A year without travel plans doesn't have to mean starting over later. HomeExchange separates a member's account from their active membership, which makes stepping away for a year, then coming back, straightforward.

How Does Home Exchange Work?

Do My Home and My Membership Work Separately?

Yes. A member's home on HomeExchange and their annual membership operate independently: the home page is the profile a member has created, while the membership is the $235-a-year plan that unlocks unlimited exchanges for 12 months. Letting the membership lapse doesn't automatically delete the home page or the account behind it.

How Do I Stop Receiving Exchange Requests Without Canceling My Account?

Without touching the membership itself, a member can remove their calendar availability or temporarily unpublish their home. This stops new exchange requests from coming in while keeping the account and its history intact, which is useful for a short break rather than a full year off.

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- Unpublishing a home is reversible any time and doesn't affect the underlying HomeExchange account.
- This is a separate option from letting the annual membership itself expire.

What Happens If I Just Let My Membership Expire?

Turning off auto-renewal means the $235 membership simply isn't charged again at the end of the current year, and no new exchanges can be arranged until it's renewed. This is the more complete option for a member who knows they won't travel at all that year, rather than just pausing incoming requests.

What Do I Keep If I Skip a Year?

A member's profile, home information, reviews from past exchanges, and GuestPoints balance all stay intact even after the membership expires. None of it needs to be rebuilt or re-verified when the membership is renewed later: it's exactly as it was left.

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- Reviews earned from previous exchanges stay visible on the profile the entire time membership is lapsed.
- A GuestPoints balance built up through past exchanges carries over without expiring when membership is renewed.

What If I Already Have an Exchange Booked Past My Renewal Date?

If an exchange is already finalized for a date after the current membership's expiration, auto-renewal stays active automatically rather than lapsing. This keeps the membership, and the guarantees tied to it, valid through that already-confirmed stay, even if the member had otherwise planned to skip the year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a fee to pause a home or skip a year of membership?

No separate fee applies to unpublishing a home or letting a membership lapse; a member simply pays the $235 annual fee again whenever they choose to renew.

How do I reactivate my membership when I'm ready to travel again?

Renewing the $235 annual membership reactivates full access to exchanges, picking back up with the same profile, reviews, and GuestPoints balance as before.

Will I lose my GuestPoints if I don't renew my membership?

No. A GuestPoints balance is preserved even while a membership is expired and carries over once it's renewed.

Can I still browse homes while my membership is expired?

The home page and account remain visible, but arranging a new exchange requires an active membership, so browsing with the intent to arrange one means renewing first.

So, is skipping a year an option? It is. A HomeExchange membership isn't a use-it-or-lose-it subscription: everything built up over past exchanges is waiting whenever travel plans pick back up.

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