💡 Tip of the Week: Do You Speak HomeExchange? 🤓

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

We say it often in this Forum, but the way we communicate on the platform (or here too!) can say a lot about us as HomeExchangers, and can really influence our chances of finding great exchanges.

A little reminder: we’re all different…

As always, there are all kinds of HomeExchangers, and that’s a wonderful thing. We’re all different, and what matters most is that each of us finds exchanges with people who are the right fit.

There’s no such thing as a “good” or “bad” HomeExchanger.

And most importantly, let’s remember that we were all new once. Whether here in the group or on the platform, let’s be kind and patient with people who are just getting started and aren’t yet familiar with the HomeExchange vocabulary 🙏🏽

If you’d like to continue the conversation, here’s a lovely article on embracing our differences:

…but we do share a common language

So yes, let’s celebrate our differences, while also remembering that some words don’t really fit the spirit of HomeExchange. After all, home exchanging is more like welcoming future friends than making a transaction.

Instead of saying…

❌ “Book” or “reserve” an exchange, try:

✅ “organise,” “finalise,” or “arrange” an exchange. Because you’re not simply booking a stay — you’re connecting with another member and getting to know them.

❌ “Rent” or “rental” as in: “I’d like to rent your apartment”, try:

✅ “stay in” or “exchange homes”, as in: “We’d love to stay in your apartment”

❌ “Pay” as in: “I’d like to pay with GuestPoints” try:

✅ “offer” or “give” as in: “I’d be happy to offer GuestPoints for the exchange”

❌ “Is it available?”, try:

✅ Introducing yourself! For example: “Hi! My partner and our two children, Charly and Thomas (4 and 10), would love to stay in your lovely home…”

You get the idea 😊

So… do you speak HomeExchange? 🥰

Feel free to share any tips we may have forgotten in the comments!

2

Share why you are coming and show that you have read the listing when you write your message especially if there are requests to tend plants, animals, or specific restrictions in a listing.

3

And add why you choose this home specifically. Especially in popular places, members that can choose won’t choose you as a guest if you write: 'We want to go to X. Your home is in X. Will you let us stay?"

4

That’s interesting I was thinking more along the lines of why, because it’s my son or daughters graduation, we have a special event here etc. or we want to meet family for the holidays. Whereas you must get a lot of because we so want to visit your city.

5

I don’t, but I often read that others do. :grin: But yes, what you mention is also good, of course.

6

I love to read personal reasons for why people would come to my area, it makes me understand their motivation. It’s a lot better than writing “we want to spend our holiday in X.”

You can also overdo motivation. I’ve recently received a request where they wrote they would leave my place in a better condition than before. I found that quite offensive to be honest, as I really love my place the way it is (and none of my guests reviewed that it wasn’t clean enough).

7

Yes, you know their motivation for your particular location/home and feel a little motivated to make it happen. I too have received the better than they found it message. Upfront it makes me think they are trying to impress (please choose us we’ll find dirt you didn’t know you had) but after the fact it feels a bit insulting (we found some things you didn’t pay attention to). I try to chalk it up to language or over enthusiastic people but I hear what you are saying.