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"Those travel insurance document/links... You don't have to show the raw URL. You could use a hyperlink where the word is [Travel insurance policy summary] and link goes to that URL. Use the link menu on the editor to build a link out of it."

Why don't you put one link to those somewhere in your default legal agreement? I just added in this in several places in my version:

We are not "insured" for your possessions, trip, emergencies or Booking; it is strongly recommended you purchase appropriate travel insurance [Travel insurance policy summary] - this will appear in our correspondence with you.

Until they discover the ridiculous Extenuating Circumstances from Airbnb. One woman posted that she averages a 5% loss of revenue to this on AirBnB bookings in her area.

I am hoping that even if some people take the travel insurance, it might head off some who might use Ext Circum as a last minute cancellation method.

I bought an erentallock based on some VR forum posters that pointed out there can be times that wifi can fail. Or the power can fail (which powers the wifi), etc. And that this is not dependent on either...

Can't do that at the moment. The graph colors are auto generated on the fly. That's brilliant though - we should make those the same as the property colors. So obvious.

Stacy, the eRentalLock door locks are a bit different. Those only do the 10 digit codes and that's set by eRentalLock servers. We can't change that or shrink it to smaller digits. Btw, I personally use eRentalLock hardware and like them a lot. They don't run off Wifi so you're limited in what they can report back or have set, but they tend to last forever and be very simple once set up. I'll switch to Wifi at some point, but eRL ftw right now.

Hi Dianne,

Thanks for posting. I would recommend talking with our friends at Ximplifi Accounting: https://ximplifi.com/

If you'd like, I could make an introduction email to our contacts over there with your info. They know what they're doing and they'll be happy to talk to you about your business and offer suggestions.

Sorry if this sounds like we're avoiding the question, but we like to recommend this now for QB/accounting issues. QB/accounting is a VERY broad subject that entails many different accounting models and issues. You mentioned Australian businesses, but also trust accounting/PM and taxes and many other things. It requires the attention of people that really know accounting well. Ximplifi also knows what OwnerRez can do when it comes to pushing content to QB so they'll know if our QB feature will work for your model.

Yes, you can use it for channel bookings. Just sent a trigger to them (either at time of booking, or a day after or whenever) and up-sell it as something they should consider adding. There is a field code you can use to embed the Travel INsurance link for their booking dynamically in email templates.

It appears in the booking (from websites - Book Now, etc) as well, yes

It also appears at the end of the renter agreement signing process as something they should consider. That way if you've sent them a POC/signed agreement link or email after coming from a channel, they hit it right there too.

We're going to be adding a full page interstitial (as an option) in the quote/booking process as well so that the guest is presented with it as an option like:

"I want to select:"

- All season/normal insurance
- Cancel for any reason insurance
- No insurance - I understand that I won't get any money back and the risk is entirely on me

Something like that. The idea is to put it in their face that without insurance they are risk of zero refund. We've seen this technique done elsewhere and it helps to drive home the cancellation policy in a very frank way.

Those travel insurance document/links... You don't have to show the raw URL. You could use a hyperlink where the word is [Travel insurance policy summary] and link goes to that URL. Use the link menu on the editor to build a link out of it.

Go into Settings > Channel Connections > connect Airbnb synced channel if you haven't already. Then in the AIrbnb channel settings, look down at the property mappings. Make sure each OwnerRez property is mapped to a Airbnb listing #. After that's done, use the Actions > Push Rates link on each property. Yes, it's one by one for now. We'll be making that a bulk process for all properties soon and we want to make it background update as well. One step at a time.

I send it 2 days prior to arrival. after balance has been paid and ID provided to me and rental agreement signed.

Can anyone tell me how to change the colours of the graph lines for each property in the various reports - I'd like to have them match up to the booking page
Thanks
Dianne

Hi all - I'm looking to transfer my existing accounting software from Xero to Quickbooks, so I can take advantage of the OR integration. Can you give me your feedback/input on how you're finding having your business run/managed with QB and OR integrated? Anyting you'd wished you'd known at the beginning etc?

Chris - have you had any issues with the OR and QB integration into Australian businesses?

Thanks in advance :)
Dianne

I can't put the URLs to your Travel Guard in my agreement or correspondence (for them to look at), because they are practically gibberish:

https://cdn.orez.io/wcnv/docs/Travel%20Insurance%20-%20Policy.pdf?v=3b9a2f2f6e9aa9069d237cc1f44e9c171d4a6480

https://cdn.orez.io/wcnv/docs/Travel%20Insurance%20-%20Overview.pdf?v=d76c35b091f6419ede5d4e554e86a750fa83553f

Additional thoughts:
1) A few years ago when I was looking for a new job, some recruiter emails were going to my spam and I missed opportunities. So from then on (until I got a job), I was looking at my spam folder daily!
2) If you are using an email you had for awhile that gets a lot of spam, you might want to create a new email, so that it is easier to monitor for guest emails

But now, this episode is making ME think to check spam folders on a daily basis!

Thanks Paul for your thorough answer. I'm monitoring this and will reach out again if I have trouble. My FROM header is Galveston Caszatt Condos, a new domain.

We agree completely, that's what we would like to have also.

Randy

On this note, I thought my e-Rental Lock had to be 10 digits and then you can manually create a 4 - 6 digit code with it at the door after that's set. Are you saying the functionality, once enabled, will let us generate shorter codes? That would be great!

