# šŸ¤” Q&As: Ask the community **URL:** https://forum.homeexchange.com/c/english/community/ask-the-community/32.md [Latest](https://forum.homeexchange.com/latest.md) Ā· [Categories](https://forum.homeexchange.com/categories.md) Ā· [Tags](https://forum.homeexchange.com/tags.md) --- ## [šŸ’” Tip of the Week: How to Plan a Long-Term Home Exchange ā€“ Advice from the Community](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-how-to-plan-a-long-term-home-exchange-advice-from-the-community/21258)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [July 29, 2026, 11:09am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-how-to-plan-a-long-term-home-exchange-advice-from-the-community/21258 "2026-07-29T11:09:32Z")
Itā€™s Wednesday! :sun: And you know what that meansā€¦ itā€™s time for another tip to help you become a home exchange pro! Donā€™t forgetā€”you can find all of our previous tips anytime in the Pinned section of this category. Toā€¦ --- ## [šŸ’” Tip of the Week: Make Your Listing Photos Shine! šŸ“·](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-make-your-listing-photos-shine/20729)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2026, 10:07am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-make-your-listing-photos-shine/20729 "2026-06-09T10:07:57Z")
ā€œA picture is worth a thousand words,ā€ as Confucius supposedly said. Thatā€™s true on HomeExchange too: when browsing listings on the platform, the first thing that catches our eye is the photos. So here are a few tips to ā€¦ --- ## [šŸ’” Tip of the week: let your profile shine! ā˜€ļø](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-let-your-profile-shine/20730)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 9, 2026, 10:09am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-let-your-profile-shine/20730 "2026-06-09T10:09:47Z")
Itā€™s time for another little tip to help you become a home exchange superstar Today, weā€™re talking about your Profile. The goal? A profile that feels complete, warm, and reassuring. Because a great home exchange isnā€™ā€¦ --- ## [šŸ’” Tip of the Week: Groups! (Web Only)](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-groups-web-only/20765)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 10, 2026, 11:38am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-groups-web-only/20765 "2026-06-10T11:38:58Z")
Itā€™s Wednesday! And what do we do on Wednesdays? We read our handy tips for becoming a home exchange pro! Today, weā€™re focusing on Groups! No, not our Facebook groups, but the groups you can join on the platform based ā€¦ --- ## [šŸ’” Tip of the week: Your travel WISHLIST](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-your-travel-wishlist/20918)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 17, 2026, 11:33am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-your-travel-wishlist/20918 "2026-06-17T11:33:55Z")
Itā€™s Wednesday! :sun: And you know what that meansā€¦ time for a little tip to help you become a home exchange pro! Today, weā€™re focusing on travel wishlists! What are travel WISHLISTS for? They help you in two ways: 1. ā€¦ --- ## [šŸ’” Tip of the week: Finding a home exchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-finding-a-home-exchange/21040)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [June 24, 2026, 11:51am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-finding-a-home-exchange/21040 "2026-06-24T11:51:55Z")
Itā€™s Wednesday!And what do we do on Wednesdays? We read the little tips to become a home exchange expert! Today, a few tips to help you find the exchange youā€™re looking for . You donā€™t exchange with a house, you exchanā€¦ --- ## [šŸ’” Tip of the Week: Do You Speak HomeExchange? šŸ¤“](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-do-you-speak-homeexchange/20728)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [June 25, 2026, 12:42pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-do-you-speak-homeexchange/20728 "2026-06-25T12:42:25Z")
We say it often in this Forum, but the way we communicate on the platform (or here too!) can say a lot about us as HomeExchangers, and can really influence our chances of finding great exchanges. A little reminder: weā€™rā€¦ --- ## [šŸ’” Tip of the week: Should I ask my hostā€™s permission if I want to invite someone over?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-should-i-ask-my-host-s-permission-if-i-want-to-invite-someone-over/21127)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [July 20, 2026, 6:53pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/tip-of-the-week-should-i-ask-my-host-s-permission-if-i-want-to-invite-someone-over/21127 "2026-07-20T18:53:37Z")
