Now that links are disabled in messages, we find it more difficult to share our house manual with guests.
You suggest making a house manual here: Our HomeExchange Guides - HomeExchange. We have made a google doc, which contains all the information about our house, including how to get in. We share ours using a google docs link, this works well because we can easily edit it, and no need to print anything out! Now we are forced to use Whatsapp and share the link there. I imagine many others now face the same issue, and by taking the chat off the platform, users are less protected.
I suggest either that there are whitelisted links (google docs, drive, *.pdf, etc.) or even better, homeexchange could provide a house manual function which deals with the authoring and sharing of a house manual between hosts and guests. Right now it feels like this essential functionality has been forgotten about, and with the link blocking feature we are forced into unsafe workarounds.
Hello.
Most members use whatsapp during the exchange to communicate faster and send the manuals in it or by email.
Anyway I know the staff is studying the possibility to host files within the website in the next future so maybe it will be possible soon.
According to the HE members’ code of conduct (both SAS and INC), it is a serious violation to redirect communications to another platform. This is detailed in para 4: Serious Violations (Grounds for Suspension or Closure of Account).
@Etienne although many users are now forced to use email or whatsapp to share their house manuals, it is both against the CoC (which could technically result in account termination) and a member safety risk (off-platform communication is no longer moderated by the HE platform).
This link blocking feature needs to be urgently reviewed, or the Code of Conduct adjusted to allow for the interim sharing of home manuals.
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Indeed the code of conduct seems too strict on that, I’m exchanging for 15 years and it has never been a problem. I will forward it to @Melissa.HomeExchange for when she’ll be back from holidays
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