Note: This improvement currently applies only to the web search (the same update will be available on the mobile apps soon).
Everything you need to know in one minute 
If you donāt have the time (or the desire) to read everything, here are the main points to remember about this update:
Web search has been improved to better organize and refine results, especially for alternative homes displayed after the main results (what we call internally ādual searchā). This update makes search clearer, more relevant, and easier to use.
Available homes are now sorted by relevance and actual availability, with the option to view alternative dates up to 30 days before or after the ones you initially searched for. Results are also presented more clearly with a new carousel and an option to expand the search area if few homes are available.
This update is currently available on the web and will soon be rolled out to the mobile apps.
Everything you need to know in 5 minutes ā a deeper look 

Iām happy to announce the improved search results, developed by @Benjamin.HomeExchange and his team.
This improvement focuses on homes shown after the main search results, as alternatives, when fewer than 20 homes match your criteria (this is what we internally refer to as ādual searchā).
Goals of this improvement
- Relevance: Enhance the relevance of these alternative results to better match your search criteria.
- User-friendliness: Make the results easier to understand, with better organization and more transparency.
- Efficiency & satisfaction: Reduce enquiries for unavailable dates and guide you toward homes that match your needs, with real availabilityāeven if different from your initial dates (keep reading to learn more
).
How did it work before?
Previously, the dual search (alternative homes shown after the main results) would appear when fewer than 20 homes matched your search criteria. This feature often displayed homes that were either available on different dates or had an āopen to requestsā calendar, but in reality had no true availability.
Issue with user experience: These alternative results were not always well understood by members. We now want to make the distinction between main results and alternative results clearer and more understandable.
How does it work in the new version?
With this update, hereās what you can expect:
- Clarity: Main results and alternative homes are clearly separated.
- Flexibility: You can adjust your search criteria or view homes available on different dates.
- Simplified navigation: Itās easy to switch between main and alternative results.
- Transparency: You can clearly see the availability of alternative homes.
New features
Hereās exactly how the new search works:
1. Calendar
- Priority to your selected dates: Homes available for your selected dates appear first and are clearly labeled. Homes with open calendars or no availability are pushed to the bottom of the results.
- Homes with different available dates: These will also be clearly marked.
- Order of Suggested Alternative Homes:
Alternative homes (those displayed after the main search results) are now sorted in the following order:
- Homes with dates close to the ones you initially searched for
- Homes with any kind of availability shown on their calendar
- Homes without availability, but that can still be contacted outside their listed available periods
2. Display
- A new carousel: Alternative results are now displayed after the first 32 main results (when more than 8 homes are available).
- Additional search options: You can now refine your results and choose to view homes available on dates close to the ones you initially searched for (up to 30 days before or after your selected dates).
- Other available dates are clearly displayed on the home cards within the results, as shown below.
3. Location
- Automatic area expansion: For searches targeting specific cities (as opposed to countries or regions), if fewer than 35 homes are available in the selected city, the search area will automatically expand up to 40 km around the city (2 km for small towns) to provide 35 results. The results will be ranked by proximity and relevance.
Clearer āHome Cardsā
Finally, youāll notice that what we call āhome cardsā ā the small previews of homes you see in the search results ā have also been improved to give you better visibility and make your search easier:
- Actual availability periods are clearly displayed ā no need to click to check the calendar!
- Capacity is shown: number of bedrooms and beds
- If itās a private room (and not an entire home), this will also be clearly indicated on the home card
Next Steps in Search Improvements
Of course, weāre not stopping here ā Benjamin and his team are already working on whatās next. Hereās a sneak peek at what you can expect in the coming months:
- An improved overall search experience
- Access to filters directly on the map
- Full-screen map display on the web