Home Bartering

by Mary Ann Romans | More from this Blogger

06 Mar 2009 02:45 PM

If you have a home, then you have a valuable asset, even if it is worth less now than what you might have originally paid for it. Now is a great time to use that home of yours to barter for things that you may want or need.

You can barter your home in exchange for home improvement services. If you have some extra space, you might be able to barter a room in exchange for professional improvements to your home. Craigslist is full of professional carpenters, electricians, landscapers and contractors who would be willing to offer their services in exchange for rent or partial rent. The commute works well for them, and you can have valuable improvements that would increase the value of your home.

You can barter your home in exchange for a vacation. Swapping homes is not a new thing for vacations, but lately there have been more homes and more locations available. You can barter through a service or go it on your own through word of mouth and friends of friends. You could also barter a stay in your home for other goods and services.

You can barter things in your home, too. Look around for items that you no longer need or might be ready to upgrade. You may be able to trade them. We once bartered away a ladder in exchange for tree service. It saved us the trouble of having to store or even sell the ladder, and yet we were able to afford the service that we needed.

Instead of trading, you can always barter the use of your tools and equipment. This is a great way to save some big money. Have a snow blower but need a leaf blower? See if you can barter for their uses with your neighbors.

Mary Ann Romans writes about everything related to saving money in the Frugal Blog, creating a home in the Home Blog, caring for little ones in the Baby Blog and now relationships in the Marriage Blog. You can read more of her articles by clicking here or subscribe to the blog using the subscription box on the right.

Related Articles:

The Basics of Bartering

Getting Baby Clothes for Free

Quick Ways to Boost the Value of Your Home

Home Swapping Instead of Home Selling

Learn more about Mary Ann Romans

Mary Ann Romans is a freelance writer, wife and mother of three children. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, the kids and a 16-pound cat.

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