Does the search algorithm strongly prioritize new members/listings?

English Forum Community 🤔 Q&As: Ask the community
1

I’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 completed 13 exchanges as a host and 2 as a guest. My home received a lot of interest and regular requests throughout that year.

I have kept quite a lot of availability in my calendar, and I currently have availability listed all the way towards Christmas. I regularly update my calendar, and I have also recently updated the photos and listing as I have renovated parts of my home.

The home is in an attractive location, with good access to the city centre as well as convenient parking. I have responded to every request, normally within a few hours, and I have only received positive reviews both as a host and as a guest.

I’m also very flexible and happy to open my home to guests in exchange for GuestPoints, even when I’m not travelling myself. But of course, that depends on actually receiving requests from people interested in staying.

However, something rather strange happened: almost exactly when I renewed and paid for my second year of membership, the requests stopped.

I realise this could simply be a coincidence, but the change was remarkably sudden considering how much interest I had during my first year and that my availability, flexibility and activity on HomeExchange have not decreased.

Does the algorithm give a significant visibility boost to new members or new listings that later disappears?

Has anyone else experienced a noticeable drop in views or requests after their first year, despite keeping their calendar updated and remaining active?

2

Hi!

Thanks for raising this — we completely understand why this can feel confusing.

Our search ranking system was rebuilt in 2025 and now uses more than 60 different signals to determine ranking. Account age is one of those factors, but it’s actually a relatively minor one compared to more recent activity and search compatibility.

Some of the strongest signals include:

  • how recently a member finalized or approved an exchange

  • how recently the calendar was updated

  • response rate over recent weeks/months (rather than lifetime response rate)

  • compatibility with the search itself (dates, guest count, GP budget, distance, saved homes, etc.)

This means that a newer listing can sometimes appear above a long-standing one if it has been especially active recently.

It’s also important to note that search results are personalized, so the order you see is not necessarily the same order another member will see for the exact same destination and dates.

The best ways to positively impact ranking are:

  • keeping your calendar updated regularly

  • replying quickly to all messages (even declines)

  • pre-approving exchanges whenever possible

We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and ask the question :slightly_smiling_face: I would also recommend adding a link here to your listing so that other members can check your listing and perhaps give you some advice - if you want it of course :slight_smile:

You may also find this FAQ article helpful: https://help.homeexchange.com/hc/en-us/articles/360000730577-How-are-the-search-results-ordered-and-how-can-I-appear-higher

3

I see the answer, but I can’t make sense of the connection. This happened when I marked my two-year anniversary and renewed my membership. I live in a city that is popular with tourists. I have always responded quickly to requests. I’ve declined a few, but I hosted 13 guests during my first year. My calendar has been open and flexible, and I keep my photos and description up to date. I can’t understand why interest would drop from high demand to zero requests just because I’ve been a member for a year.

Does any one have any tips for my profile?

4

That’s a really interesting observation, Andre-NOR. I am in my second year of membership, too, and I am also receiving a lot fewer requests than around this time of the year last year. It never occurred to me that it might have something to do with how my flat appears on search results. I usually use the map version of the search because I want to know where the listings are, but that’s probably not what others do.

I also think the criteria you list, Melissa, are unfair. You write:

Some of the strongest signals include:

how recently a member finalized or approved an exchange

how recently the calendar was updated

response rate over recent weeks/months (rather than lifetime response rate)

All of these three criteria, which I understand are strong for appearing in the top spots of lists, favour those people who already had lots of requests recently. So when I, and Andre, are getting fewer requests than before, these criteria actually work against us. Fewer requests to answer, to react to equal to being ranked down and therefore receiving even fewer requests. It’s a downward spiral.

The only solution I can think of for myself now is that instead of opening my calendar for the whole of 2027 already, like I have, I should go online more often and make little changes to my calendar. Changes that don’t mean anything because they do not correspond to actual changes in the availability of my flat. Which is silly to be honest.

5

Annika, I think you’ve raised a very important point. If recent exchanges and responses are strong ranking signals, fewer requests could lead to lower visibility, resulting in even fewer requests. A downward spiral.

Over the past few weeks, I’ve experimented with my listing. I’ve used the app daily, updated my calendar, photos, description and amenities, lowered my GuestPoints below the recommended value, reduced my minimum stay to three nights and opened up plenty of availability. Interestingly, I had increased both my GP price and minimum stay last year specifically to reduce the number of requests!

Despite these changes, when I searched for my home in Bergen on an available weekend, it didn’t appear until page four of the search results and map.

Then I received a Christmas request, which I pre-approved within 30 minutes. Shortly afterwards, someone added my home to their favourites, followed by another request. It could be a coincidence, but none of my other changes had produced any noticeable increase in activity.

I also find it interesting that many members complain about sending dozens of requests with few positive responses. Personally, most of my requests as a guest have been accepted. I carefully select suitable homes, write personal messages and only contact one host at a time.

Perhaps the algorithm contributes to this imbalance? If already popular listings receive most of the visibility, those hosts may become overwhelmed with requests while other reliable, available hosts remain practically invisible.

And I completely agree about calendar updates. Why should someone who has already entered accurate availability months ahead need to make meaningless changes just to remain visible?

Melissa, does the algorithm account for this potential feedback loop? Does it distinguish between inactive members and active, flexible hosts who simply aren’t receiving requests?

Ultimately, shouldn’t the goal be to help members find available, responsive hosts rather than continually favouring those who already receive the most attention?