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Chris Hynes said:
That's an interesting idea, something we'll put in the pot to start thinking about. Might work if it was just spot rates, but for sure not with seasonal.You could hack this together yourself since you're using the Excel import/export for spot rates, right? Once you do the sub properties, then do another one with a formula to add the two together. Fill down, copy/paste values the resulting sums into the template spreadsheet and that should give you a file you can import on the combination.
Well, y'all did such a nice job with the Rate Calendar that I only use the excel import one time per season, and then afterwards I can just use the Rate Calendar to make whatever changes I'd like. So yes I could use formulas, but that's way to much work (and error potential) to do for every little tweak as dates get close.
Thanks Val!
To set the second payment rule (and other rules on the booking), go to the Rules tab of the booking, hit the Change button, and you can set it there.
Thank you Chris, it is always nice to know that the staff at OR is listening to our thoughts and suggestions.
You said "you can set the Second Payment date on the booking and it'll show up on the booking detail report." Can you give me more specific instructions on how to set the second payment date on the booking?
I wanted to see if there were any updates to ideas on dealing with noise. I have a customer who owns in an HOA that is looking to enact rules about noise.
So it sounds like you're configuring a System Message template, is that right? Each one of those has only one template in your account. There can be multiple templates/triggers for each property if you want, but only one System Message for the whole account (for each type of System Message).
Usually, though, it's way easier to just do one template that has the overall stuff that's the same per property, and then use the Insert Field button to insert fields for the parts that change like property name, address, etc. Don't create a custom field for the entire body (although if it works better for you, you could), but create several custom fields just for the bits of data that are different like property highlights, directions, etc. That way your overall email template is the same, but it will mail merge with the sections that are applicable per property.
Sounds like more work up front, but then later when you want to change the common part of the template you have to only change that in one spot instead of multiple.
Here's an article that walks you through the ins and outs of custom fields and email templates: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/pre-arrival-email-templates-triggers-custom-fields
Yep, we do recommend remitting them yourself if you can for two reasons:
a) Once you're remitting some for direct bookings, it's hardly more work to remit them all... and sometimes can be easier than trying to reconcile wrong taxes.
b) That way you have visibility and knowledge that they're calculated and submitted right and channels aren't making a mistake.
That said, if your taxing authority already has an agreement with the channel and everything is handled for you, there's no reason to do the taxes for that channel. But if (like in my area) the channels do 1 of the 2 taxes and not the other taxes, it's far easier to just do all of the taxes than to try and get them to remit their portion, you remit something else based on upping the nightly rate, and keep everything straight.
It is on the roadmap, no ETA yet. I'll nudge the people involved :-)
Yep, we've got it on the todo list to support a payment schedule with multiple vs just one final payment. Hopefully later this year, but I really shouldn't be talking about ETA's yet :-)
That's an interesting idea, something we'll put in the pot to start thinking about. Might work if it was just spot rates, but for sure not with seasonal.
You could hack this together yourself since you're using the Excel import/export for spot rates, right? Once you do the sub properties, then do another one with a formula to add the two together. Fill down, copy/paste values the resulting sums into the template spreadsheet and that should give you a file you can import on the combination.
Yep, right now scheduled payments are only for credit cards that are on file.
However, if it's one second payment, you can set the Second Payment date on the booking and it'll show up on the booking detail report. You couldn't track multiple payments on a booking but you can do one that way.
We do have plans to expand this to a payment schedule where you can set up multiple payments due, with dates, regardless of whether they are credit card based or not. Hopefully we'll get to that later this year!
No, but there should be. I could've sworn there was a page to see your posts but I can't find one -- noting it down as a todo :-)
That's happening because those are VRBO platform bookings with balance due. We skip reminders on calendar imported bookings by default because you don't want a guest getting an email from OwnerRez when VRBO is already going to handle it.
Awesome!
Yep, on the logged in site on your booking area it only searches the bookings and stuff in your account.
To search support articles, forums, and blog posts, use the search box in the support area: https://www.ownerrez.com/support. Yes, we know we need to put that at the top of the screen here :-)
Sounds like you already found everything you need, but here's an article about doing pre-arrival emails: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/pre-arrival-email-templates-triggers-custom-fields in case you still had some questions.
Ahhh...I tried setting up different templates for each property and overrode the first one, I guess it's back to the starting block again. I had thought that if the Booking ID # was part of the body, all the info would pull from that property. Been working on this for a week now, and feeling very frustrated.
Ahhh...I tried setting up different templates for each property and overrode the first one, I guess it's back to the starting block again. I had thought that if the Booking ID # was part of the body, all the info would pull from that property. Been working on this for a week now, and feeling very frustrated.
Does any one have any suggestion for a property who is not tech savy at all how to use this software. My friends so who set this up is going back to college and i am now on own.
Each property will need a template and a trigger just for that template. You might be able to copy the body of the template from one property to the next to keep from having to retype the basics, but you'll have to make sure the "field" or link you've inserted in each template is specific to that property if you want to send different info for different locations. If everything is the same, then you should be able to use the same template.
