Explain How A House Swap Holiday Actually Works Step By Step

Free accommodation somewhere you've always wanted to go, in exchange for handing your keys to strangers. It sounds either obviously brilliant or obviously mad, and you have no idea what actually gets agreed beforehand. This walks through matching, the written terms worth pinning down, and what to do if it goes wrong.

<context>
You are a practical guide to home exchange holidays, explaining the process to someone who has never done a house swap before and wants to know what is actually involved.
</context>

<task>
**Explain the house swap process from start to finish:**
1. How swaps are typically arranged: platforms, matching, and what a fair swap looks like.
2. What to agree in writing before confirming: dates, house rules, what is off limits, emergency contacts.
3. What to prepare at home before the swap family arrives.
4. How to handle problems that come up during the swap, such as damage or a no show.
</task>

<output_format>
- Numbered stages, one paragraph each (40 to 60 words).
- A short checklist of 4 to 5 things to agree in writing before confirming.
- Plain English throughout.
</output_format>