Itā€™s Wednesday! And you know what we do on Wednesdays? We share little tips to help you become a home exchange pro! Today, weā€™re talking about good guest etiquette, inspired by a question recently asked in the group: ā€œā€¦ --- ## [About the Q&As: Ask the community category](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/about-the-q-as-ask-the-community-category/390)
**Author:** [@Zann.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Zann.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [July 15, 2024, 2:46pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/about-the-q-as-ask-the-community-category/390 "2024-07-15T14:46:58Z")
Hello hello! Whether youā€™re already a home exchanger or not, if you have any questions for the HomeExchange community, youā€™ve come to the right place! Some questions you might have: How should you finalize an exchangā€¦ --- ## [Non members listed on HE site](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/non-members-listed-on-he-site/22980)
**Author:** [@ChrisAngel](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/ChrisAngel)\ **Replies:** 13\ **Last updated:** [October 17, 2026, 11:12am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/non-members-listed-on-he-site/22980 "2026-10-17T11:12:05Z")
Christopher Angel Oct 14, 2026, 15:24 GMT+2 Home exchange is currently listing some properties and members as active that are not. I confirmed my suspicions with sampling a few listings. I found some that had been membā€¦ --- ## [How does a private room, or hospitality exchange work? šŸ āœØ](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/how-does-a-private-room-or-hospitality-exchange-work/22901)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [October 16, 2026, 12:12pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/how-does-a-private-room-or-hospitality-exchange-work/22901 "2026-10-16T12:12:26Z")
Have you just joined the group, or do you have questions about how hospitality exchanges work? This post is just for you! Letā€™s get straight to the point: with this type of exchange, you donā€™t leave your home empty. Youā€¦ --- ## [How do you think homes should be listed in search results?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/how-do-you-think-homes-should-be-listed-in-search-results/22961)
**Author:** [@Annika](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Annika)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [October 14, 2026, 8:03pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/how-do-you-think-homes-should-be-listed-in-search-results/22961 "2026-10-14T20:03:29Z")
Hi everyone, in another thread the question came up about according to which criteria homes are being arranged in the search results. Of course the dates and number of guests should match,but apart from that: What wouā€¦ --- ## [Does the search algorithm strongly prioritize new members/listings?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/does-the-search-algorithm-strongly-prioritize-new-members-listings/22311)
**Author:** [@Andre-NOR](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Andre-NOR)\ **Replies:** 4\ **Last updated:** [October 10, 2026, 2:44pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/does-the-search-algorithm-strongly-prioritize-new-members-listings/22311 "2026-10-10T14:44:08Z")
Iā€™m curious about how the HomeExchange search algorithm works, and particularly whether newer members or newer listings receive significantly more visibility in search results. During my first year on HomeExchange, I coā€¦ --- ## [Cancellations?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cancellations/20354)
**Author:** [@alikodjak](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/alikodjak)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 6, 2026, 3:26pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cancellations/20354 "2026-10-06T15:26:17Z")
Hi there. I just canceled a stay for the first time and learned that itā€™s up to the host whether they refund points or not. That seems quite fair. However Iā€™m wondering if anyone knows how it works. Is the host given an ā€¦ --- ## [Bad review for cleanliness after paying cleaning fee](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/bad-review-for-cleanliness-after-paying-cleaning-fee/22486)
**Author:** [@Richiarata](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Richiarata)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [October 5, 2026, 12:19pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/bad-review-for-cleanliness-after-paying-cleaning-fee/22486 "2026-10-05T12:19:31Z")
I just spent a week in someone elseā€™s home and obviously did my best to leave the place as tidy as when Iā€™d arrived. I didnā€™t clean it because there was a ā‚¬50 cleaning fee. Then I saw that the host left me two stars for ā€¦ --- ## [Help fighting a bylaw infraction. Do GuestPoints have monetary value?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/help-fighting-a-bylaw-infraction-do-guestpoints-have-monetary-value/10999)
