It was by reading your feedback that we began to reflect on our current algorithm, and realized it could be improved. We wanted to align with the values and beliefs that we uphold at HomeExchange, and to which we know you are also attached.
What has changed about how my home's GuestPoints are determined?
We’ve refined the system to ensure your home's GuestPoints are a better reflection of the things that matter most when arranging a trip. The new system will now take better account of:
The location of the home: the popularity of large cities of international significance will now be reflected. Downtown apartments, which were sometimes attributed less GuestPoints, will be reassessed. This will be automatically considered in the recalculation, and your home's location will no longer be self-declared.
Capacity: From now on, the number of beds will be limited based on the size of the accommodation, to prevent the system being abused.
Amenities: eco-responsible choices (bicycles, electric charging stations), comfort and “little extras” (elevator, swimming pool, etc.) will be taken into account more, as will the willingness to accommodate pets and children.
Will my existing GuestPoints still be valid for planning exchanges?
Absolutely! Your current GuestPoints are safe and secure, and ready to use for your next exciting exchange! We've been very careful to avoid big, sudden shifts for each home. We've adjusted things just enough to ensure a fairer system without diminishing the GuestPoints you already have.
Why did the recommended GuestPoints for my home change?
Most homes will see their recommended GuestPoints per-night increase, which is fantastic! This means the refined system fully recognizes what matters most to you, which should lead to more exchange requests.
This figure has not been automatically updated, so you will need to check your home listing to update your GuestPoints-per-night directly.
What can I do now to make sure my home is assessed correctly?
The most helpful thing you can do is to simply review and update your home listing! Ensuring all your details are accurate is the best way to make sure your GuestPoints truly reflect your home’s appeal.
Please take a moment to confirm:
- Your home's exact size and guest capacity.
- All your key amenities, especially highly-searched features like whether you have ""public transport access"" or whether your home is ""pet-friendly.""
If you’ve updated your listing and still have questions about the amount of GuestPoints attributed to your home, please know we are here to help! We can explain what went into the adjustment and offer tips on how to optimize your listing to showcase its best features.
While we hope that you are happy with the changes we have made, we would love to hear your feedback. You can share it with us here and it will help us make future improvements to your home’s GuestPoints.
We will continue to improve how GuestPoints are assigned to homes and your feedback will help us shape any future improvements made to the algorithm.