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Yea, with satellite it's tough. Streaming only makes sense in fast internet, which we have. I can handle 20 TVs with their fastest service. Service wise, they shouldn't have to worry about the fire sticks. And there is at least 2 TVs per unit. It has been proven simple so far.
Each person needs to work through what works for them.
When facing a $65 VS. $700 monthly bill for 6-7 units, it is worth it for some people...
It all big DEPENDS. In my location you cannot get streaming anything, Our internet is over satellite, and I pay a fortune just to get bare basics, which will NOT allow to stream. Also, I have 4, 6, 8 TVs per property. Can you imagine trying to stream on 8 TVs plus a few kids with their Ipads at the same time? Third thing, is we host multi gen families, and in offseson- groups of older adults. I do not want or need to be on tech support 24X7 and have frustrated renters who cannot figure out those Rokus and Fire sticks (even if I had streaming internet). I practice KISS method... which may not be cheapest per-month, BUT saves me money in time and aggravation - everyone knows how to operate simple DISH stuff and they have channels that they expect. I had to add Hallmark package around Christmas because I didn't have it (go figure) and 2 separate families in 2 separate cabins were requesting it.
I am sure hotels could go to Rokus and stuff as there is streaming internet where they are located. But they do not. Why? - Simplicity, I am sure. KEEP IT SIMPLE.
This is scary! Exactly what I am working on this week. Part of my reason for streaming, is antennas don't work here and I have a lot of units.
Consider researching a bulk package from Dish TV. It requires 10 TVs - drops) min, and works out to about $10 per television monthly. And it requires a person to set it up for you who does not work for Dish TV. Of course, I assume you have to pay for equipment initially.
You only need the sports on one TV per unit. Can you get sports via antenna? Window? Rooftop? Google to learn about finding towers and antenna types.
There is also Roku channel, free and premium, but less simultaneous streams. May work better on Roku TV?
PlayStation Vue is what I had selected. I have not actually done anything yet, but my plan was to be implemented in six properties with a total of about 15 TVs.
One was a 32in RCA 720 TV with a built-in DVD player from Walmart. That would be 1 / property. It would have a fire stick, a selection of DVDs, and a few movie/TV Show streaming apps such as xumo, Tubi, etc (see Google play store)
I would have a larger TV without a DVD player that would also have a fire stick in the streaming apps as above
I would also have a large TV without a DVD player and a fire stick that would have the streaming apps and it would also have PlayStation Vue.
Therefore, I figure the 5 streams across 6 property TVs should suffice. Or 1 property may get Philo or something.
There is also Philo, Sling and Roku channel (which has free and premium selections)
Keep in mind 720 VS 1080 VS 4k and how much bandwidth it pulls. All my TVs will be 720. For larger TVs, that works if far enough away.
Hi,
I'm wondering what other owners are providing for TV service. I have been providing DirecTV via an actual satellite dish for my 4 units, but I feel like the time for this is gone. We do have 30 MBPS download internet even though we are very rural, so I think we can stream well enough.
A few tenants have mentioned to me that they enjoy watching local sports (Boston area) at the lake, so I found out that Playstation Vue streaming service is perfect: it has NESN and local channels, and you can stream on 5 different TVs on 1 account (I have 4 units). BUT, the interface is counterintuitive and glitchy on Roku, which is what the TVs there have.
I'm willing to buy all new TVs if I can get to a setup where:
- Every unit has 1 remote that entirely controls the TV and streaming TV
- The interface is easy to use and the same in all 4 units
- Service can play on 4 TVs for $75 or less without the renter needing to log in or do anything confusing like that
- Has NESN and local channels
Anybody have a great streaming TV setup their willing to share?
cheers,
-JJ
.ps I got most of my info about the streaming services from here:
https://thestreamable.com/channels/nesn
"Guests that cause Owners indirectly or directly to be delisted from a third party booking agency agree to pay a delisting fee."
If I challenge a fake service dog, I will probably film it! Part of me is thinking to go to all pet friendly to avoid the risk, and raise prices and deposits
Thanks for the links! This has a been a big topic of discussion in one of my FB groups. Particularly with owners concerned about Airbnb's policies that exceed both laws and their own stated policies. I removed my listing from Airbnb last year because they unilaterally side with a guest on any dispute regardless of evidence and it looks like ADA compliance for a non-service dog claiming to be a service dog (even for a private homeowner) is not outside of their reach.
