General Help and Questions

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How to add FAQ page to hosted website? 11 replies

Whitney G
Apr 10, 2022 3:04 PM
Joined Mar, 2022 1 post

Hi I was wondering if there is an easy way to add an FAQ page to a hosted website? Thanks!

"Calendar sync deactivated after 5 failures" VRBO calendar 4 replies

Kate M
Apr 8, 2022 2:31 PM
Joined Apr, 2021 16 posts

I got the same and just came here to see what I could fine! Thanks for posting yesterday! 

"Calendar sync deactivated after 5 failures" VRBO calendar 4 replies

Julie M
Apr 7, 2022 10:35 PM
Joined Jan, 2021 12 posts

Got it!  Thanks for such a quick (and thorough) response!  I didn’t realize the API didn’t rely on iCal to sync, though it makes sense now that you’ve said it. I was worried about the possibility of double bookings, but there’s definitely no pre-API bookings so I’ll just rest easy :)  Appreciate it!

"Calendar sync deactivated after 5 failures" VRBO calendar 4 replies

Rex C
Apr 7, 2022 10:31 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2021 71 posts

Looks like Vrbo disabled iCal for any API connected account. If you go to any of those iCal links that have been disabled, it shows a Vrbo error:

 



 

Once you're API connected, you don't need iCal's anyway -- they only ever worked for pre-API bookings. If you have any pre-API bookings, just be aware that if the booking is changed on Vrbo, make sure to update the dates or cancel them in OwnerRez (based on whatever is changed in Vrbo, since the iCal will no longer be able to update automatically).

 

But API bookings don't use the iCal so nothing will change there.

 

iCal links for non-API connected listings are still working fine.

 

No need to update anything -- the alert you got means that OwnerRez detected that the feed was erroring across hours of checks, so the calendar sync was eventually disabled because it kept erroring.

"Calendar sync deactivated after 5 failures" VRBO calendar 4 replies

Julie M
Apr 7, 2022 10:11 PM
Joined Jan, 2021 12 posts

Hello!  This afternoon I received three emails notifying me that the calendar sync on three of my VRBO listings has been deactivated.  

This calendar sync has failed 5 times in a row on a connection or parsing error, meaning either we couldn't reach the listing site or the iCal they returned was badly formatted. Since the error has occurred repeatedly, we've deactivated the sync for the time being.

I went to VRBO to pull the iCal link to resync, in case it got corrupted somehow, but since I have API integration with VRBO, VRBO just tells me:

Your rates and availability are uploaded from your integrated property management software. Any edits will need to be made in your software. These will automatically be updated in Vrbo.

So what can I do?  

Trigger for a booking less than 1 week away 4 replies

Chris L
Apr 7, 2022 2:20 PM
Joined May, 2017 209 posts

In the trigger, select the option "Try to send a missed trigger up until the booking has arrived." That should resolve the problem for all except extreme last-minute bookings.

by Ken T – Oct 18, 2021 3:03 PM (UTC)

Today, I had a booking come in at about 530pm for the same day check-in and I don't know how to manage sending them the check-in instructions on a trigger in this example...is there a way?

Thanks,

Jaime

by Jaime T – Apr 4, 2022 12:55 AM (UTC)

If you make the trigger as Ken indicated, then it will try to send it every hour at the top of the hour. So there will be a short delay if the guest signs the RA at 2:09pm, they won't get the follow-up from you until 3:00pm, but it will eventually go out.

Emails going to spam 10 replies

Ken T
Apr 6, 2022 11:27 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

Unfortunately, there is no way to be absolutely sure the emails sent to your guests won't end up in their spam folders instead.  The nature of the Internet email system originated half a century ago, and was never designed for how it's used today.  The best we can do is to work within existing systems, and lower the likelihood that your emails will be viewed as spam.

1. If you're not using the OwnerRez Verified Email system, and an email address from a domain you own, you should do so - it's a straightforward way to significantly reduce the risk of spam identification.  Free Gmail accounts are notorious for spam, so you don't want to use those if at all possible.

