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Hi John, all of the items you listed would normally display on the widget when your listing details are complete. Since they are not showing in your test case, I'm guessing your listing details are incomplete. I can take a look at your specific account details if you send in a ticket to our support desk (help@ownerreservations.com).
The "Sorted Featured" select is the default external display order which you configure on your property list at https://app.ownerrez.com/properties/order#tab-external This allows you to "feature" specific properties you want near the top of your results. You can specify a different initial sorting method (alphabetical or random) on the widget options.
OwnerRez supports quite a few different payment processors. They all have their own underwriting standards, so if you are not satisfied with the terms you are receiving from one, you are free to seek out a better deal elsewhere, and you can easily change your OwnerRez account to use that new processor account once you've got it.
https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/payment-processing-gateways-recommended
https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/payment-processing-gateways-changing
We have had a number of requests recently about gift cards. We had this a bit in the past and we would just create a unique discount code with a specific dollar amount. (It was not an elegant solution in any way and created a bunch of manual work.) We get a lot of requests from civic organizations, schools, etc... and would love to be able to give them a gift cards for specific amounts their auctions, promotions, etc.
If anyone is doing gift cards we would love to get an idea of what you are doing? Are you using a 3rd party processor (kind of like the Booking.com virtual card concept)? Are you doing something in Owner Rez?
Inquiring minds would like to know.
Using the Wordpress Plugin, I created a Search Widget, executed it on a page and it found one property. The following link will take you to the information that was returned. I have a few issues....
http://vacationrentalsatfloridabeaches.com/content/SearchWidgetResultsReturned.jpg
As you can see the Search Widget didn't return much information about the property. In fact, the information the widget is returning will not be very impressive to someone looking for a vacation rental. How can I tell the widget to return more information? I did create a separate Page for this property and the results did include a link to the Page.
I want the Search Widget to return more information such as:
1. What the cost is for staying at this property for the specified time period
2. A photo of the property. This is very important. Without it why would they take the time to get the details?
3. etc...
Basically is there any flexibility in what information the Search Widget will return? I know clicking on the link will bring the visitor to a page dedicated to this property but it needs to show more information initially.
What is that "Sorted Feature" button for that is being returned?
The guests field in the Search Widget shows that it is a down arrow but there is nothing there. No way to enter the number of guests. How can I make this field an enterable one?
Thank you in advance for your help.
John Pizzolato
Thanks Joel for your input and suggestions. I'll work on putting together this approach.
Hi John,
The plugin is for rendering static property content on your WordPress site. It does not have support for searching, availability, or booking. To do those dynamic types of things, you will need to use widgets.
The recommended approach for what you want to do is:
1. Setup a page for each property on your site. Each property needs a unique page. On each page you can use the plugin shortcodes to display information about the property which is pulled out of your OwnerRez data, and widgets to display availability to booking / inquiry forms.
2. Set the unique URL for each property in OwnerRez. Each property should have a URL that points to its page on your WordPress site.
3. Setup a search page on your site and add a search widget from OwnerRez. Visitors to your site can then use the search page and widget to find available properties. When they click on a property it will open the unique page for that property on your site, where they can complete their booking or inquiry.
For a complete list of widgets see: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/widgets
Shortcodes start with "[ownerrez type=", and should also have an "id=" before the closing "]" to identify the property you want to display. For a complete list shortcode types see: https://github.com/ownerrez/orez-wp#shortcodes Also, you can view some example shortcodes for any particular property here: https://app.ownerrez.com/settings/externalsites#tab-code
Note that there are some shortcodes that are called "widgets" but these are different than the OwnerRez widgets. The shortcode widgets are simply complex bits of HTML which render larger blocks such as picture slideshows or amenity lists. The naming is confusing, so we'll probably change that in a future release.
Hey all,
I currently use Stripe, which has a 14 day hold time on all funds before disbursement. I want to add a second and third processing company so that I can get payouts directly in to those accounts, instead of it all going in to one account then me manually having to split them up.
My question is, what hold times do you guys have with your CC processors? Has anyone successfully negotiated a shorter hold time?
