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That worked - makes sense, and thanks for the quick response !!

To put a value in there always, go to the Rules section of the property and set the default check-in and check-out times.

Those merge fields look at the times set on booking, and if a time isn't set on the booking they fall back to the property. If no time is set on the property, then it'll say "Standard". As long as you've got a time on the property it will show that instead of "Standard".

Also note the field you're using does include the "early check-in" language if applicable where the booking time is different from the property time. If you're using that field you may want to rearrange it a bit so the sentence reads better, like:

{BCHECKIN} on {BARRDAY} {BARR}

which would show

Early Check-in at 12:00 PM on Thursday Jul 11, 2019

Or else if you always want the time and don't want to denote early/late here use the {BCHECKINTIME} and {BCHECKOUTTIME} fields which only show the time.

I've seen various results using this custom field, sometimes with the at xx:yy PM and sometimes without.

Am I using the wrong field? I would like the actual time to always be presented in the email.

My template:
Arrival:            {BARRDAY}  {BARR} at {BCHECKIN}
Departure:      {BDEPDAY}  {BDEP}  at {BCHECKOUT}

Results from the last three time the automated email was sent
Arrival:            Thursday  Jul 11, 2019 at Standard Check-in
Departure:      Monday  Jul 15, 2019  at Standard Check-out

Arrival:            Thursday  Jul 11, 2019 at Early Check-in at 12:00 PM
Departure:      Monday  Jul 15, 2019  at Standard Check-out

Arrival:            Saturday  Jul 13, 2019 at Standard Check-in at 4:00 PM
Departure:      Wednesday  Jul 17, 2019  at Standard Check-out at 10:00 AM

I didn't realize airbnb didn't provide an email. The triggers are sent to the '@airbnb' email then right? Is it recommended to request a real email address? Is that possible?

I'm looking for a way to verify a guest's identity that doesn't require me to physically (or electronically) maintain a copy of their credit card or driver's license.

I'm uncomfortable maintaining such guest personal infomation because of potential ramifications should that data be compromised. In the state of Colorado where my units are located, there is legislation addressing this (see link below) which requires me to create and adhere to a data privacy policy. As an an individual that's burdensome and a risk I don't want.

I found that Docusign has an identity product that matches up with their e-sign product. I'm not a fan of Docusign ($$$) but it could be a solution, perhaps something that could be included with OR's e-sign process.

Alternatively I could require a credit card authorization through a processing company (eg: Lynnbrook) for both direct and VRBO guests which would allow me to charge damages that exceed my allowance.

Ultimately my problem is this - I'm relying upon my signed rental agreement to help in an unlikely/extreme situation, but if the agreement were fraudulently signed by a person other than the guest I might be out of luck trying to pursue legal recourse.

So two questions ....

1) Is there some other approach I haven't thought of?
2) Could OR add this kind of identity verification in some manner?

(2018 CO legislation)
https://www.lrrc.com/colorado-makes-sweeping-changes-to-protect-consumer-data-privacy

I am looking at setting up HA/VRBO channel on https://app.ownerrez.com/settings/channels/edit?listingSiteType=HomeAway

I admit to being a little baffled by this screen. ABB channel connect has an Instructions tab, that would be useful here
1) If I already set up triggers and templates on OwnerRez, are they completely nonapplicable on this screen, just for direct booking?

2) SEE MY COMMENTS/QUESTIONS INTERPOLATED BELOW

Credit Card Payments
Credit cards will always be put on file if they exist.

Mode
Automatic THERE IS ONLY ONE RADIO BUTTON? WHAT IS THE OTHER CHOICE?

HomeAway integration requires a credit card and a direct processor account. Payments will be processed automatically upon booking.
ARE WE NOW ABLE TO TOTALLY USE LYNNBROOK AND NOT THEIR ANNOYING YAPSTONE? I SET UP BOOKING.COM TO COLLECT PAYMENTS, BECAUSE IF I DID MY OWN, BDC WAITED UNTIL GUEST ARRIVES TO COLLECT. IF I USE LYNNBROOK, IS MY GUEST BILLED AT TIME OF BOOKING, IN BETWEEN, OR WHILE THEY ARE STAYING AT PROPERTY?

Schedule a security deposit using OwnerRez property rules WHERE IS THIS PULLING FROM? WHAT PROPERTY RULES? OWNERREZ DEFAULTS? CAN I MODIFY THIS (HOW)? IF I DONT CHECK THIS BOX, THAT MEANS NO SECDEP OF ANY KIND, CORRECT?

