Latest Activity...
I didn't hear of them, Paul, but could look into them. We certainly need a solution.
I'll get back to you.
Suzy
Suzy, I'm curious if you've looked into Pagadito for credit card processing? If so, any thoughts about them? If you haven't seen them, please take and let us know. The do CC processing for Central America and some Carribean countries and would allow our users to processing in their native currencies for Vrbo and direct bookings (same as Stripe and all the others). We are planning to integrate with them soon. Would this get you where you need to be?
Whew, it's time to take a break from your NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) project ✍️ and read today's product update describing our November 11th release with 4 updates!
And unlike your novel's plot, this product update is not fiction, it's all for real. Read below the fold for more information about our enhanced Progressive Web App and sleek new (not just a pop-up) modal designs.
OwnerRez's Progressive Web App is a great option for users that are on the go yet still need to be responsive to their guests. And unlike standalone apps that you install and have to keep updated, you don't have to download a new version of the OwnerRez app whenever we improve the software, which is just about every day! You instantly get the most recent version as soon as we deploy it.
OwnerRez mobile booking displays have had some enhanced details for quite some time. And we have expanded those enhanced details to now display on both inquiries and quotes. Newly expanded mobile displays include:
Learn more about it by reading our Progressive Web App support article.
Modals, much like pop-ups, are components that pop up on a user's screen. The key difference is that modals are user-initiated to complete an action or specific workflow. Over the past year, all OwnerRez app modals have changed to a sleeker looking design with the user being directed to initiate an action with a set of buttons on the bottom of the modal to complete or cancel that action as shown below. Even though the 'X' to close is gone from the top right corner, you can still click off the modal or hit the Esc key to close them!
Fix Bedroom Issues on Listing Import. We've improved the Vrbo listing imports and Airbnb syncing to more accurately import and sync extra rooms with beds.
Fix Report Field Data Joining to Files When Field Definition Isn't File Type. We noticed that when a user created a custom booking text type field storing numbers that duplicated the ID of the file, that the report fields column displayed the name of the file instead of the number entered in the field. This bug has been corrected.
I don't have any issue with the increase to my pricing for one property.
But I do have a quirk like some others have posted which is I was going to do a few different configurations of the one property - whole property, half the property, a room only etc so I'd have multiple listings but they are all for the one property just in different configurations.
The pricing isn't really workable for me for those multiple configurations when it's still the one income stream. Not the end of the world, but maybe something to think about. If I actually had five properties the updated pricing would be fine as my income would also be 5x what it is now.
Thank you.
Thank you Ken. Looking forward to 2023 and the changes ahead.
Keep up the great work.
Warm wishes,
Suzy
We are investigating additional payment processors that would support Panama and several other countries where we don't currently have a payment processor; hopefully that would be available in the coming year.
As you noted, OwnerRez is not currently fully multilingual - but it gets better all the time, and more functionality will continue to be added on an ongoing basis. I don't have an ETA specifically for rental agreements, but it will occur.
Hi Paul, thanks so much for the update and for being so transparent in your explanation. The projected changes and updates are exciting, especially for Property Managers. I only have one property, but as you explained about costs and inflation etc, everything is going up. (And no doubt, so are vacation property rental prices).
I would still be happy to see a couple of things:
1. I have no real integration with VRBO except the ical. I know it's difficult because we are in Panama and there is no Stripe or similar payment gateway here to integrate with, but it's frustrating that the Channel Manager doesn't work terribly well.
2. My website is in 2 languages right now and will be expanded to two more shortly. When are you planning to get a translated version of something as simple as the Renter Agreement form available in more than just English?
The breadth of features you support, the stability of the service, and the caliber of OR support are all top notch. Even with this pricing update the value you are providing well exceeds its cost.
Thank you!
....especially when there are other features you want/need that have been "on the list" for years that still don't exist. This is frustrating.
Tim, I'm curious - if you could boil it down to a couple of things, what are the main issues you want/need that aren't being worked on?
I only have one property and I have been paying $55.00 per month. Is this correct?
Hi Nona, it looks like you have both the PM and Hosted Websites modules turned on in your account. If you look at your account billing page, each invoice shows the details of what you are charged for. Your base fee is $35. The PM and Websites modules are adding $10/month (each) to your bill which is why it's $55. It doesn't appear like you are using PM for anything, so you could turn that module off and save yourself some money each month.
Will this new pricing be online in OR somewhere so I don’t have to refer back to this blog?
Hi Sea Charmer! You can see the new pricing immediately by using the main Pricing Calculator or reading our Costs & Fees support article. Both are already updated with the new pricing and apply to new customers.
