Trust is one of the biggest obstacles in making your home available for a swap or a stay-over. Swappers get the chance to stay across the world without having to pay for accommodations in this very old alternative to vacationing. But despite the advantages, in the end all parties are inviting an absolute stranger into their homes, not knowing their habits, intentions or the state they will return the home in.
Barcelona startup Knok is a home-exchange community that helps you find the perfect exchange partner. Developed by lovers of travellers and passionate founders of the home exchange site are also huge supports of the sharing economy. Veteran home swappers themselves, the co-founders felt the current platforms for home exchange were slow, time-consuming and often led to frustration (members that never answer when you contact them, search engines that don’t work, etc.). As a result they created their very own platform, one they would like to use themselves.
Knok charges a membership fee to be in the trusted social home exchange network (35.7 euros for three months or 94.8 euros for one year), but unlike many of the competitors in the space the price includes insurance. The insurance covers damages outside of the residents own personal home insurance.
The platform then attracts the perfect swap partner by analyzing educational background and interests on sign up to recommend a best fit. If you’re about to travel the world, Knok is a great way to shave costs on accommodations and experience a home away from home.