It does. You need to enable channel management for that

I just setup my Airbnb and it does not push rates out. Does it not push rates for airbnb? I can't find anything I have done wrong on the setup.

OK, I poked through a little of the Travel Insurance feature and documentation. It seems to accompany Quotes. I have a few questions:

1) I wanted to put this in my legal agreement. Is there a summary or link I can put in the agreement for them to review? I already mention the wisdom of getting Travel Insurance a few times, and would like to put something in.
2) Does this work at all with Booking via the big OTAs? Such as during the Booking or after the fact can I offer it? Separately?
3) Does this only appear in a Quote, or also during the actual Booking pathway as an option (thinking the Hosted website here)?

I am looking at my hosted website and do not see a place to elect the damage waiver or travel insurance. Can that be connected easily?

The app is free. I have a couple of vacation condos in Myrtle Beach and will be doing the 30-day free trial to see if there are more efficiencies between my cleaning person and me. Right now she cleans 5 condos in the same complex and depends on me updating a spreadsheet with each booking. This method is archaic and I believe that the resort app will demonstrate a more streamlined option. We'll share our thoughts along the way.

Joe - Novation Property Management

That is just what I do. I have 7 properties, and the time that Guests show up to me is the most valuable time to vet and assist. Instructions are posted to contact us either via the Ring Video doorbell, or to call us if that is not operational.. Whether we use the doorbell or meet in person depends on availability and when they arrive.

Our neighbor (guesthouse) has them calling as they arrive, and meets them at the front door for a quick wqalkthrough.

We live in the large (5 unit) Property and are 1 block from our 2 unit Property.

If their phone is dead, we can talk via doorbell. If the doorbell does not work they can contact us. I agree you need two methods in case something goes wrong.

The Ring Video doorbell usually doesn't require monitoring. When they press the doorbell, it automatically calls you to initiate the session.If they show really late I would probably just provide

I also will be having an assistant to help with initial meet and greet, if I am not available.

Yes, we would like random codes with just 4 digits. Ideally, the number of digits would be a settable number by us. I think Schlage locks might require 6. We send out our codes the night before arrival. Will eventually do it via automated email.

Randy

Oh, so you want still random codes but just 4 digits?

@Ross - there's a middle ground there... I wouldn't send a door code upon booking but I like to send mine 7 days before arrival when they've already paid in full and are planning the trip. Some last minute thing via a video feed is too error prone and not scalable -- if wifi ever goes down or the guest's phone dies on the trip or any other number of reasons then you're stuck. Also if you've got more than a couple properties it's going to be a ton of work to monitor cameras and take calls.

FWIW

I am not sure that the whole process just sending a code to the guests ahead of time is a good idea. I read recently that there is a scam now where people who plan to rob your place will book and get the code and then vandalize or steal items ahead of their booking time. Also not including people who are not what they claim to be who once they get in, you lose control.

My check-in plan is to have a ring video doorbell, that they have to contact me upon arrival. That enables me to see whether they brought too many people, try to sneak in pets, appear to be smoking, or are not the people they claim to be. In addition, it captures their image in case they try to do a chargeback and pretend it was not them who stayed. Or perhaps have not supplied government IDs or signed your legal agreement are there was supposed to. It also enables you to do card present if you so wish

Only when they seem to be proper will they receive the code from me!

We don't think having a customer entering a 10-digit code when they arrive at a new place and it's dark and raining.is a good experience. We'll need to manually set all the codes to 4 digits in which case the autogeneration doesn't buy us much. When do you expect autogeneration of 4-digit codes to be available?

Randy

Those things on the amenities page are primarily for syncing out to channel integrations. On the OwnerRez side they're informational only and don't attach to any specific rules.

That's also why the property types are as they are -- those are the types that HA and TA support. We don't update Air listings yet, but when we do we'll add a dropdown for Airbnb as well.

Internet is any sort of internet including wired internet. Wifi is just that specific wifi.

When you put a comment on the amenity, it'll show on the hosted website.

For the event center, mark it as "events allowed". For stuff like that and also minimum age, the details would go in the text fields and then perhaps in your renter agreement. Again, there's no way for us to enforce that on the channels so it's informational and then a source of record for a reason to reject a booking if you need to.

We auto-set a 10 digit code always, but you can go into the booking and set a specific code like the last four of the guest phone.

We've got a to-do list item to let you set rules for shorter codes, but we keep them long for now to reduce collisions -- RemoteLock does not allow duplicate codes even if they are for different dates.

To start a site, go to your properties and set up the Location, Description, Amenities and Photos tabs. Those will drive the site. Then go to Settings > Hosted Websites and create one. All you need to enter when creating is the name of the site -- you can leave everything else alone to start.

Here's an article with more info: https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/hosted-websites

Yep, you'd purchase the domain separately and then link it to OwnerRez. That way you retain ownership of the domain and are in full control of it in case you want to add other things like email or move to a different host. You get a test location on our domain so you don't have to worry about linking your domain until you're ready to go live.

Our site doesn't allow arbitrary code to be uploaded to the server, so we don't have this issue.

The minimum age of the person renting crossed my mind, in reality, I think this field should be titled minimum age of responsible party. Shouldn't have to think about its meaning?