2. Does the content of your emails look like spam?  There are a number of testing tools and resources on the Internet you can use to see how spammy your standard emails are:

https://www.mail-tester.com/

https://blogs.constantcontact.com/how-to-avoid-spam/

3. Many email client programs include the ability to add addresses or domains to a whitelist, that the inbox knows not to flag as spam.  You can ask your guests to look into this and add yours.  However, every client is different, so they'd have to research how to do that themselves.

4. Sometimes, if your guests simply add your email address to their address book, your messages are automatically accepted.

5. Even with all of the above, anyone receiving any email can flag it as spam manually.  If you are getting regular spam complaints, perhaps the problem isn't computer systems in between, it's what your messages look like in the inbox?  For example, if you are using many emojis in your subject line, that's a hallmark of spam.

Sold API connected property 8 replies

Ken T
Apr 6, 2022 10:46 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

Well, that's Airbnb.  Vrbo is more finicky.

https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-management-api-integrations-vrbo-common-issues-questions#disable

Emails going to spam 10 replies

Tonya M
Apr 6, 2022 7:34 PM
Joined Mar, 2021 3 posts

I am following this question as I have a lot of guests Auto Generated Emails go to their SPAM.  Is there anything I can do to help this.  Our email is verified.

Emails going to spam 10 replies

Tonya M
Apr 6, 2022 7:33 PM
Joined Mar, 2021 3 posts

I am following this question as I have a lot of guests Auto Generated Emails go to their SPAM.  Is there anything I can do to help this.  Our email is verified.

Property showing as having shared rooms on ABB, how do I fix this? 7 replies

Ventura County V
Apr 6, 2022 6:35 PM
Joined Mar, 2022 122 posts

Per OR support, this is an Air B&B issue that the engineering team is working on.

Availability widget - Property text not showing selected color 1 reply

Ventura County V
Apr 6, 2022 6:23 PM
Joined Mar, 2022 122 posts

SOLVED

Had to do an element inspection to find the exact name of the text element.  The following code, placed in the CSS definitions at the bottom of the widget settings fixed it.

.property-result-tile-content{
color: #FFFFFF;
}

HomeToGo - how to pay them?? 6 replies

Paul H
Apr 6, 2022 6:16 PM
OR Team Member Joined Oct, 2019 358 posts

HomeToGo is working on their credit card payment option for invoices and should have that available soon. For now, their payment method for invoices is wire transfer.

Availability widget - Property text not showing selected color 1 reply

Ventura County V
Apr 6, 2022 6:09 PM
Joined Mar, 2022 122 posts

Hello all,

I'm using the availability search widget on my home page and the color I've chosen for the widget shows the number of results found just fine, however it does not apply to the text describing the properties (see image below).  Is there a way to fix this?  I've tried monkeying around with CSS to no avail.  The text should be white, so that it shows up on the screen, like the "2 properties" result text.  The light grey is the unhovered window (Resort) and the black is the hovered window (Oasis).

 

Thanks,

Ryan

Emails going to spam 10 replies

Jaime T
Apr 6, 2022 4:03 PM
Joined Mar, 2022 6 posts

I just recently set up my verified email on  my own domain and I'm having near 100% issues with emails getting to my cleaners or guests. It's either  outright rejecting them (this happened on my personal email as a test) or going straight to spam. 

What do I do??

Sold API connected property 8 replies

BlueMtnCabins
Apr 6, 2022 2:33 PM
Joined Jun, 2016 1182 posts

simple. Settings > API connections

Sold API connected property 8 replies

Christine
Apr 6, 2022 2:16 PM
Joined Mar, 2021 3 posts

How do you remove it from the API IN OwnerRez?

Pricing Help 14 replies

Ken T
Apr 6, 2022 1:55 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

You'd probably be best served by writing in to the Helpdesk with screenshots and specific examples of exactly what is wrong.  You could also take a look at Tools > Rate Calendar to see if that is showing what you expect your settings to be - if it isn't, then the problem may lie in your Spot Rates.

Property showing as having shared rooms on ABB, how do I fix this? 7 replies

Ventura County V
Apr 6, 2022 12:22 PM
Joined Mar, 2022 122 posts

Unfortunately, 24 hours later it's still showing.  For one property I removed it manually after changing the sync to pricing and availability only (had to enable the "Suitable for Events" checkbox which OR sadly doesn't allow right now).

