We're Trading Spaces!

No, not the show - is that still on anymore?

A few months ago we signed up for Homeexchange.com. It is essentially a website that links up homeowners. You post an ad about your house, where you want to go, and then other people contact you (or you contact them) to see if you can make a match in dates, times, and locations!

We paid about $100 to sign up and then the exchanges are free!

Right now, we're mostly interested in exchanges throughout California since flying is expensive and we don't have much vacation time.

Anyway, we made a match with a family who has a vacation home in the Russian River (ahhhhhhh)! They love coming to the city and exploring. We had already made plans for a vacation for this weekend, so our house would be empty - so we'll stay at their place later in the summer.

But - the stress.

Bubbs and I mostly only fight when we have company coming over.

Our house is mostly always only 15-20 minutes from being really well presentable (vaccuum, put away dishes, clean up toys), but when people are coming over all my insecurities come out.

We live in a 50 year old house that has had pretty close to zero upkeep until we moved in (it was a rental).

Anyway, I think I'm insecure about things most people wouldn't notice. I don't think I notice them at other people's homes, but I am sure I'll be judged. Do you notice a little paint on a doorknob? A closet door that stays open just a little bit? Trim that needs painting? A wobbly lampshade? Exterior paint that has scuffs on it?

So...we've had a long list of things to get done before the exchange happens.

So far we've:

1) Organized all the "common" closets




2) Organized the kitchen cupboards


(I didn't take pics of the food cupboards, but they are WAY better).

3) Completely re-vamped the living room and dining room


4) Wrangled the towels and toys in the bathroom



(the toys will get cleaned up before they get here)



5) Re-hug the headboard in our bedroom


6) bought new sheets for all the beds
(I bought some online that were just super thin despite the high thread count - then I went to ross and bought four sets of high threadcount white sheets that ROCK for 1/4 of the price).

What we have left to do:

1. Re-stock our paper towels
2. Clean out the fridge and freezer (the freezer is stocked to the brim but we can transfer most stuff to our chest freezer downstairs)
3. clean out our bedside drawers
4. Clean out my closet (Tim's is always neat and tidy, mine is always a mess).
5. Put away the toddler potty equiptment
6. Finish writing up our "house key" - like what to do if you get locked out, how to use the remote controls, etc.
7. Set up our "guest" station (probably on the dining room table?) with San Francisco maps, guidebooks, history, passes to the zoo and aquarium, etc.

Oh - and then, you know, pack for a three day trip/wedding :)

********

I think it helps a little bit that I was just away for the weekend at a rental house that was just fine. I was looking for those little details but we were having such a great time I didn't even notice.

We're having a housecleaner come the day before they arrive to do the scrubbing of windows and floors and showers. We'll change the sheets right before we leave the house, and cross our fingers that it all works out!