Is there a platform (service) to exchange apartments between indie hackers (digital nomads)?
Hello everyone,
I am currently a web/mobile developer and I would like to explore the world while working remotely. Currently I rent an apartment and do not want to leave it definitively. I would rather swap my apartment with another digital/remote worker for some months. I was looking for this type of service and found only generic platforms to exchange your apartment with anyone. I would rather exchange with people like me (with my community).
What do you think about this generic idea? Should I try to validate this idea? Anyone here interested?
Try guesttoguest.com
I don’t think a lot of leases allow this so it could be a legal issue as well. Cool idea though
No money will be used for the swap... It is a bit like swapping with a friend.. But yes it could be a legal issue... I was not thinking about building a platform like Airbnb... I would rather build a newsletter with all nomads who want to exchange their apartments.
Homeexchange.com
lovehomeswap.com
There are a bunch of smaller ones in Australia though all are marketed at vacationers not DN people.
Yes I found those platforms when I googled it. But it is different than what I want to do... They are only short terms swap
Long term you're going to run into lease issues. Also it is very risky letting someone else stay in a place long term that you are responsible for. Risk will be a big barrier to adoption.
Yes... You are right. I was thinking about building kind of small community instead of building something like Airbnb. Also I thought about swap for 1, 2 or 3 months max.
I sublet my apartment when I want to travel and work abroad for long time... I do not have any problem to let other people using my apartment... But to be honest I do not have expensive and luxury stuffs in my apartment.
I think there is a platform offering this already.
I think it was Couchsurfing (as an extra), but not 100% sure.
Mhhh not really what I would like to have. What I want is a real exchange. Like for example if you live in NYC and I live in Paris. During 2 months you come and live in my apartment while I live in yours at the same time.
Got that, but I think Couchsurfing or some other service had exactly that in their offer too. I remember seeing it on some site.
Sounds interesting. But for a such platform to work like you expect, it would need a huge number of active users.
Your best shot would be, I think, to Airbnb your apartment while you are gone.
If Airbnb users can't meet your expectations, there would be even less chance such platform would do any better.
Problem with Airbnb is that I have to wait that someone rent my apartment during the period I want to travel.
With a platform like I described, I swap directly with someone who wants to "travel" during the same period.
I think if you can see a listing of people who wants to swap their apartment for specific period, that can give you inspiration to swap with them. Logic is a bit different from Airbnb
It's actually a pretty interesting idea. To validate this, maybe you could start a weekly mail list! It'd be great to see how it goes.
That's a really good idea. Any suggestion to promote the mail list?
Well, indiehackers would be the first place wouldn't it?
Then twitter?
Sounds like Airbnb but for techie folks, I like!
I have a couple of houses in Mexico. hope exists something to become part of
Not really like Airbnb...
If I swap my apartment with you, I continue to pay my rents and you continue to pay yours. This way you can continue to manage your income while living away.
Seems like it would be very complicated to get right. How would you manage who pays what rent?
If I swap my apartment with you, I continue to pay my rents and you continue to pay yours. This way you can continue to manage your income while living away. You do not think it could work like that?
I am just being the devils advocate here haha. What if I pay my rent and I am abroad but the other person does not pay their rent? Just something to think about.
You've got a point. This is why I think we should build a "small" community of digitals nomads with apartment to swap :-)
Also another point, if the person stop to pay their rent it will have problem with his landlord. The swap duration should be between 1 and 3 months.