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Stacy S said:
Thanks so much, Chris! So if I set those rules and regenerate the codes, the new rules will apply to the new codes?Yes, the new code will be generated according to the rules/settings currently set at the time you click the generate button.
No complexity in having multiple accounts on the OwnerRez side. We've got many people that manage separate accounts, cohost, etc.
Now, as for delisting, I'm not sure that's a good reason to set up multiple Airbnb accounts... I've heard stories about how arbitrary the process can be that but I'm not sure if multiple Airbnb accounts would help you. Maybe it would, but unless you completely separate the accounts (use a VPN, different names/emails/bank accounts etc) it wouldn't be hard for them to tie your accounts together. And going through the effort to do that splitting could possibly trigger fraud filters on the other side.
Definitely want to diversify, but I'd push for diversifying across multiple channels vs having multiple accounts per channel.
This didn't state whether you were able to group your own VRs under several Airbnbs or not (that was the question)
We have over 20 properties on AirBnB through OR. No problem here!
Okay, so I did have those rules in place. It looks like I just needed to switch the code generation setting to the check-in/check-out option instead of all day. Fingers crossed!
Thanks so much, Chris! So if I set those rules and regenerate the codes, the new rules will apply to the new codes?
Sure thing, go over to the Rules section of each property and you can set the check in and check out times there. That'll set the default times for the property, and then you can override specific bookings to set early or late and a time.
All of that will be picked up by the lock integration and used to generate the code for the appropriate time (and you can also reference those values on email templates, so you can write "Check in is at {BCHECKINTIME} on {BARR} and your door code is {BDOORCODE}".
I had my settings for all day on check-in days and check-out days. Guests are ignoring our policy and just entering the house early without permission. Because of this, I need to update my codes for specific times on those days. The option in OR code generation is "all day" or at check in or check out times with a grace period. I don't see where I can set the times and I don't see where it could be a permanent setting on ERL for the automatic code generation. Anyone else figure this out?
Thanks for any help!
When I was playing around and setting up fake quotes, I seem to remember getting some reminders on quotes that I didn't take action on, but I don't see any of those emails in the email history for the quote. Was I imagining that or is there a sequence of reminders running in the background that aren't documented in the email tab? If so, is there a list of what is sent out and when?
Thanks,
Kent
Thanks for the feedback all! I read the guide and decided to roll the dice on a wifi deadbolt from RemoteLock. I had the same reservations as JVTR, so I'll let you know if I regret it once it's up and running!
On forums, I often see complaints that AirBnB hosts get delisted suddenly, often without explanation.
In such a case, is it possible to group properties under several Accounts, rather than 1? Would that make no difference?
Is there a complexity in doing that from OwnerRez?
I don't know other major celebration days, but mothers day and valentines day are pretty big in the bed & breakfast circles. Not a good weekend to be discounting.
Great. Is that in the interface menu? I thought I saw that one time, but last night I was scratching my head while I was trying to figure out the check-in time code.
You can see these visually on the calendar because of the red lines at the beginning or end of a booking respectively, but we don't currently have rules based logic on them. We may do some rules at some point, but once you do programmatic logic you have to handle every single case of which there are many for check in/out.
What I do on my properties is this:
- If the guest requests early check-in/late check-out, I give them the option to pay 50% night fee to lock that in. If they do, I'll block off that night.
- If not, I'll tell them to check back within 2 weeks of arrival to see if it's still available. If it is, I'll mark it as early or late, but tell them that could change if another guest books the night.
Yep, it's a tradeoff for sure. eRentalLock is nice because you can generate the codes automatically in OwnerRez (based on the algorithm) but it doesn't require a Wifi connection. I use that at a couple of my properties and it's been rock solid.
The other one I'd recommend if you do want Wifi is RemoteLock. The nice thing about Wifi is you can see the access log dynamically. And most of them are pretty safe for guests because the codes are programmed in advance. So as long as the code is programmed, even if Wifi is down at the time the guest arrives they will still be able to enter based on that already programmed code.
I wrote up a bunch more about the details and tradeoffs of different lock types here: https://www.ownerrez.com/blog/encyclopedia-of-vacation-rental-smart-locks
The insert field popup shows whatever is relevant to the current template. Note that there are different tabs of information there (property, booking etc) where the check in info would be related to the booking not the property, and you can also filter down in a tab to find stuff by name.