OwnerRez's support system that is purely email based without any form of phone support by an applications/support engineer is inefficient and often results in delays for issues to be resolved. Sometimes, it is just easy to explain the issue over a phone call as opposed to numerous email exchanges.
Hi Mukta! Thanks for your feedback. We actually do have a fulltime Engagement Team that does in-person phone and video calls every day of the week. Send in an email and we'll get you on the call-back schedule for sometime this week or early next. Our Engagement Team is expanding and we look forward to doing a lot more phone/video support in the future.
I only have one property and I have been paying $55.00 per month. Is this correct?
Will this new pricing be online in OR somewhere so I don’t have to refer back to this blog?
The new pricing increases should definitely provide a better support model. Unfortunately, the blog does not touch upon this. OwnerRez's support system that is purely email based without any form of phone support by an applications/support engineer is inefficient and often results in delays for issues to be resolved. Sometimes, it is just easy to explain the issue over a phone call as opposed to numerous email exchanges. There are also instances where issues just slip through the cracks without a resolution. If phone based support is not in the plans, then there should at least be some form of a helpdesk system manned by support personnel with a guaranteed service level agreement. Also, future roadmaps should consider providing a better, modern and more refined user interface!
I have 2 properties and I was paying for the PM module just to get the Portals features.
These things considered, my monthly bill would go up 10%, which is reasonable considering inflation.
Not sure if you've considered this, but I would happily pay for a full year instead of paying monthly as long as there is some discount involved.
Chris, sorry, my mistake, you are correct.
Well worth it for the features and support that your team includes. Thanks for being a great company and continuing to give us great software!
Folks with 3 properties are getting a 90% increase, from $42 to $80/month...
Correction: from $42 to $93/mo, a $51/mo increase 121%!
The price for three properties went from $42/mo to $70/mo. You must have additional features selected in the pricing calculator if you're seeing $80 or $93/mo.
Glad to see the portal feature. That's been an issue with my business partners who were used to looking at pricing and occupancy on our previous system (while not having the ability to mess stuff up). Looking forward to the granular access and read only features for them and the Staff/Cleaner function. Would be great to have a report/portal access that says "Property A guests stay from B to C with D amount of occupants" but does not list names or any more confidential data, booking source, etc..
Looks like me monthly price is going up, but the additional features and integrations with Google VR look like they'll justify the increase. At 5 properties now, adding a 6th soon.
Thanks for maintaining a stellar product and company. I'm always recommending you in various STR groups online.
Ryan
Correction: from $42 to $93/mo, a $51/mo increase 121%!
Folks with 3 properties are getting a 90% increase, from $42 to $80/month -- that's well well beyond any inflation / cool new features justification.
In my case I use the 3rd listing for occasional rental of 2 condos together as one, so there isn't a full 3rd listing worth of revenue for me to support such a large increase.
Perhaps those who have 3 separate properties feel differently.
Doubled the price for my 2 properties, but still worth it considering how much time it saves me.
Only thing I'd ask you to look at is the price differential between full website hosting and the Wordpress plugins. Somehow a full website is worth only $5 more than the plugins? That seems like a mismatch between the relative value and the price difference.
Ouch. While I get there are additional features along with the price increase....it hurts for people who don't want/need those features....especially when there are other features you want/need that have been "on the list" for years that still don't exist. This is frustrating.
Yikes, my new pricing will be a 50% increase per month.… From $50 to $75 per month for 2 properties. Other platforms offer $100 off annual subscriptions and other promos to help balance their pricing.
$13/month increase for me with 2 properties. Not the end of the world because the platform is excellent. However- 3 things... 1) the VRBO API connect is causing problems with that platform and costing me bookings (same with dozens of other owners I know). 2) Referral are not generating any kickbacks. 3) we should be getting some kickback from the damage deposit collection; doing this might help to reduce the cost increase. Overall the platform is great. To be honest you could increase the cost a lot more and it would still 100% be worth it. You guys do great work. Keep it up!
Thanks for the detailed writeup and explanation of everything. Still fantastic software as a reasonable price.
The addition of being able to allow my PM to see guest information will be a great! I never liked emailing a guests ID to them and now this will solve that problem.
Looking forward to the upgrades!
I so appreciate your thoughtful and detailed explanation, along with the roadmap of expected developments and updates. I value y'all and appreciate the ways you make my work and life easier!
This is great! Thank you for staying on top of things!!
I would like to see something in the works as far as notifications. Especially with VRBO. The only way I ever know if I have a booking is by checking my email. It would be nice to be able to set a notification sound in OZ that would notify me when an inquiry/booking was just made.