There doesn't seem to be too much documentation on the Wordpress Plugin. I just installed and activated the Plugin on the site. I thought it would be simple and straightforward to use but, I have to truthfully say it is all a bit overwhelming the way the documentation is presented.
The website will have multiple properties on it for several vacation destinations. The first thing a visitor should see when they come to the site is a search box where they will enter their destination, check in date, check out date and number of guests (just like you see on VRBO and Airbnb)
The Plugin should return all properties that meet that criteria. Just like VRBO and Airbnb does.
Then the visitor needs to be able to select a property where they will see all the information that goes with that property, such as the price, security deposit, if pets are accepted, etc...
I want to start with that. Can anyone tell me how I would go about using the Plugin this way? How do I even invoke the plugin? I can't seem to find any documentation on the Plugin other than how to install and activate it on the website.
Any help would be appreciated.
That seems wrong - can you write in to the Helpdesk with a specific example we can investigate?
Also, with the VRBO API, since the booking always shows pending, even on the guest side, after it's been booked, I'm assuming they can never leave a review?
Unfortunately, no, this is a known clunky bit and limitation of the Vrbo API:
https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-management-api-integrations-vrbo
We're actively pursuing a better solution with Vrbo, but it's complicated and may be awhile.
I'm finding the whole VRBO API a bit awkward. I'm wondering what the best way is to send a "special offer", much like AirBnb, when someone has sent just an inquiry via VRBO. Right now, I am having them send in an actual request to book, then I can send them back an updated quote. I think that's a little weird for the guest, because it looks to them as if they are booking at the higher price than negotiated. Is there an easier way?
Our process is to send the guest check-in instructions 10 days before their arrival date as long as the booking is paid in full, a rental agreement is signed & we have an ID on file.
Currently I'm sending a manual email when the guest's final payment is received (45 days in advance of arrival) letting them know that their check-in instructions will be emailed on "this date" (10 days before the arrival date).
I'd like to automate that email confirmation but I would prefer it to have the specific date in the email instead of just saying "10 days before your arrival date".
Is it possible to create a Custom field for Arrival date + 10 days?
And, you'll probably want to set up Manual door locks.
https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/integration-manual-door-locks
easy. You schedule a trigger to be sent X days before check in at Y hour.
Hi all -
I couldn't find an answer to this exact question in the forum. I'd like to pre schedule a manual email (with unique door code) to be sent for the check in message. Is there a way to do this?
My ideal is to set up the unique door code earlier and then have the email scheduled to go at a specified time.
At this point I'm not interested in paying for RemoteLock or anything like that, I can set the code myself but would like to have the email go at a scheduled time.
Thank you!
Kate
Please submit this question to the Helpdesk, and we'll look into your specific account to see what's going on.
LOL...then why did you bring TripAdvisor up in the first place? :D
Hoping someone can help me out -
I just linked a new co-host on Airbnb. The calendar came in to block what's already booked - but I'm not getting any client info in OR. Someone just did an instant book and that hit OR, along with a message from the guest. However all my dynamic pricing isn't showing on Airbnb, nor the guest info in OR for the previous bookings. It's like there's a half sync going on, not a full.
When I go into API/Airbnb - I see the listing and it says "not synced" - but when I go to the sync tab - there's no property there. Anyone know what step I've missed?
I haven't API'd yet, too busy, but I have the proper settings on VRBO and here, anyway, I'll double check as I just blocked everything on the one property so it won't happen. Once I've had a chance to API, I'll circle back.
thx
For just the property import, though, it doesn't matter - OwnerRez is reading data on the public internet that anyone can see.
Probably - the Airbnb API cannot connect to properties you are co-hosting through your own account. You have to set up a separate API connection using the host's account:
https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-management-api-integrations-airbnb-common-issues-questions#multiple-accounts
Looking to import an Airbnb listing - but I'll be co-host on this one - is there anything different I need to do either during import or day to day? Or just follow the guide walkthrough? VRBO I have to create net new listing for.
thanks
Limited mode can push minimum night stay rules and other availability rules, as I mentioned. You can see the details of what exactly is synced in each mode in setup guide for Airbnb: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-management-api-integrations-airbnb-setup-connecting#set (look at the bottom of the "Mapping properties" section).