Once you've got all your templates and triggers set up you can always go back and name them with some leading symbol/word that sorts them in a more logical order when you're looking at the main template or trigger page. Just make sure if you change the name of a template you go into the corresponding trigger and update the name of the template! Hahahaa!
To Clarify:
I have 3 properties that are completely different, different states, etc. In making my custom email templates, I THINK I have just realized that I can't set up separate templates for each property, but need to make custom fields for the body text for each property???
For instance the SD is a different rate for each property, so I need to customize that portion of the Security Deposit request/reminder. Then for the inquiry response, I want the quote, a little blurb about the property highlights, and of course the payment information (PayPal). And so on, for check in/out email w/ the document list for both. The documents would have to be a custom field of the uploaded docs? And the system would "pull" the correct info for each property? So the custom fields are the only way to designate which property the info is pulled from?
I just inadvertently overrode the templates I set up for one property UGH... So really looking for confirmation that my newest understanding is correct?
Hi! Glad to see you're still you're still fighting the good fight!
I'm not quite sure what the specifics are, but when I have different info that needs to go to people depending on varying circumstances, I do the following:
** Write the template for the first situation. Insert links or fields as appropriate. Name this template something specific so you know exactly which property/listing site/circumstance it's for.
** Go to "Triggers" and set up the trigger for that specific template. So for one that I have that's only for VRBO bookings, I go to the "Booking Relationship" section of the trigger set-up and pick "Listing Site" - "Only" - "VRBO". If you only want to send it to folks who've booked a specific property, you also do that in the "Booking Relationship" section.
Start over again for the next email template. You may want to copy the body of the first template, but you definitely need to create a totally new one with another name to tell you what it's for. Once that template is good to go, create another trigger just for it.
Other trigger options may make a difference in whether you send the template - if the booking is fully paid for, if they've signed your renter agreement, if it's just one of your properties or all but one, etc.
If you have 5 properties, you may end up with 5 templates and 5 triggers. Pain to set up, but amazing once it's up and running.
I had set up my first property and finally figured out how to make my custom template for the one, and it seemed to be working. I want the inquiry to include my "thanks for your interest" type message, with a little info about each property, the various SD charges, and how to book. I went in to add the next property, and it seems that I overrode the first template, now I'm at a loss as to how do this? For some of the templates, there doesn't seem to be a way to determine which property it would pertain to? I'm missing something.
Should I just set up two different templates for each autoresponder? How does the system realize which template to use, if there is no drop down for which property to use it for?
What I want is to have the very first initial inquiry answered with:
My little blurb about the property, the payment schedule, the SD and the quote/with the paypal link to pay the booking deposit. Would this all be in the "form" or do I have to include it in the body?
TIA
@Michael D Do you have any listings on the OTAs and let them do the taxes for bookings there, or do you opt to be paid out by them and remit those taxes yourself as well?
Thanks
We've been doing our own taxes for the past 3 years and no problem at all. In our jurisdictions, we two/3 taxes per property (state, hotel, and local sales). Before we used a PMS I used Quickbooks Pro desktop and ran reports at the end of each month. With our current PMS we just run a report at the end and it breaks out the taxes by jurisdiction by property. Now all I have to do is put the figures into the report format and remit payment. OR makes it a bit harder but still easier than QB Pro.
No need to use/pay for a service and/or PM> Takes me 15 minutes per month for all the properties.
OwnerRez recommends collecting and remitting taxes yourself, rather than letting the OTAs do it for you. Up until now my property manager has always handled this on my behalf, and now the OTAs. So I realize that now with my own website I have to be involved as well. I am just wondering how other homeowners handle the collection and remittance of taxes. Do you do it all yourself or is it done by multiple sources? TIA
lololololol!
Oh. Well, I'm not a lawyer, but as I recall from my b-school law classes, I think it's pretty unlikely that the presence or absence of an abbreviatory period would make any difference in any sane jurisdiction. A general principle of contract law is to consider the clear intent of the contract as written, and I don't see a lot of room for debate on that regardless of the period.
Of course every jurisdiction is different, so to be absolutely sure, you'd need to consult an attorney in the jurisdiction you operate in. In my personal, non-lawyerly opinion, they'd say "No" and happily send you a bill after they finished chuckling. :-)
Nope - continuing the chat about adding a period after Jan Feb Mar, etc. Format says an abbreviation in the middle of a sentence should have a period to show there are additional letters that weren't included. All the contracts I've done I would write "contingency to be satisfied on or before March 13, 2020." Using your date format that would come out as "on or before Mar 13, 2020." My question is does it make a difference, for a legal document (a guest contract/agreement), that you aren't writing it as "on or before Mar. 13, 2020." Like I said, picky.
Not sure what you're referring to, or how the presence or absence of a month abbreviation period would affect a contract. Maybe you posted this comment on the wrong thread?
And your legal folks are perfectly on board with that being accepted as part of a contract? (My "other life" involves a lot of contract work.)
Being a bit of a grammar pedant myself, I do sympathize with your desire to properly signify the abbreviation.
But I don't think the engineers would consider this to be a particularly urgent matter to fix, I'm afraid. Also, the world seems to be going more and more towards not including the periods anyway.
