General Help and Questions

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Channel Bridge Airbnb 1 reply

Maarten H
Sep 22, 2022 6:49 AM
Joined Jul, 2022 21 posts

I am getting this message when trying to import bookings from Airbnb. Reviews work fine.

I have tried with different date options but it gives an error in all cases.

 

 Error processing data. Try again or contact support.

 

Anyone has had this before me?

 

 

Yale Assure Locks via Z-Wave and Ring.... 1 reply

Ken T
Sep 21, 2022 9:05 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

Yale Assure Locks via Z-Wave and Ring.... 1 reply

Shasta Lakeshore
Sep 21, 2022 4:57 PM
Joined Sep, 2022 6 posts

Hello,

We currently have Yale Assure locks with the Z-wave module which communicates through the Ring Alarm system in each of our homes.  It is a really nice combination.  Does anyone know if there is a third party that supports this and will work with OwnerRez?

thanks

Dave
Shasta Lakeshore Retreat

Wordpress plugin - PHP issues 0 replies

Maarten H
Sep 21, 2022 12:43 PM
Joined Jul, 2022 21 posts

Not a question but just sharing some experience in case anyone encounters the same problem.

 

I tried to install the OR Wordpress plugin. I use cPanel. It was giving me an error when trying to unzip the plugin saying I needed a higher PHP version.

In cPanel you can set that under MultiPHP Manager on the Dashboard. I changed it to the highest version (8.1) and was able to install the plugin successfully. 

The next day, however, my website was down...

Again, it had to do with PHP. So I switched back PHP v7.3., as it was before. Then I got a message that "Composer" required v7.4 or higher, so I went with that.

That seems to have solved the problem for me. 

Calendar imports/exports for Airbnb not working 4 replies

Bernard C
Sep 21, 2022 8:16 AM
Joined Jul, 2021 14 posts

Maybe not linked to VRBO, I just noticed that the only calendar import from Airbnb I have is no longer working, after months of being OK. I tried validating 2 or 3 Airbnb icals and get this list of issues:

  1. Lines not delimited by CRLF sequence near line # 1Reference: RFC 5545 3.1. Content Lines
  2. Missing DTSTAMP property near line # 5Reference: RFC 5545 3.6.1. Event Component
  3. Missing DTSTAMP property near line # 11Reference: RFC 5545 3.6.1. Event Component
  4. Missing DTSTAMP property near line # 17Reference: RFC 5545 3.6.1. Event Component
  5. Missing DTSTAMP property near line # 23Reference: RFC 5545 3.6.1. Event Component
  6. Missing DTSTAMP property near line # 29Reference: RFC 5545 3.6.1. Event Component
  7. Missing DTSTAMP property near line # 35Reference: RFC 5545 3.6.1. Event Component

Anyone having the same issue?

Thanks to advise

 

Delay credit card processing until after rental contract signed for Vrbo bookings? 7 replies

Ken T
Sep 20, 2022 6:06 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

No, there's not a way to make the card process automatically when the RA is signed. If you choose to turn off the auto process, you'll need to run it yourself when, in your judgment, the booking is ready for it.

Cleaner Notifications 2 replies

Matthew M
Sep 20, 2022 5:05 PM
Joined Aug, 2022 8 posts

Just curious to hear how other OwnerRez users have implemented their cleaner notifications?

 

Do you share the ownerez ical calendar link?

Set up a Triggered email message?

 

Any other kind of innovative method?

 

Thanks,

Matt

Delay credit card processing until after rental contract signed for Vrbo bookings? 7 replies

Loretta K
Sep 20, 2022 8:42 AM
Joined Jul, 2022 12 posts

Thank you, Chris.  You had told me how to delay the processing of the card for my own website in a different forum post.  But after I received a booking from Vrbo last Wednesday, and it showed "Pending until Thursday, Sep 15", I suspected the setting for "Don't charge the card now" applied to Vrbo, too, because it's at the property level.   

What confused me about that booking, though, was that the email I received after approving the processing of the card was "Automatic payments applied...." with the message "When this card came in initially, the guest didn't send a good credit card so we weren't able to schedule payments and put the card on file.  We just got a good card number from the guest..."

So all that is missing from what I want to do is the automatic trigger to process the credit card when the rental agreement is signed. Any ideas on that?

And, yes, I know the guests see the contract and house rules when they book, but I've had a few people refuse to sign the contract after booking because they finally read it when they had to sign and initial it.  I'm sure we dodged a bullet with those guests, but I don't want problem guests to sign the contract to avoid losing their 3% if they have no intention of abiding by the contract.

 

Delay credit card processing until after rental contract signed for Vrbo bookings? 7 replies

Chris Hynes
Sep 20, 2022 6:31 AM
OR Team Member Joined Oct, 2012 1403 posts

Your first instinct here is correct -- if you enable the "Card will not be charged when the booking is made” rule, that will apply to Vrbo bookings as well as direct. The card won't be charged upon booking and you'll be able to confirm the booking manually and choose to charge at a later date. 

