Trip cancellation insurance can be a worthwhile purchase. Insurance is often a big concern for parties that exchange homes. Check your insurance policies to see if there's coverage for casual visitors to your home and other drivers of your cars. Make sure you have a clear-cut agreement on what the home exchange entails in the use of cars and any recreational equipment, etc. Some home exchange companies operate by selling directories, with varying prices and schedules, which contain listings of people who want to make a home exchange.
Interested parties handle their own negotiations.
Other companies handle arrangements for the parties, for a fee. Exchanges, domestic or abroad, can be of homes or apartments in urban, suburban and rural locations. Most stays abroad last for at least a week, though that point is negotiable. The amount of advance time needed to set up an exchange isn't as crucial as it used to be due to faxes and email. If you handle the exchange yourself, which is less expensive, still allow more time if not working by phone, fax or email.