💥 NEW: You now have a maximum of 4 days to finalize pre-approved exchanges – faster responses to streamline your planning

English Forum HomeExchange news 🆕 What's new on the platform
1

Hi everyone!

My colleague, Gersende, and her team are excited to introduce a new feature designed to enable quicker responses by setting a deadline for finalizing pre-approved exchanges.

In brief: when a host pre-approves an exchange for GuestPoints, the guest now has four days to finalize the exchange. If the deadline passes, the pre-approval will expire, and the guest will need to restart the process if they wish to proceed.

Why set an expiration deadline for pre-approvals?

We’ve heard your feedback, and we completely agree with you: quick responses lead to smoother and more respectful exchanges.

This update was designed in collaboration with community members who helped us by participating in surveys, where the majority supported a 72-hour expiration deadline (thank you to everyone who participated in these surveys :pray:t4:)

The goal is to encourage members to respond more quickly to exchange proposals and, if applicable, to finalize them within a reasonable timeframe. (Don’t worry, you’ll still have time to discuss and iron out the details before finalizing.)

Good to know

  • This new feature has been rolled out on the app for members with automatic updates enabled. It will be available for everyone else, including on the web, by the end of the week.
  • For now, this expiration rule applies only to exchanges using GuestPoints. It will be extended to reciprocal exchanges at a later date.
  • If your exchange is set to start in fewer than four days, the pre-approval will expire on the start date.
  • If the pre-approval expires after the four-day window but you still wish to proceed, you can simply restart the process and pre-approve the exchange again.

How it works in practice:

For guests finalizing an exchange with GuestPoints

  • Send your exchange request to the host.
  • After discussion, the host pre-approves the exchange.
  • You have four days to finalize or inform the host if your plans have changed.

If you need more time to finalize the exchange (it happens), discuss it with your host, who can pre-approve again when you’re ready.

For hosts finalizing an exchange with GuestPoints

  • Receive an exchange request.
  • After discussion, decide to pre-approve the exchange.
  • Your guest has four days to finalize the exchange. If they don’t, their request will expire, allowing you to move forward with other ongoing conversations.

Note: In your inbox, all pre-approved exchanges that have been pending for more than four days are now marked as expired.

Reminder: Communication is key

At HomeExchange, whether you’re a host or a guest, communication and respect are essential. No system or filter can replace open and honest communication between members.

Be transparent, ask questions, share your thoughts, and your exchange will go smoothly.

More updates coming in 2025

You’ve told us time and again that what you value most are responsive members and reliable calendars. These priorities will be at the forefront of our focus in early 2025.

That’s why we’ll soon take it a step further by introducing automatic rejections for requests left unanswered after four days, automatic calendar adjustments for repeated non-responses to dates marked as available (to help maintain your response rate), and updated response rates that better reflect these variables. We’ll share more details about these changes soon. :blush:

5 Likes
2

Do you know why houses are not visible on the platform?

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This is a great update however how will people, not in this forum, find out about it?

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We’ll be sending out a communication about it to everyone when the release is fully done on the web as well :blush:

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Hi! I’m not sure what you mean - are you not able to see the listings on the platform? Some information is accessible only when you’re logged into your account :blush:

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What I mean is that into my account says that property is live on platform but when I check in search engine there is not

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Did you used the Map to zoom in more precisely on your area ? You should contact the livetchat and an ambassador like me could check with you. Or if you want, let your id number here and I could check with you here if I find your listing

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Yes , I did and it is not listed. I tried to contact the livechat but without success . here is 2775844

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I just looked and yes you are listed.
You just have to search London, then zoom in maybe 5-6 times into your neighborood to see yourself (see screenshot below) :
. Of course you are not in first pages of results cause there are 1400 members in London, you have no exchanges yet, your listing is not verified, and it’s recorded as a private room (which doesn’t seem to be case, you exchange the whole place right ?), but you are definitively there :

holborn
holborn1344Ă—573 246 KB

Hope this helps (I answer on the livetchat when I can but we are volunteers :wink: )

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I see it now :slight_smile: but as you can check it was listed 4 days ago and till now it was not visible, I will complete all details
Thank You for your help

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Maybe you need an added communication template to finalize the exchange within a 4-day window. I would encourage a checklist and that HOUSE RULES be included. I do not like digging around to find this stuff. PLUS-- I was taken advantage of; the requestor did not remove their points request. When i converted it to a reciprocal – no points exchange-- they did not comply. This is a loophole that has to go away b/c that person has no intention of completing the HE and becomes difficult BUT still grabs my points when they force me to cancel, You have some bad actors on here! #disillusioned

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Please don’t automatically cancel requests if the owner hasn’t responded in 4 days. That will just force us to send another request to that owner to see if they were slow to respond, or really don’t have availability/desire to host.

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I have the following wish: If I have indicated that I have 3 beds, then I want to be able to filter my search so that it fits my number of beds. This means that I will not be introduced to families of 4 or more.

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Can you add a function to give properties a thumbs down so I don’t have to explore them again.
Like the reverse of favorites.

2 Likes
15

Hi, I wanted to add my thoughts on the 4 day response time for pre-approvals:
I think if time is short until a planned exchange (within 14 days or so), the allowed response time should be even shorter to allow the host more flexibility.
I am a new member though and didn’t see or took part in the survey, so I don’t know if this was already addressed and/or requested by other members.

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I don’t think the automatic rejections are a good idea. In my experience, people can take longer to answer, and in the end it can still work out. (Why) Isn’t an indicator of response tumime sufficient? Then everyone can decide themselves whether the response time is acceptable for them or not. Thank you!

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You won’t have to send a New request. Either the Host will answer later and you could talk, or he’s not and the request stays négative and you move on

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I totally agree with this suggestion from PhilaTom. I have been looking and hoping for that kind of option for a while. It would save me time and make my searches more efficient.

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Thank you!!! These are great news!!! It is understandable that people need their time but if the request an exchange, the host cannot wait for months for a reply while others are also asking!!! This is a fantastic tool. I was thinking that I should also explain in my description how it works…

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I think this is a very positive idea so home owners can be sure of their calendar.
I would also like to see a time limit for response on requests for an exchange. Not neccesarily a time limit for accepting, because sometimes there is need for discussion, checking flights, etc. Just for response to say either yes in principle… or no. I have had instanses where I have been trying to arrange to visit to a particular place but get no response. I am then in the dilemma, do I ask another home owner, or wait a bit longer. I think a week should be long enough, but I usually wait at least two out of politeness.

1 Like