Hello. This is my first year on Home Exchange. I have been very successful in requests and stays at our home and have already accumulated over 8000 points in a little more than 6 months. But I am having a very difficult time using those points to secure a home for our travel. I have tried booking with several months notice and have not been successful. In some cases I don’t even get a response.
First we tried booking a place at Lake Tahoe back in March for a long weekend this July for friends participating in a swim competition. I think with there being 8 people it limited the options and summer is very busy for Tahoe, many HE members choosing paid services. Second we wanted to use our points to get a house for our family visiting us at Thanksgiving. Only need a place for 4 adults. Tried several homes but none were available. We even searched places that were a second home in case holidays people stay home. Now looking for a place in Paris for the French Open next year. Again 4 adults (2 couples) and Gabe put out requests and only one has responded so far.
Any advice in successfully using points for travel would be greatly appreciated. Have tried joining the Facebook group but am waiting for approval.
Thanks!
Hi bevbenson, I am sorry you are having such a hard time finding a location to stay.
Firstly, a tip: don’t talk about booking! HomeExchange is very different from booking sites like AirBNB. People are not renting out homes they only have for renting out, they are lending their home, the place they actually live in (well, mostly, there are also holiday home owners), out to other members. They have to be sure that those people are trustworthy. The more positive reviews a member has, the more trustworthy (s)he becomes. So the more positive reviews you get, the easier it gets. In your case, getting your first review as a guest will help, too.
HomeExchange is not about booking places. A blue calendar doesn’t mean one has to accept you as a guest. There are many reasons they can say no: you want to come for a shorter period; they haven’t updated their calendar; they like to swap with experienced members; they … HE is like a dating site, you have to like the people you are swapping with.
Now there are a couple of things you can do to get into swapping:
- Try a short local swap first. Approach members that are not too far from your location. Tell them you’ll trat their home as if it were your own or better and that you’ll leave the place in the same order as you found it. If you make requests for a reciprocal swap or for a stay for points, make them personal. Say why you want to come to this home specifically, find something in common with the home owner and/or tell them something about their home that you like.. Tell them with whom you are coming and what for. And if you want a mutual swap, let them know why your home would be attractive for them.
- Post in Facebook groups and/or on the forum and tell members you’re looking for guests and/or mutual swaps. Specify what you are looking for. As a host and as a guest, the more flexible you are on data and the duration of the stay (and of where you want to go), the higher the chance you will succeed.