If Card Fails
Make the booking pending for
1
days
Send template: WHICH TEMPLATE? WHAT IS SYSTEM DEFAULT TEMPLATE?
The pending booking will send the guest a daily notification that a card is required. If the deadline passes without a valid card being applied, the action below will be performed.
If Pending Expires
Automatically cancel the booking
Send me a warning notification
What action should be taken if the pending deadline is reached without the requested item?
Channel Rules

House Rules WHAT GOES HERE? - SIMILAR TO ABB, WHERE YOU CAN TYPE IN FREEFORM TEXT AS RULES? LIMITED TO THE THREE ROWS HERE OR DO WE COMBINE MULTIPLE INTO ONE IF NEEDED?

Rental Agreement Example:

I ASSUME THIS INTENDS TO BE THE LEGAL AGREEMENT UNDER https://app.ownerrez.com/settings ?? WOULDNT IT BE EASIER IF THAT APPEARED IN THE DROPDOWN AS A SELECTION, NOT JUST UPLOAD A FILE FROM OUR PC?

Wanted because it is available at home depot, but I will probably use ResorLock due to the integration.

I dont think so. OR seems to only integrate with certain locks that allow ResortLock (I think), errentallock, etc

In other words, it can control checkin/checkout time functionality.

Likely needs an API

errentallock uses a schlage.

why do you want this one?

Is the Schlage Encode WiFi lock set up for automation with owner res?

Great question Chris. I am trying to send that "7" day out email automatically. I typically send a note the day prior that includes the door code. I would like to send a note to remind of checkout.

The only thing I plan to do, is set up all prices within PriceLabs per my various specifications and have it determine all prices entering OR and then onto BDC, TA, BDC, ABB.

No seasonal, special, discount, events or other rates on OR or listing sites. I don't want to add the chances of confusion or dissonance.

Perhaps this is naive?

"You'll also be able to drop the extra Airbnb channel on PriceLabs and just keep the OwnerRez connection because we will be pushing the rates to Airbnb at that point."

Meaning that PriceLabs just updates on OR and you do all the price pushing, I assume?

BDC has a complex multi step process for activating properties where you request, we approve, and then you confirm. If we start pushing rates before you confirm it causes all sorts of errors.

Because of that we don't automatically turn on or let you turn the channel -- you have to contact us to turn it on.

We sent you an email/support ticket about this yesterday -- once everything's set up, respond back on that and we'll enable the sync.

For the Airbnb calendars, use our calendar sync to keep everything updated automatically: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/calendar-sync

Once you have some bookings, you'd run channel bridge to import the bookings and it'll help you map the property id's at that point: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-bridge

PriceLabs has it's own separate support for pushing rates to Airbnb -- you'll have PriceLabs connected to both Airbnb and OwnerRez.

When we release the official Airbnb API support in September, you'll turn off the old channel and create a new channel of that type -- it won't be an automatic switchover that would overwrite things in Airbnb. At that point you'll have the option of updating everything including listing content from OwnerRez (like HomeAway) or just rates and availability (like BDC). You'll also be able to drop the extra Airbnb channel on PriceLabs and just keep the OwnerRez connection because we will be pushing the rates to Airbnb at that point.

Discounts combine with any spot rates you set. PriceLabs (and other pricing tools which we do not yet support) operate by setting spot rates in OwnerRez. Spot rates are nightly rates that override seasonal rates, but they do not override surcharges and discounts.

For example, say you've got a discount that kicks in for last minute bookings of 30% off if arrival is < 10 days away. That discount is going to apply to the spot rates. So if PriceLabs is including a last minute discount in the rates they push to OwnerRez, you don't also want a rules based discount in OwnerRez because you'll be double discounting.

In this PL setup URL: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/pricelabs

You say: "WARNING: discounts are still applied with spot rates. If you use a pricing tool to set spot rates, make sure to remove any last minute discounts etc. so you don't double discount."

"pricing tool" - you mean PriceLabs or something else??

discounts applied with spot rates - like on a listing site or OR?

not sure what exactly this sentence means.

OK, I put my properties on AirBnB (was definitely easier than BDC).

I believe you said AirBnB integration is targeted for September. ("Will I see you, in September...")

Can you tell me precisely what I should do now to get the AirBnB properties (IDs) to be recognized by OwnerRez? (So I dont double book and can use PriceLabs?). I am assuming Channel Bridge will be part of the answer - I have not used it yet.

