One universal rule of house exchange is that guests should leave the house in the same condition in which they found it. This means that if the home was clearly professionally cleaned prior to your visit, either engage a house cleaning service to return it to its pristine state or roll up your sleeves and scrub. Of course, common sense is called for here. If a tree branch broke through a window in a windstorm just before your arrival, you would of course let the owners know and, with their approval, get it fixed before you leave. The owners should l foot the bill.
The best way to prevent your guests from inadvertently damaging something in your home is to leave them instructions as to how things work. Every home has a few quirky appliances, a door lock that requires a bit of English or a pool skimmer that needs emptying to work well. Make a folder with pages of clear directions for operating your home safely and effectively. You will realize how essential instructions can be when you can't get that upstairs window to shut in your exchange home.
If you enjoy home-exchange vacations, make friends along the way by always keeping the promises you make to your exchange partners. If you promise they can use the community swimming pool during their stay at your place, make sure you clear that with the community and leave the key. If you have promised to water their houseplants on a specific schedule during your stay, stick to it Try not to make promises you can't possibly keep, such as guaranteeing daily sunshine. If you demonstrate your trustworthiness, you will gain a reputation in your exchange groups as a great partner, and people will seek you out for more exchanges.