Here is a a summary of ADA requirements that I found helpful as well: http://www.bhgrlaw.com/blog/housing-provider-obligations-under-the-fha-and-ada-do-i-need-to-allow-service-assistance-animals-in-my-short-term-vacation-rental/?fbclid=IwAR1txec3dzVVVPUa_naUFaWIbat8O6WG59CriIOTnewRjwWCxZRI5MpmYQA
As you are aware, fake service dogs are becoming a problem for VR owners. But it can be difficult to separate the fakes from the real. It is worth spending 15 minutes watching the following two youtube videos. It tells you what to look for to eject a fake dog.
Start at minute 7:30 for valuable part
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DY4rKPdRiY8
Watch the whole thing - tells you ways to vet a real service dog.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2y9CMp6jBcY
Emails to guests can be customized using email templates (Settings > Email Templates). That page has a list of system-defined events and then custom ones you can create (to send with triggers). You would find the template and then create one to override the system one.
If it's a user facing alert (ie. a notification OwnerRez is sending to you as the OwnerRez user) it may not be able to be customized. Most of those are hard-coded.
How can I modify alert email content?
Ross, check out OpenEdge too. We just started supporting them, and we've been impressed with their team. Fast customer service and a meet-or-beat guarantee on rates.
The downside of PayPal is that you don't have a card on file (in OwnerRez) so the guest has to be reminded to make payment or security deposit every time it's due. And so there's less that can be automated.
We also now integrate with Yapstone/VacationRentPayment too. That was just released about 10 days ago. However, your existing "HomeAway Payments" account will not work. Yapstone says that it's a different side of their business and only works with HomeAway. You'd have to get a Yapstone regular account.
I am getting close to needing a payment processor (except for the HA/VRBO annoying requirement for Yapstone)
- I think you HAVE to offer PayPal for those who use it all the time (like me) and don't want to enter their CC info.
........Anyone use and have opinion on using PayPal for VRs - good, bad?
- They recommend Lynnbrook. What is the current situation (Gateway fees, % charge) these days, using OR?
We don't have an hourly rate, but maybe we should :-)
Send an email to help@ownerreservations.com and lets set up a call.
I'm a woman on the edge right now. I would pay someone -- ANYONE -- $100 an hour to sit on the phone with me and help me go through each section to explain the parts I don't understand. I've put roughly 35 to 45 hours into trying to learn it, and I've come a LONG way from where I started, but after three months of paying for the subscription, I still can't fully use or understand the site.
Any takers???
Yes, thanks!
We don't have dedicated owner's closets in every unit, so I think I'm going to end up buying a shed, 3 sets of sheets for every bed, and some mouse-proof boxes to store the extras in. I think my cleaner will be good with this plan.
thanks,
-JJ
We are in TN smoky mountains and everyone here provides lines, towels , and starter supply of detergent, TP and paper towels. In some cases owners buy their own linens. I do not - I have them provided by housekeeper's company. Housekeepers are laundering linens offsite and it is included in costs of cleaning. If you buy your own linens, you need to have several sets so that housekeepers can change them and take soiled ones offsite to launder at their convenience.
Not sure if this would even be an option for you but ...... When I had a private lady clean my condo in Myrtle Beach, I purchased 3 entire sets of linens for all the beds / baths / kitchen. She kept set one locked in the owners closet for emergency use, set 2 was in use by the "current" guests and set three was taken home by her and washed / folded at her leisure.
She would just exchange sets 2 and 3 every turn over which in my case is every Saturday.
We used Amazon to deliver replacements to her home when needed.
AirBnB emailed me the other day that as of July they will be requiring all rentals to provide linens. I contacted my independent cleaner, and he's willing to do the extra work, but we need a good system. I have 4 rentals from 1BR to 4BR on a lake in a very rural area.
* no washer/dryer on site
* limited indoor storage space
* 15m to a sketchy looking laudromat
* 30m to a decent looking laudromat
Has anyone designed a good system for similar conditions?
TIA,
-JJ
Hang in there! I started using OwnerRez about two or three months ago. We have five properties, and I've been using spread sheets and quicken since 2004. We have a "book it now" button on our website, and the ability to run reports and keep track of things much more easily. Our guests like it. It has taken some getting used to, but I consider it the best business purchase of 2017, possibly the decade!