What it can't push are the booking rules -- like booking mode, cancellation policy, check in/out time, etc.
I just added a reminder to the RTB article about the Limited mode resync issue, to clarify the process to set RTB for Limited sync: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/instant-book-vs-request-to-book#airbnb
Now reading between the lines, you say "In Limited mode, the API doesn't have permission to set the booking mode (or any other booking rules...)..."
When you say 'booking rules'... are you saying that in limited mode it will push rates, but it won't push things such as minimum night stay rules?
Chris Hynes said:
However, your account is in Limited sync mode. In Limited mode, the API doesn't have permission to set the booking mode (or any other booking rules, listing data, photos etc.). In limited sync mode, the API only has permissions to set rates, availability, and availability rules).
Then I must have missed this nuance that I assume you pointed out in the going api instructions or webinars that I watched?
The last time we went API somebody instant booked within hours, so we turned API off. Then i'm told we can now set 'request to book' via API, and unless I had checked we would have had the same issue yet again.
I'd love to trust OR and the data, but feel I have to second guess and go looking for issues before I can
This is not an international thing or a beta issue, but a combination of Airbnb defaults and permissions.
Airbnb automatically switches listings to instant booking when API connected. Normally this is fine -- we run an update upon connection to set the booking mode according to the setting you have in OwnerRez.
However, your account is in Limited sync mode. In Limited mode, the API doesn't have permission to set the booking mode (or any other booking rules, listing data, photos etc.). In limited sync mode, the API only has permissions to set rates, availability, and availability rules).
Instead, you have to set the booking rules on the Airbnb side -- since you've done that, you're good to go.
If you switch to Everything sync mode, that will also fix the issue -- we'll start pushing the booking mode from OwnerRez and it'll update accordingly.
Yeah thanks for nothing!!!!!
To be honest, feeling really let down.
Tried to go API with airbnb 4 months ago. As soon as we did we realised that you had to be 'Instant Book' and had to quickly turn it off as that is not something we wanted.
Fast forward a few months and the rules had changed where you could select to be 'Request To Book' via API
After being burnt the first time around we made sure all our ducks were in a row. Got everything setup. Checked. Triple checked.
Turn on API
And BANG! our account is 'Instant Book'
Now I wish I could share screen shots here, but I can assure you our API connection is set up in OR as 'Request to Book', but Airbnb is ignoring that and we had to go in to Airbnb's setting to turn off instant book. My worry now is that when OR syncs back with Airbnb it will turn instant book back on even though that isn't how it's set in OR.
Is this yet another US/International thing that has fallen through the testing/beta stage? Is it just airbnb.com that is tested? and not airbnb.co.uk and all the other international sites???
As much as like ownerrez, i'm seriously feeling like a beta tester here without pay.
This is an excellent question, and one for which the answer is not fully known and ever-changing.
1. If Stripe works in your country, then that will almost certainly work with OwnerRez for you. We are fully 3DS compliant and integrated with them.
2. As you noted, several of the major interchanges have international partners or parent companies, like Authorize.net and Elavon. As far as I'm aware, we don't have any international clients that are actually using them, so I can't say for sure if they'd work. If you'd like to give it a try, we'd be glad to help work with you and find out.
We are aware that our overseas coverage is not as good as it should be, and are working to fix that. It's surprisingly hard though, as the various systems often don't play well together, even within the same corporate entity.
OR has a couple of dozen payment processors it easily connects to (or so it would suggest from the payment tab menu). However most of these are US based... which is to be expected given OR's US based roots.
But with regards to international customers like ourselves (UK Based), what are our options?
Is it possible to connect any payment processing provider to OR? If so, how do we go about integration?
If not, what about international branches of the current names listed? For example Authorize.net's European arm is Cybersource, can they connect in the same way Authorize does?... Sage in the UK is now know as Opayo (part of Elavon which is see mentioned now and again), can Opayo/Elavon connect to OR in the same way as Sage US does?
Essentially what are our options as UK based customers of OR, to connect credit/debit card processors to OR's back end system?
Cheers
