Swap Stories with Alban: What About My Valuables?

In our latest Swap Story, we spoke with Alban, an experienced home swapper who has swapped homes across multiple continents.

This time, we asked him one of the questions we hear most often from first-time home swappers:

“What do you do with your valuables during a home swap?”

Alban: “In general, I just put everything I want to keep private in one specific place.

As crazy as it sounds, I simply tape those drawers shut. Then I tell my guests, “Everything that’s open, you have access to. The rest, I’d prefer to keep private.”

I also make sure to clear out the wardrobes and leave plenty of drawer space, so my guests have room to unpack and feel at home.

But honestly, if you’re inviting someone into your home while you’re staying in theirs, it’s all based on mutual trust.

In my experience, people are incredibly respectful. They’re not interested in spending all their time looking through your belongings — they’re much more interested in getting out and exploring the place they’ve traveled to.”

Home swapping isn’t about giving strangers unrestricted access to every corner of your home. It’s about setting clear expectations, preparing your space thoughtfully, and trusting someone who’s doing exactly the same for you.

If you’re considering your first home swap, remember that you can always keep a few things private while still making your guests feel welcome.

👉 Ready to experience it yourself? Explore homes and start matching on Swaphouse.io.