When most parents hear, "Hand over the keys, Dad," it's usually for use of the family car. Julie and Joe Lazzara took it one step further, with daughter and father swapping houses to save money and time.

The idea brewed in the spring when Julie, 27, found herself staying a few nights a month at her parents' Scottsdale home instead of driving to her own Chandler house after working at Notre Dame Preparatory High School.

While Julie was driving from Chandler to Scottsdale each day for work, her dad was driving from Scottsdale's McDowell Mountain Ranch to north Chandler. Joseph Lazzara owns Papa Joe's Video Cuts Barber Shop, a business he's had in Chandler for 24 years.

The idea to switch had its appeal for everyone, from saving money to saving time to putting fewer miles on each homeowner's Honda. The homes are similar: three-bedrooms, about 1,500 square feet, with a community pool.

But dad Joe still hesitated, suggesting a one-month trial. That's when mom Nancy stepped in and put everything in motion - for a permanent change.

"She said, 'You're getting too old to commute. This will be closer to the barber shop,'" Joe said.

As gas prices began to climb, the family members sat down and made plans. During Julie's spring break, they moved clothing and a few personal items. At first, they didn't move furniture.

Though gas prices were a major factor, the commute for both daughter and father clinched the deal.

"That was wearing on me to begin with, how early I had to get up. Traffic was horrendous. It was 30 miles. Without traffic it should take like 40 minutes, but it was taking me an hour and 20 minutes each day. I was getting up early, getting home late. On top of that as gas was creeping up," Julie said.

In fact, it looks like more people are thinking along the same lines as the Lazzaras. Several homeowners on Craig's List are seeking house swaps for the same reason Joe and Julie did theirs: to reduce a work commute amid skyrocketing gas prices.

Though he made the commute for more than two decades, Joe Lazzara said he's surprised by how much freedom he's enjoying with his extra time.

"It wasn't too bad until gas started going up," he said of the commute. "Now it's fabulous. I can take extra time and relax and be on time. At first I thought I would resent it, but now I love it.

"All the money I'm saving from the commute I'm putting into (Julie's) house to make it more comfortable." His changes include new cabinets and an epoxy floor in the garage.

"I have a little extra time now. I can do gardening. We're putting in a patio and doing landscaping," he said.

Julie said she has time to swim at the community pool and during the school year she was able to run home to eat lunch, rather than packing a lunch or going out.

For now, Julie and Joe retain ownership of their respective houses. But Joe said he's so happy with the change, he may ask Julie to make it permanent. Julie is getting married in the fall and isn't sure yet what would work best for her and her future husband.

"People are very confused whenever we say we switched houses. I get weird looks," Julie said. "But now more people say, 'I wish my parents would switch houses with me.'"