I recently completed my first stay in a HomeExchange home. Prior to this, I have hosted two sets of guests. Both times I made sure my home was pristine and the beds were made with fresh sheets. I was surprised when I arrived at my first home exchange for the beds not to be made in anticipation of our arrival. Please tell me what you have found to be the norm.
The norm is to have the beds made and the home ready for your visit. In 63 exchanges Iāve never not had beds ready. However this also depends on your hosts situation, maybe they had guests before you or it was a second home that they couldnāt travel to.
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Iāve also never had my bed not made in al my exchanges. However, I do always talk about these things before we swap. I never take anything for granted and communicate about many things. Mostly I just ask yes - no - questions. 
This way, we all know what to expect and there are no surprises.
Hello Baybeekat
20 years ago, when i started to swap homes, the advice was to do the bed when arriving and strip it when leaving.
Very early, i discovered it was not the right way to manage.
It is very difficult to make the bed after an exhausting 24h trip door to door in a house you donāt know and where you donāt know the drawers.
So to avoid that , i have never been to a place were beds were not done but once and the host told us before arrival where to find the sheets.
I also prepared the beds once for the next guests because the host had no solution and sent her some photos.
WE once had made up our own 5 beds, to find we had to do 5 beds also at the swapplace. Since then we leave the bedding on the beds to have an early start. But when ther is enough time I do the beds. both sides should do the same
Ada
I have been swapping homes for more than 20 years.Normally, you arrive to find the beds made, and when you leave, youāre expected to have washed the linens. But in reality, whatās ānormalā is simply whatever both parties agree on. In my opinion, it depends on the specific circumstances of each exchangeāhow many people are traveling, whether youāre going by car or plane, if youāre leaving very early in the morning, or if the host is returning late at night, etc.
In my case, if itās a reciprocal exchange, I go with whatever the other family prefers. And if itās a points-based stay, I leave the beds made and ask that they do the same when they leave. Or at the very least, I ask that the linens be washed and left out to dry in the sun, so theyāre clean and dry by the time I return.
If Iām staying at someoneās place for just a few days and Iām driving, I offer to bring my own bed linen and towels to make things easier. And if the guests are flying in, I also provide beach towels so they donāt have to carry them.
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Iāve done 60+ exchanges in 6 years. Beds have always been made when I arrive and Iāve never ( yet) been asked to wash sheets before leaving, just strip the beds. I was asked once to remake the beds for the next guests ( but not wash the sheets).
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Discuss it upfront, I have beds made up and then expect people to put the second set of linen on when they leave. Wash and dry all towels. Some people have different expectations. Obviously sofa beds and such would likely be made up by the guest
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I have found it in all kind of ways, including āSorry I didnāt had time to laundry, so could you do it ? ā said when I already had arrived!
I sometimes send a note before (if I have more pain than usual).
āLovely guests,
Iāll be placing fresh towels and everything you might need right on your bed. As I live with chronic pain, I would truly appreciate it if you could make your own bed during your stay. Please let me know if thatās okay for you!
/Miā
Because I live with stress, pain, and the aftermath of trauma, even just shaking a duvet over my head can still cause pain and tears. Itās a deeply ingrained reaction from constantly hearing I was worthless, that I couldnāt even manage to make my own bed right. But I am healing, when I am open about it and therefore more often meet a nice reaction than a bad reaction.
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