Also note that the guest does agree to the house rules, Renter Agreement, and card processing several times during the Vrbo booking process even if you don't have a signed agreement on file in OwnerRez yet, so there shouldn't be any issues of confusion. If you go through that process as a guest, you'll see all of the different places that the charges and policies are made clear and the guest has to agree.

 

Delay credit card processing until after rental contract signed for Vrbo bookings? 7 replies

Loretta K
Sep 19, 2022 11:41 PM
Joined Jul, 2022 12 posts

Thank you, Ken.  I have that rule already so I know I can cancel if they don't sign.

The issue is that it used to be a zero-cost cancellation for both me and the guest if the guest would not sign the rental agreement (full refund up to 60 days prior). That's because Vrbo does not retain a processing fee if you fully refund the guest (I am not talking about the service fee).

But now that I process the card (currently with Stripe), someone has to pay the 3% Stripe fee if the guest doesn't sign the contract.  I'm using the 97% refund cancellation policy so the guest pays the 3% if they cancel.

The problem is a guest that won't sign could argue that they don't have to pay the 3% fee because they never signed the contract agreeing to the 3% cancellation fee. Or that I cancelled their booking when they didn't sign so I should pay the 3% fee.  Either way, it seems to make more sense to me to not process the credit card until after the contract is signed.

 

 

 

 

 

Delay credit card processing until after rental contract signed for Vrbo bookings? 7 replies

Ken T
Sep 19, 2022 11:14 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

Yes, in fact, it is essential to state in your House Rules that guests are required to sign and follow the Rental Agreement.

Delay credit card processing until after rental contract signed for Vrbo bookings? 7 replies

Loretta K
Sep 19, 2022 8:45 PM
Joined Jul, 2022 12 posts

So either I am out the 3% or the guest is out 3% if they decide they don't want to actually sign the contract.  Sounds like I have to use one of three House Rules to admonish them to read the contract because the cancellation policy of losing 3% becomes effective as soon as they book even though they haven't actually signed a contract.  Do you have any other options for this?

 

Delay credit card processing until after rental contract signed for Vrbo bookings? 7 replies

Ken T
Sep 19, 2022 8:28 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

This is not recommended and not supported - the card should be charged as soon as the booking is made.  You don't want bookings blocking your calendar that have not paid you anything.

Quickbook resources 8 replies

CWV
Sep 19, 2022 6:43 PM
Joined Nov, 2019 63 posts

Nik,  

I am using Ryan Gallagher with Vacation rental bookkeeping.  Getting set up was super easy as he knows his way around OR.  You can reach him at ryan@vacationrentalbookkeeping.com.  he is excellent.

Quickbook resources 8 replies

Ken T
Sep 19, 2022 12:06 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

Got your Helpdesk message and replied.

Delay credit card processing until after rental contract signed for Vrbo bookings? 7 replies

Loretta K
Sep 19, 2022 10:18 AM
Joined Jul, 2022 12 posts

I would like to wait to charge the credit card for Vrbo bookings (API integrated, Instant Book) until after the contract is signed.  And I would like that all to be automatic – the signing of the contract triggers the charging of the credit card. All of it has to be done within 48 hours or the booking gets cancelled. How do I set this up? 

I've already set the “Property” Rule for credit cards to “Card will not be charged when the booking is made” and know that applies to direct bookings but can't tell if it works for Vrbo bookings.

Rates by Channel - Hosted Website 8 replies

Matthew M
Sep 18, 2022 11:00 PM
Joined Aug, 2022 8 posts

I am currently getting my direct booking site set up through the hosted site feature in OwnerRez.

I am currently setting rates through Pricelabs.

Is there a way to override rates by channel?  Specifically I want to adjust my booking site's rate a little higher to capture some of the management fee that the customer doesn't have to pay through Airbnb and VRBO.

I can add a "Management" surcharge to accomplish this but I'd rather just roll it into the rent fee.

Is this possible?

 

Thanks,

Matt

 

Amy way to find and delete unused custom fields? 0 replies

BlueMtnCabins
Sep 18, 2022 5:54 PM
Joined Jun, 2016 1155 posts

Some may be no longer used. Thanks

Hosted Website - Detailed Charges and Taxes 2 replies

Matthew M
Sep 17, 2022 10:14 PM
Joined Aug, 2022 8 posts

Ken, thank you!

I don't know why but I switched it around to "everything but" Airbnb and the Taxes detail started showing up on my website.

 

Thank you sir.

Quickbook resources 8 replies

N
Sep 17, 2022 7:38 PM
Joined Nov, 2021 1 post

@Ken could you send me this information as well?

Hosted Website - Detailed Charges and Taxes 2 replies

Ken T
Sep 17, 2022 5:35 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

This may be because your direct bookings are not being properly identified as being from your website.