And then what I should do differently once integration happens? Will it overwrite my work in ABB? Will there be a hiccup that could cause issues, etc?

On this site https://app.ownerrez.com/settings/channels

My Booking.com is showing Pending activation

Yet when I drill down (Pencil icon), the status of the properties is showing enabled

So, what do this apparent contradiction mean?

For automatic replies, what are you trying to do exactly?

For inquiries, you can set up an autoresponder in OwnerRez but that's limited because VRBO doesn't allow you to send quotes or links through email before a booking anymore.

For bookings, you can do triggers on booking created for a "thanks for booking". But be careful with those because guests can get confused if they just also got one from VRBO.

Or are you talking about something like a 7 days before arrival welcome letter? Here's an article on that: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/pre-arrival-email-templates-triggers-custom-fields. Booking created triggers will be similar to that but on the booking created event.

We support both iPhone and Android as long as it's got a browser version within the past year or two. Any phone will work, bigger screens are better. We do responsive UI so it will adapt to smaller screens but the bigger ones can see more at once so it's worth getting something at least medium sized.

I am looking for an article that explains automatic replies.

I am looking to generate automatic replies, especially for VRBO reservations or inquiries.

Also, I am looking to get a phone to give to my service guy that will allow him to be able log in with. Does that need to be an iPhone or Android? Does it matter? Looking for recommendations on what type of phone would provide the best mobile experience. He does not he a computer or email (yet). What is the best phone for him to basically see the calendar ribbon view that I give him permission for.

they can also share the link among family members in case they want to split the payments among them.

Yes. They can switch card if they want to.

Wait... the link they use to pay the balance is the same link that they'd use to switch their credit card info?

Thank you!! So far, it appears that when I go in and make changes, then hit SAVE, and then hit PREVIEW, the changes are sticking!

Thanks again Chris! :o)

Monica

Sometimes when you paste things in to the email editor, a bunch of junk formatting comes along. We could restrict this by limiting down to only a couple of formatting options, but right now it's a pretty open editor because we want to give you full control.

To fix this, there are a couple of things you can do:

1) Use the Clear Formatting button to get rid of all of the formatting and then color only the parts you need:

2) When pasting, hit Ctrl+Shift+V which will paste text only, unformatted

I went ahead and cleaned out the extra formatting on that email template. Are you able to modify the paragraphs now?

Yes, OwnerRez will factor in the tax as you import bookings via channel bridge. First of all, configure any taxes remitted by a listing site as "everything but" on the listing site criteria. So for the 3% Airbnb remits you'd set listing site criteria to Everything but Airbnb. That way it won't be handled as a guest charge.

Then you have to decide how you're going to collect the other 6% (and make sure Airbnb's not remitting it). You can either do a resolution request like @BlueMtnCabins is doing, or you can build it into your rates (what I do). Pros to @BlueMtn's method are your rates look more competitive on a search. Pros to building it into rates are that it's simpler and you don't have to do resolution requests for every damn booking. Once you pick a method, go into the channel settings and set the tax to be either added or included in rate. Then when you channel bridge, it'll calculate the correct tax amount.

I have heard of some folks just sending a payment link instead of a resolution request, but I'm not sure on the Airbnb policy on that -- their policies seem to change every day depending on who you talk to.

The design actually uses a 3:2 aspect ratio and will automatically crop the images so you don't have to worry about cropping them all unless you want to control the exact crop rectangle.

Now, this is fine for the small images and thumbnails but it's a known issue for the lightbox popup -- that should just use the original. We are working on an update that will be able to use the original aspect ratio, but resized, on those drillin photo slidshows. That will be out later this month.

Yep. I have an auto triggered email that is sent 7 days before balance payment is due. It has payment link and also verbiage that if guests wants to use another card, they can use link and enter it. Else, their balance will be automatically charged on X date to the card on file. AUTOMATE!!

In our case, we have 9.75% state and county sales that AirBNB DOES collect, and 3% county lodging that Airbnb DOES NOT collect. What I do, is after guest paid to Airbnb, I crate a "resolution request" on Airbnb for the 3% tax amount. Airbnb does not apply CC fee or service fee to it, but it is a manual process. I think trying to collect tax outside of Airbnb (i.e via billing via Ownerrez) may get you suspended if some guest reports you to Airbnb as it is against Airbnb rules.

Who directed seems to recommend an aspect of 4:3 for pictures. It seems to be a hard ratio to get on camera apps, Etc. Would prefer not to crop 20 pictures * 7 units. Thoughts?
Why was this chosen?