute Listings in yor home page. At the top there is a button to allow you to add your listing.

• 
  How do I search by city?

  You will find the link in your home page to searches where you can search by city.

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  How do I search for last minute exchanges?

  You will find the link to Last Minute Listings in yor home page.

• 
  If I like a listing, how do I save it for future viewing?

  You can add any listing to your "Favourites" folder.