**Author:** [@robt](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/robt)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [October 1, 2026, 6:55pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/help-fighting-a-bylaw-infraction-do-guestpoints-have-monetary-value/10999 "2026-10-01T18:55:00Z")
We were recently fined by our local municipality for using HomeExchange.com. We were informed that points exchanges are considered short term rentals and are not permitted for our property because points are considered ā€¦ --- ## [Managing guest Wi-Fi alerts and gaming utility downloads during an exchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/managing-guest-wi-fi-alerts-and-gaming-utility-downloads-during-an-exchange/22744)
**Author:** [@zehal0674](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/zehal0674)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 6:50pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/managing-guest-wi-fi-alerts-and-gaming-utility-downloads-during-an-exchange/22744 "2026-09-30T18:50:54Z")
Hi everyone, we are currently hosting a lovely family for a two-week exchange, but yesterday their teenage son asked for help because our router security blocked a mobile utility download. He was trying to troubleshoot aā€¦ --- ## [What happened to HE community chats on facebook?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/what-happened-to-he-community-chats-on-facebook/22716)
**Author:** [@Yulia](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Yulia)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 30, 2026, 4:32am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/what-happened-to-he-community-chats-on-facebook/22716 "2026-09-30T04:32:34Z")
Do they exist in some other reincarnation somewhere? --- ## [Long term exchanges](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/long-term-exchanges/2158)
**Author:** [@p13guy](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/p13guy)\ **Replies:** 143\ **Last updated:** [September 29, 2026, 4:48pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/long-term-exchanges/2158 "2026-09-29T16:48:47Z")
Hello HE community! Looking to start a discussion amongst members interested in long term exchanges. Wondering what other members consider to be a long term exchange? 3 weeks? 3 months? Have you done an exchange of ovā€¦ --- ## [When to send directions to guests?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/when-to-send-directions-to-guests/22587)
**Author:** [@Tara](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Tara)\ **Replies:** 3\ **Last updated:** [September 23, 2026, 7:15am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/when-to-send-directions-to-guests/22587 "2026-09-23T07:15:39Z")
Hello, Iā€™m new to HomeExchange, and have already made a couple of bookings within the first few days, both as a host and guest, which is exciting - wasnā€™t actually expecting it to work that quickly! My question is how faā€¦ --- ## [šŸ’” Did you know? What happens to the feedback you share here?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/did-you-know-what-happens-to-the-feedback-you-share-here/22496)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 1\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 9:44pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/did-you-know-what-happens-to-the-feedback-you-share-here/22496 "2026-09-21T21:44:11Z")
Do you ever wonder what happens to the topics and comments shared here? Please know that your questions, suggestions, criticisms, testimonials, ideas, and feedback, everything you share in this group is valuable. Most imā€¦ --- ## [Trouble viewing photos on listings](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/trouble-viewing-photos-on-listings/9966)
**Author:** [@Sydney](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Sydney)\ **Replies:** 33\ **Last updated:** [September 21, 2026, 9:19am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/trouble-viewing-photos-on-listings/9966 "2026-09-21T09:19:56Z")
Does anyone else have trouble viewing all photos when viewing a listing? Very, very often I can see only every third or fourth pic when I try to scroll with the arrows. I even use the right click to ā€˜Load imageā€™ or ā€˜Opeā€¦ --- ## [Cleaning Fees are not appropriate](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cleaning-fees-are-not-appropriate/1488)