There is a learning curve, but once u figure out, it is well worth it. I trued out 2 other priducts before choosing ownerrez. My life is sooooi much easier now. Getting ready to add 3rd property, and without this tool and having fulltime job it would be a tremendous challenge. Ownerr keeps me sane
Thanks for the check list Chris. My brain has hit a wall! everytime I open the program lately, I just stare at it, not sure what to do next, so I end up doing nothing. Hopefully this will help me break through.
It's worth it, keep going ;-) It will save you lots of time in the future and if you are able to get rid of ABB and VRBO you will have an independent means of taking bookings, etc... plus it looks professional.
Wendy
Thanks Chris I will try it out. Very much appreciated.
I just put up a setup checklist article here to help out: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/setup-checklist
Hopefully that'll give you some ideas of where to go.
The best way it to get to that quote process and send yourself a quote so you can see what the guest will see. That'll give you ideas about what you want to change and let you know when you've got it set up as you want to be able to take bookings.
Lauren, We are in the very same boat!! Feeling pretty overwhelmed....... I just keep reminding myself it will be so good if I can get it all configured. Just started last week. But frankly, I have a return guest willing to be my guinea pig and I can't even formulate the process well enough to know what to send her. sigh
But we will make it!! eventually......
It does take some time and effort to get set up, but once you get set up it will save a bunch of time in managing a central calendar, having everything sync together, and setting up scheduled/triggered emails like pre arrival welcome emails etc. that work for all listing sites. Being able to accept direct bookings and have e-signed renter agreements, automatically scheduled second payments, security deposits, etc. is a big help too.
I'm clearly biased but I think its well worth it for even 1 property. We've got larger users, but also have many users with just one property. That's how OwnerRez started back in the day, actually -- myself and some colleagues started with one vacation rental and needed software to manage it. Being software guys, we started working on OwnerRez.. and the rest is history ;-)
To be honest, our features are often ahead of the help docs, so if you have questions ask away and we'll get them answered. you can post on here or send an email to help@ownerreservations.com. If you've got more detailed questions, let me know and we can schedule a call to walk through everything and get you on the right track.
I have one property. I am on AirBnB and VRBO and have my own website. So I have the 2 week trial and I still don't get it. This seems very confusing and I don't think I am just that dumb. It doesn't seem very intuitive. I have tried to see where there are help docs and slug my way through them, but honestly is this for the big timers and it's just too much for the little guys out here?
I emailed the rep over there who had responded to my initial inquiry and he said that interchange-plus is definitely something they can (and do) offer their larger accounts. If I grow to the point that it would make a material difference in my costs, he indicated we can talk about it at that time.
He made it pretty clear, though, that there isn't much they can do about discounting the plan on lower volumes (either the monthly fee or the discount rate) because the VR industry is considered a "high-risk" industry in terms of underwriting. I understand and don't disagree--I'm just both seeking to make sure I get a good deal now (whether that is favorable pricing or a clear explanation of why paying a slightly higher price is worthwhile) as well as ensuring that if I do make this a long-term relationship, things can work out well downline.
Hi Chris,
Thanks for weighing in!
I think Lynnbrook is definitely worth it for the low end depending on how much you value your time. The aggregators (Stripe, PayPal) you are comparing them to make your life difficult when it comes to:
- reconciliation (fees taken out with each disbursement)
- don't understand the VR product and may freeze funds or drop your account (this has happened to users)
- won't fight disputes/chargebacks for you because See Previous
Paying a small monthly fee is nothing compared to losing a $500 or $1k booking because the aggregator sided with the guest. You can recoup that by filing in small claims court but again - what is your time worth.
As an analogy, many users gladly pay $10-35 per booking for damage protection that they rarely use. Why? Because it's worth the extra couple hundred bucks a year when that moment strikes and the guest breaks a window and cancel their credit card.
Question - have you asked Lynnbrook about interchange plus pricing? I'm wondering if they already have that. They seemed pretty amenable to most of the stuff we've talked to them about. It's possible that they already do that, if specifically asked.
Paul W said:
For instance, vacation rental owners in North Carolina tend to have all American customers who use American credit cards, while vacation rental owners in Florida have a lot of international customers who use cards that are more expensive to the processor. The North Carolina VR is cheaper to underwrite than the Florida VR.