In any case, this is not the recommended way to set taxes - rather than setting specific channels where they are applied, you should instead set specific channels where they are known not to be applied (if any).  The most common use case for this is Airbnb, when they both collect and remit a particular tax and you don't have to deal with it.

Hosted Website - Detailed Charges and Taxes 2 replies

Matthew M
Sep 17, 2022 2:33 PM
Joined Aug, 2022 8 posts

I am testing the hosted website feature and I'm not seeing the tax charges in the "Charge Details" section.

In the Taxes setting, I have city and state tax set for Vrbo and My Website (the taxes work through Vrbo).

On Pricing Preferences - How Guest See Charges I've swapped between "detailed breakdown" and "combine" for Taxes and that doesn't appear to make a difference.

 

Any ideas?

 

Thanks in advance,

Matt

 

 

Igloo lock Bridge 0 replies

Le Touquet Holid
Sep 17, 2022 6:51 AM
Joined Nov, 2018 113 posts

I notice Igloo now do a bridge for their locks which seems to be a wifi to Bluetooth repeater unit.

Does anyone have one? Have you encountered any issues with the OR remote lock integration since you installed the bridge? I assume they can both run together happily.

Quickbooks 16 replies

LivingItUpHawaii
Sep 16, 2022 8:59 PM
Joined Jun, 2022 11 posts

Hello, 

 

Any Updates on the integration with Quickbooks including the negative Airbnb service fee on automated invoice?  ? I would love Use Ownerrez for that for all my platforms payouts and my website. Invoicing could be done in one place. 

Currently I use Bnbtally ( and I love it but having it in one place wold help as well) and they way they solve the problem with Airbnb Service fee they created a part class Airbnb Service Fee  in the Cost Of Service in the chart of accounts.  the amount that comes out in that part class is negative and it does balances the invoice and the payout.  The only thing you have that the Airbnb Fees / Vrbo fees would be under the Cost of doing business not expense account.  

If Ownerez could test that on their side that would be great and it would help a lot of people. 

Airbnb Accounting & Bookkeeping: A Comprehensive Guide (bnbtally.com)

 

Best Regards,

 

Anna Noll 

 

Facebook Pixel Conversion Tracking 12 replies

Yvette H
Sep 16, 2022 7:08 PM
Joined Jan, 2021 2 posts

Hello,

Is there an updated list of events OR tracks in Google Analytics and Facebook Pixel? If OR creates all of the custom events related to our use case as hosts, we don't have to create new tags to track bookings and inquiries on our direct booking website, correct? We currently use a WP.com site powered by OR widgets, so we can't effectively create events for the widget buttons or OR booking landing pages.

Thanks,

Yvette

Cleaning fees issue 11 replies

Pedro T
Sep 16, 2022 10:38 AM
Joined Nov, 2017 51 posts

I have at least a handful of bookings that came in same day, some for only one night, and that have already checked in affected by this and I wasn't made aware of the problem until now. As far as I'm concerned Airbnb needs to pay us our cleaning fees. I'll run a report today to see how many bookings are missing cleaning fees

 

Cleaning fees issue 11 replies

LC House
Sep 15, 2022 1:22 PM
Joined Aug, 2022 12 posts

I have guest booked this morning for same day check in and they are already on their way. They are very upset about the additional cleaning fee that wasnt presented at the point of booking. Who will be responsible for my loss of income?

Minimum night being overwritten 2 replies

LC House
Sep 15, 2022 1:15 PM
Joined Aug, 2022 12 posts

Hi Ken,

I have never set min price on Pricelabs. Nevetheless, I still followed instructions and delete all rules on my rate calendar. The problem still persisted. Tech support told me that it could be due to the min night set in my seasons. So I went ahead and deleted all my seasons. Still the min night on all of my listings kept revert back to the 3 night minimum set in Property Rules. Tech support couldnt figure out why.

Cleaning fees issue 11 replies

Ken T
Sep 15, 2022 1:02 PM
OR Team Member Joined Aug, 2019 1704 posts

I just finished a conference call with our Airbnb contacts, and here is what they have recommended:
 

  1. You can choose to keep the affected bookings as they are, without the cleaning surcharge.
  2. If you do not wish to keep the bookings without the cleaning surcharge, please cancel the bookings, which will incur the normal cancellation penalties.
  3. Feel free to reach out to Airbnb Customer Support to report the issue, and ask for penalties to be removed.
  4. If CS does not remove the penalties, write in to our Helpdesk with the specific bookings. I will surface this to our Airbnb contact and see if they can remove the host penalties on your behalf, but I can't make any promises.

Cleaning fees issue 11 replies

GCTHR
Sep 15, 2022 11:47 AM
Joined Sep, 2021 4 posts

Hi Chris, 

Thanks for the information. We have 2 such a bookings which are missing cleaning fees. How do we create support ticket? or can I mention the booking number here? I have not created support ticket before so any information would be appreciated. 

Thanks, 

GC Rentals.