You can find the exhaustive list of all codes here: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/field-codes
Yep, the holiday list right now is official federal holidays, but there are so many more lists we could add. Do you know of a standard list of vacation rental industry holidays for US or elsewhere? That's the other side of it -- holidays vary so much based on location some things like Christmas and Valentines day are nearly universal but many others are not.
You can't set a repeating holiday based on day of month. They're all based on dates of year because most tend to change. What you'd do is create one and fill out say 10 years of dates.
I use erentallock. I dont want any dependency on wifi or power if it goes down and the guest is stuck outside. If you get it, get the slightly more expensive lock. Ask them the reason!
Hello,
I'm looking to upgrade an "unconnected" keypad deadbolt with a connected deadbolt that integrates with Owner Rez. Does anyone have any recommendations on manufacturer and Model? I'll need some sort of connectivity obviously, should I go towards wifi/zwave/zigbee/all of the above?
Thanks in advance for the opinions!
Kent
The "Insert Field" in the Email Templates only shows a handful of field codes.
Where is the full list? like check in date, check in time, etc?
Something that would be useful, is email templates/triggers which give some kind of control over the Early Check-In logic. This may exist, but not sure how to do or synthesize. For example
If some one checks in the same day that another checks out ==> no early check-in or early bag drop-off is possible.
If not ==> early check-in/bag drop off possible. 1) perhaps with advance request. 2) perhaps payment required for either.
It would be useful to direct an email template/trigger based on this.
Perhaps even a switch or custom code that is/is not possible within an email template?
I am a little surprised given the importance of Mother's Day and Valentine's Day in the vacation rental industry, that is is not a default holiday.
I realize that it is not a day off/formal holiday, but they can be huge travel days for VRs.
Anyway how do I set up a custom holiday that will always be the second Sunday of each May? (Mother's Day - USA) and third Sunday in June (Father's Day)?
Yes, you can have a different coverage per property. For bookings in the same property it has to be the same coverage, but different properties can be different.
I do not have it turned on, but was wondering if I can specify different coverage amount per different property? or they all have to be the same?
Ahh, good catch. Those were still displaying in some cases when the text was empty or zero length string even though there wasn't a value entered.
Fixed.
Yep, those are driven off the holidays you select in the system.
Go to Settings > Holiday Lists and subscribe to some (and/or add your own custom holidays).
No ETA yet, still in the dev queue.
I am on the page of one of my properties on the hosted website. The use of the information icons is a bit disturbing. Some, such as the setting & view category, have information icons(I) . But there is no ability to put information in them, so not sure why they are there.
Others, such as under kitchen, there's an information icon for ones I have no information added, so why offer the icon?
And many have no ability to have an information icon even though it might be useful. For example under other, I selected concierge. I would love to have an information icon to tell them limitations or a charge for it's use.
after booking, I run channel bridge and import the OTA booking with triggering of rental agreement e-sign, welcome email etc. Once the renter gets an OR email, they have my direct email address, phone etc. So they can communicate with me directly. Some chose to still email me via vrbo, for example. I don't particularly like that but I can always just reply via reply-to from my email inbox.
You cannot use Channel Bridge with Evolve because it requires direct access to the VRBO or Airbnb account that your properties are listed in. If you cannot login to VRBO and see the VRBO bookings directly - the ones that Evolve manages - then Channel Bridge won't be able to see or download them either.
Channel Bridge won't mess anything up. It's basically a sophisticated copy and paste tool for grabbing booking/guest data out of VRBO and filling it in to OwnerRez. It merges with the bookings you already have in OwnerRez.
Here's a copy/paste blurb we use in tickets:
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
You are importing bookings from VRBO but they are "empty" and just have date and guest name. This is because for calendar imports (such as with VRBO or Airbnb) that is the only information that is contained in the calendar sync. However, we created a tool called Channel Bridge that will download booking/guest information for VRBO and Airbnb bookings. Read more about that here:
https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-bridge
And here is how to install it:
https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-bridge-install
The workflow steps are:
1) The booking occurs on Airbnb or VRBO
2) A few minutes after, our system automatically imports it in, blocking the calendar
3) The booking in our system will have basic information such as dates, guest name and phone number if it's Airbnb, but not much else
4) Later (the same day or later in the week) you then run Channel Bridge to download and "bring in" the rest of the booking info which you can do later at any time
We also have direct/API integrations available for Booking.com, TripAdvisor, CanadaStays and VRBO/HomeAway depending on your size. Some like Booking.com will work for any number of properties. Others like TA and VRBO/HomeAway require 5 or more properties.