 

This is how the back-end shows.

 

Pricing Help 14 replies

Nathan T
Apr 6, 2022 2:28 AM
Joined Mar, 2022 1 post

I need help, 

 

When I do a booking inquiry on my website for 3 nights the amount estimated is wrong. My rates are 700 per weekend night, the 650 cleaning fee, and taxes. However it always comes up as 2 nights worth even though I specifically made it 3 nights. Its very irritating and I don't know how to fix it. 

Property showing as having shared rooms on ABB, how do I fix this? 7 replies

Michele G
Apr 6, 2022 12:32 AM
Joined Aug, 2021 6 posts

Wait a few hours & recheck your listing. That happened to me and by the time I did a lot of research it had fixed itself. 

Property showing as having shared rooms on ABB, how do I fix this? 7 replies

Ventura County V
Apr 5, 2022 6:36 PM
Joined Mar, 2022 122 posts

Both of my listings (entire home rentals) show on AB&B as "some spaces may be shared" under the room breakdown.  I do not see any place in the Rooms setup on OR where shared is specified.  Can someone please advise where the setting for this is, so I can disable it?  I checked on the help and searched the forum but didn't see it.

 

Thanks in advance,

Ryan

Difference between these two templates 1 reply

BlueMtnCabins
Apr 5, 2022 3:53 PM
Joined Jun, 2016 1182 posts

#1 is for rental agreements that originate via channels (typically, airbnb, vrbo, etc). #2 is for direct bookings on your website. #1 and #2 ma differ (ex: refund policy on the channel may be different form that for direct bookings)

 

HomeToGo - how to pay them?? 6 replies

BlueMtnCabins
Apr 5, 2022 3:48 PM
Joined Jun, 2016 1182 posts

So I have had one rez via HTG. They send me an invoice and it says to pay to some bank ???

I do not even know how to pay that. They are doing business in the US and they want to use these credentials? 

Anyone else? 

 

Airbnb new policy.. ripe for host abuse! 1 reply

Ventura County V
Apr 5, 2022 11:56 AM
Joined Mar, 2022 122 posts

On the bright side, my business partners who always questioned my desire to be as close to 100% direct booking as possible now see me as a visionary and are finally on board with it.  :-)

Template difference and when to use 2 replies

Harry D
Apr 4, 2022 8:18 PM
Joined Mar, 2022 9 posts

Got it. Thank you Ken!

Expense Template update to include categories 1 reply

Chris Hynes
Apr 4, 2022 7:13 PM
OR Team Member Joined Oct, 2012 1404 posts

Yep, we've got an update in the works to include Category in the import as well. In the meantime, you can use the batch categorization feature  on the expenses grid to apply categories.

Template difference and when to use 2 replies

Ken T
Apr 4, 2022 11:28 AM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

As currently configured in your account, one of those is in use by a system message.  It's used when you manually send the agreement request to a guest, using the Request dropdown button on the Legal tab of their Booking.
 
The other is sent out automatically via trigger.

Airbnb new policy.. ripe for host abuse! 1 reply

BlueMtnCabins
Apr 4, 2022 11:03 AM
Joined Jun, 2016 1182 posts

All you #airbnb aficionados. Coming your way! (this is satire, but will come true soon with their newly announced policy)

https://www.tiktok.com/@melefante6/video/7081768180145802542?_r=1&_t=8RCHQGZ7FOg&social_sharing=v1

New anti-host polcy. https://community.withairbnb.com/t5/Airbnb-Updates/Our-recent-change-to-the-guest-refund-policy/td-p/1597933

#dumpairbnb

 

Trigger for a booking less than 1 week away 4 replies

Jaime T
Apr 3, 2022 8:55 PM
Joined Mar, 2022 6 posts

In the trigger, select the option "Try to send a missed trigger up until the booking has arrived." That should resolve the problem for all except extreme last-minute bookings.

by Ken T – Oct 18, 2021 3:03 PM (UTC)

Today, I had a booking come in at about 530pm for the same day check-in and I don't know how to manage sending them the check-in instructions on a trigger in this example...is there a way?

Thanks,

Jaime