Hi everyone,
I wanted to share my experience and see if anyone else has noticed the same thing.
I’ve been a HomeExchange member for several years and my listing ticks all the boxes they officially recommend: high-quality photos, verified account, excellent response rate, regularly updated availability. And yet, listings with less than a year of membership, fewer beds, and a lower response rate consistently appear above mine in search results.
I contacted support and got a standard reply about the official criteria (photos, verification, response rate, etc.). But when I pointed out that my listing outperforms those criteria compared to listings that rank higher, I got no real answer.
The only variable I can’t compete with is account age — and it seems to carry far more weight than HomeExchange officially admits.
Has anyone else experienced this? Is account age a hidden factor in the algorithm that they don’t publicly disclose?
Would love to hear your thoughts.
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:
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how recently a member finalized or approved an exchange
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how recently the calendar was updated
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response rate over recent weeks/months (rather than lifetime response rate)
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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:
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keeping your calendar updated regularly
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replying quickly to all messages (even declines)
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pre-approving exchanges whenever possible
We really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience and ask the question 
Hi,
Thank you for your explanation.
However, I have to say that my experience doesn’t really align with what you describe. I am already doing exactly what you recommend: I keep my calendar updated, I reply quickly to all messages, and I actively engage with exchange requests.
During my first two years on the platform, I received a high number of inquiries. Now, despite doing the same, or even more, based on your current criteria, I am barely receiving any contact at all.
In fact, I reached my 3-year mark around two months ago. Just before that, I was contacted by 3–4 members in a short period of time, and since then, nothing. This sudden drop is difficult to understand.
How is it possible that before, when I was less active according to these criteria, I received many more requests, and now, following all the recommended practices, I receive none?
I would really appreciate a more concrete explanation, as the current situation feels inconsistent and quite discouraging.
Best regards,
Gemma
Hi Melissa
Excuse me hijacking this thread but it kinda fits with the OP.
Is there any data collected on listing views so we can get a handle on traffic to our property? If so, are reports available online? For the marketing folk amongst us seeing metrics/trend would be super valuable.
Thanks!
The site has evolved in the last years, and is growing fast.(X2 in the last 3 years). Did you check concurrence around you ? Maybe you can improve your listing to have more success and going back to first places ?
Hi, I understand that the platform has grown and that competition has increased. However, after reviewing similar listings in my area, I still believe my flat stands out compared to many others. I have also made sure to follow all the criteria and recommendations provided. For this reason, I am unsure why I am not receiving more contacts beyond what I have already explained.
Could you share your listing eventually ? Maybe we could give you some feedback which might help ?
Here my listing, all advice will be welcome.
Dear Gmma,
Your listing is very attractive and in a touristic city.
As far as i am concerned, i would not dare to contact you because :
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the calendar is opened GPs only and i always look for a simoultaneous or non simultaneous reciprocical exchange in first.
I generally i always find one. -
In your favorite destinations , there are only 2 destinations with exact dates which are different
So only members of these cities can find your listing with the reverse search.
2 destinations show you are not opened to travel at a short or long distance or not interested in the world.
So only people wishing to come to your city for GPs only will contact you.
At least your calendar should be opened to any type of exchange.
Imagine some swedish or a berliner wanting to do a reciprocical with you?
Thank you very much for your answer. From what I understand, you are saying that it is much easier to do a reciprocal exchange? I may be wrong, but I find it much easier to do an exchange with GP. Because you don’t depend on someone wanting to come to your house with the same needs that you offer. Until now I have always done GP and I have had plenty of demand, I don’t understand why not now
Your listing seems great. Just something is wrong with the terrace : it doesn’t count in the surface of the apartment. Example I have a terrace of 15 square meters + a garden of 800 square meters and a garage with table tennis, but it’s not included in my home surface. If the inside is 120, your surface should be 120.
I’m not sure it will change something regarding your requests, but it should be corrected.
For me, the reason is probably the concurrence and less international travelling with high cost of flights or fuel for the cars (+ the news of Barcelona with some protests against touristes which were heard in the news).
Thank you for your answer. I will make the change.
I referred some friends to HomeExchange this year, they live in my same neighborhood, and they were contacted. I don’t think this is what you mentioned, but thank you anyway.
Again, the only logical conclusion, given all the facts, is that in big cities like Barcelona, where there is more competition, the website prioritizes homes in their first or second year by giving them more visibility. In fact, if you search for a place to stay in Barcelona, around 90% of the homes that appear on the map initially are from first- or second-year members. It would be very easy to verify whether I am mistaken, I encourage you to try.
If I am not mistaken, this is very unfair to members like me, because we have no chance of being seen, even if our home is nice and we do everything we are told to do.
I do not say that reciprocical exchanges are easier gmma.
Only why i would not contact your listing at first even though it is very attractive.
I use GPs only if i cannot find an exchange.