**Author:** [@Jasper](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Jasper)\ **Replies:** 195\ **Last updated:** [September 20, 2026, 7:44pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cleaning-fees-are-not-appropriate/1488 "2026-09-20T19:44:34Z")
Greetings fellow Exchangers! Weā€™ve been using this home exchange website for 8 years before Ed Kushins sold HE to Guest2Guest ā€¦ before ā€˜balloonā€™ Passports ā€¦ before Guest Points ā€¦ and when cleaning fees were not permitteā€¦ --- ## [šŸ’” Did you know? How HomeExchange guarantees work and why home insurance is still necessary](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/did-you-know-how-homeexchange-guarantees-work-and-why-home-insurance-is-still-necessary/22507)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 16, 2026, 3:49pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/did-you-know-how-homeexchange-guarantees-work-and-why-home-insurance-is-still-necessary/22507 "2026-09-16T15:49:09Z")
What you are responsible for as a guest If you are the guest and cause damage, you are responsible for the first ā‚¬500/$500, and HomeExchange may step in for damage above this amount. A useful tip: before relying on thisā€¦ --- ## [Cleaning? How much? What to do? How to handle it without fees?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cleaning-how-much-what-to-do-how-to-handle-it-without-fees/3400)
**Author:** [@zoechowber](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/zoechowber)\ **Replies:** 72\ **Last updated:** [September 15, 2026, 9:12am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cleaning-how-much-what-to-do-how-to-handle-it-without-fees/3400 "2026-09-15T09:12:22Z")
I am new to HE, but my sense was that (to copy the title of a popular recent post) cleaning fees are not appropriate. I thought HE asks that no $ change hands. Iā€™m not sure of this, and Iā€™m happy to hear other views. Buā€¦ --- ## [Unable to report an issue](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/unable-to-report-an-issue/22321)
**Author:** [@aaltman22](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/aaltman22)\ **Replies:** 6\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2026, 4:38pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/unable-to-report-an-issue/22321 "2026-09-07T16:38:28Z")
Hello. Iā€™m wondering if anyone else is having an issue reporting an incident. We unfortunately had some damage at our home caused by our last guests and I have been trying to report the issue to Home Exchange for the pasā€¦ --- ## [Cleaning Person ?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cleaning-person/22177)
**Author:** [@canuck](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/canuck)\ **Replies:** 2\ **Last updated:** [September 7, 2026, 3:38pm UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cleaning-person/22177 "2026-09-07T15:38:50Z")
There is an amenity in the home description called ā€œcleaning personā€. The problem is that this seems very ambiguous to me. Does it mean that a professional cleaning person cleans the house upon departure of the guest orā€¦ --- ## [Do you speak HomeExchange?](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/do-you-speak-homeexchange/22291)
**Author:** [@Melissa.HomeExchange](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Melissa.HomeExchange)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 9:07am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/do-you-speak-homeexchange/22291 "2026-09-02T09:07:48Z")
When we first join HomeExchange, many of us have said, ā€œIā€™d like to book/rent your homeā€ Itā€™s completely normal. We often come from a world of holiday rentals and hotels. But within the HomeExchange community, members ā€¦ --- ## [Home insurance ](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/home-insurance/22287)
**Author:** [@Lelgib25](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/Lelgib25)\ **Replies:** 0\ **Last updated:** [September 2, 2026, 5:02am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/home-insurance/22287 "2026-09-02T05:02:54Z")
Hi- just curious if people in USA have added anything/something on to their homeowners insurance policy to cover accidents in their home? Thanks in advance. --- ## [Cleaning fees](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cleaning-fees/20193)
**Author:** [@richrll](https://forum.homeexchange.com/u/richrll)\ **Replies:** 24\ **Last updated:** [August 31, 2026, 8:52am UTC](https://forum.homeexchange.com/t/cleaning-fees/20193 "2026-08-31T08:52:31Z")
Anyone else think cleaning fees are out of control? Here in California, cleaning fees are usually $200.00 or more and it seems at least half of the listings charge one. If I do request a home with a cleaning fee I let tā€¦ [Next page](https://forum.homeexchange.com/c/english/community/ask-the-community/32.md?page=1)