Is a One Month Home Exchange Worth It? What I Learned Living in Seattle

I just returned from a one-month home exchange, swapping my San Francisco condo for a house in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle.  Lately, I have been working remotely more often, and trying to build in more slow travel.  As I get older I appreciate trips where I can experience a place instead of rushing through a things-to-do list.  When the opportunity came up to swap homes for a month, I wanted to test what that kind of travel actually felt like. 

I ended up exchanging homes with a woman in Seattle and her dog, and I brought Pepper along for the adventure.  If you are thinking about trying Home Exchange, another home-swapping platform, or simply testing life in a different city for a month, these are the biggest things I learned from my first month-long home swap. 

 Related Post: My First Experience with Home Exchange

A Month is Long Enough to Experience Everyday Life – Not Just Vacation

Part of me wanted to test out what life would be like in Seattle instead of San Francisco, and a month-long home exchange gave me enough time to do that in a way a vacation never could.  I tried different grocery stores, walked my dog in different neighborhoods, and learned about local dog-friendly things to do.  I also realized that Seattle requires a lot more driving than San Francisco. Things are more spread out than I realized, and the traffic I heard about is no joke. 

I also had the opportunity to explore the neighborhood I stayed in more than I ever would on vacation.  I spent the month in a house in Ballard and had the time and space to test out several different breweries, have multiple dinners on Ballard Avenue, and go to the Ballard Farmers Market multiple times. 

You Learn To Appreciate Your Own Home – and the Place You’re Visiting

Being away from home, and staying in one place for a month gave me perspective on my own home.  I missed my daily walks in Noe Valley.  The woman that stayed in my home told me how friendly people were in my neighborhood, and it gave me a greater appreciation for what I already had.  It made me think about the parts of my daily life back home that I  may have been taking for granted. 

You Can Test a Completely Different Lifestyle

For me, this meant living in a four-bedroom house with a yard instead of a two-bedroom condo.  Testing out life with a real yard instead of just a patio is a huge difference for a dog owner, and I fully appreciated the yard.  If you are able to work remotely, this is an excellent way to test out a different workstation, and find what you really like in a home office or remote work setup. 

Another thing I was interested in testing was having a real summer.  I know that may seem odd, but San Francisco is known for its cold, foggy summers, so I wanted to experience one of the famous Pacific Northwest summers I heard were amazing.  The long sunny days, summer events, and July energy in Seattle were incredible to experience. 

Slow Travel Lets You Experience More Than the Highlights

One of the things I love most about slow travel is having the time to experience more than just the highlights of a place.  I had been to Seattle several times before, so I didn’t feel like I had a tourist checklist to go through, but I did get to experience many things that I haven’t on previous trips. 

I took day trips to Whidbey Island, Deception Pass, and Bainbridge Island.  I also took Pepper on morning walks to several different parks and went back to the Ballard Farmers Market multiple times.  I even spent time downtown exploring buildings I was curious about, and even revisiting some of my favorite architecture in Seattle, like the Central Library.

None of these were rushed, must-see itinerary items, they were the kinds of everyday outings that made the month feel like actually living somewhere. 

A Month Naturally Includes Real Life

Most people don’t plan to do some of the more boring life tasks on vacation, and the thing about a month-long exchange is that it naturally has some down time built in because after a couple of weeks, you need to do some real-life chores. 

A long exchange requires slowing down to do laundry, grocery shopping, cooking, cleaning, and time just relaxing at home.  It begins to feel more like real life than just a trip. 

 

You Experience a Place as It Actually Happens

Having more time in a place means you are more likely to be there when local events happen naturally.  During July in Seattle, I experienced World Cup festivities, including a march to the stadium, Fourth of July celebrations, and the Ballard Seafood Fest.  I even did a 5k Wine Run with one of my best friends – an event I wouldn’t have traveled for, but I got to do it because I stayed for a month.

I also saw the city in different weather.  Most of the month was sunny and warm, the perfect Seattle summer, but a few days brought clouds and rain.  I appreciated having enough time to experience more than one version of the place.    

So… Is a One-Month Home Exchange Worth It?

A week lets you visit a city, and a month lets you understand it.  By the end of the trip, I had a much better idea of what life in Seattle would be like.  If you’re curious about living somewhere new, or just want to try a different lifestyle, I can’t think of a better way to test it than a month-long home exchange. 

Even if you are not thinking of relocating and simply want to experience a place more deeply, a month-long home exchange can be a reset without requiring a traditional vacation.  If you have the opportunity to work remotely for a month, or if you can take a month off, I highly recommend trying a longer exchange. 

Month Long Home Exchange FAQ’s

Is a one-month home exchange too long?

No, a one-month home swap is not too long.  I found that after two weeks I felt very much at home.  At three weeks I was a little homesick, but then the fourth week felt great, just enjoying my new temporary life.  It felt like a good timeline to really get to know a new place. 

Can you work remotely during a home exchange?

Absolutely.  Most homes you will stay in are someone else’s home, where they probably work from home occasionally and have a home office setup.  When you plan an exchange you can see if the home you want to stay in has a dedicated workspace and internet.  Make sure where you are staying has a setup you can work in. 

Can you bring a dog on a home exchange?

Yes!  I have brought my dog Pepper with me on several Home Exchanges.  When you search for a home, there is an option to filter out homes that allow pets.  You can also decide if you want to allow pets in your home. 

After my month in Seattle, I did a comparison on if San Francisco or Seattle is better for dogs.

How do you find someone willing to swap for a month?

This one is a little tricky.  On Home Exchange, you can search calendars for availability, but people don’t often have entire months open.  If this is something you are interested in, I recommend messaging people through the platform and being clear that you are looking for a month-long exchange.  I have a had a few requests like this come my way, and because I was open to the opportunity, I said yes to the exchange in Seattle. 

Final Thoughts on a One-Month Home Exchange

After spending a full month in Seattle, I can say that a one-month home exchange is absolutely worth considering if you want to travel more slowly, test a different lifestyle, or simply experience a city in a deeper way. It is not the same as a vacation, and that is exactly what makes it valuable. You get the highlights, but you also get the grocery runs, neighborhood walks, workdays, quiet evenings, and small routines that help you understand what life somewhere else actually feels like.

If you are curious about a longer home swap, I would start by choosing a place you already know you like, being honest about your must-haves, and giving yourself permission to settle in instead of trying to see everything. For me, the month was a reminder that travel does not always have to be fast, expensive, or packed with plans to be memorable. Sometimes the best trips are the ones where you get to live a little differently for a while.