General Help and Questions

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Check Out time not displaying properly 3 replies

Felicia S
Aug 3, 2022 9:54 AM
Member for 3 years 9 posts

I've set my check-out time to 10:30a. However, I've noticed that in all correspondance that guest are receiving, as well as what is pushed out to Airbnb and VRBO, the system is saying that check-out is at 10:00a. How do I fix this?

Pricelabs 7 replies

Donna C
Aug 3, 2022 12:27 AM
Member for 3 years 3 posts

Hi, John here (Donna's husband).

Two questions:

1.  Some VRBO listings show prices on the calendar and some don't.  VRBO support seems to think this is a glitch and all listings should show prices.  Does anyone know what causes calendar prices to disappear on VRBO?

2.  PriceLabs sets prices all over the map, different for every day.  I'm glad they're so smart about it, but in our beachfront market it seems like we're the only listing with inconsistent pricing from day to day.  It's a weekly rental, so guests expect an unchanging price, at lease for a week at a time.  Can anyone offer suggestions of a fix while still using PriceLabs automation?

Thanks and Best.

John

 

Reverting Back to Non-Professional Host on Airbnb 5 replies

Chandler S
Aug 2, 2022 10:08 PM
Member for 6 years 30 posts

Thanks Ken

Reverting Back to Non-Professional Host on Airbnb 5 replies

Ken T
Aug 2, 2022 10:07 PM
OR Alum Member for 6 years 1704 posts

No, that's not actually controlled from inside OwneRez - you'll have to work with Airbnb also to get that switched back in their system, if they're willing.

Day of week email trigger 9 replies

Wren Beach Renta
Aug 2, 2022 8:13 PM
Member for 8 years 4 posts

I would like to see this as I have the same issue.  I can trigger once a booking is created, but I would like to send out a reminder email the day before trash pick up.  Simply adding in the trigger field "a day of the week" seems reasonable.  Any update on this?

Creating Min night stays for all days of week during a season 6 replies

Ken T
Aug 2, 2022 7:59 PM
OR Alum Member for 6 years 1704 posts

Yes, all the dynamic pricing systems work generally the same way and follow the same rules with OwnerRez.

Reverting Back to Non-Professional Host on Airbnb 5 replies

Chandler S
Aug 2, 2022 4:52 PM
Member for 6 years 30 posts

I unchecked the "Professional Host" box under Airbnb API settings because my paying for the guest fee experiment didn't yield the results I was looking for. However, several days later my listing still shows that I'm covering the guest fee. Does changing this setting automatically flow through to Airbnb or is there another setting I'm forgetting about?

Creating Min night stays for all days of week during a season 6 replies

Kiki Corner of W
Aug 2, 2022 12:41 PM
Member for 3 years 1 post

Is the same true for the Beyond Pricing program that I use? Beyond pricing will be the ultimate settings of minimal night required?

Best alternative to API integration with AirBnB 1 reply

Kathryn R
Aug 2, 2022 9:20 AM
Member for 3 years 4 posts

Hi Loretta,

Not sure how much help this will be, but leaving you a link here to check out for yourself in case you do find it helpful:  https://hubs.ly/Q01187cH0 

It would only be relevant for your Q3 about damage protection for Airbnb bookings really. I'm not sure who you currently use for damage protection and absolutely don't want to step on any toes, but in the interest of providing further info, Know Your Guest™ technology from SUPERHOG would still be applicable on Airbnb bookings for you in this instance, the damage protection is up to $5million (USD) and using our white labelled (your branding) One Step Link you wouldn't need to be integrated via the channel manager so that wouldn't be an issue and you'd still have peace of mind that your bookings are protected.

Feel free to reach out with any further questions, otherwise I will leave it with you and hope it helps.

Good luck getting your things sorted!

Kathryn & the Know Your Guest™ team at SUPERHOG

Best alternative to API integration with AirBnB 1 reply

Loretta K
Aug 2, 2022 8:58 AM
Member for 3 years 12 posts

I signed up for OwnerRez for a few reasons - fast calendar syncing to avoid double bookings when using IB on several platforms was the biggest one, with the next most valuable being the damage protection insurance.  I'm setting everything up and API integrated with AirBnB yesterday and started the Vrbo integration.

Unfortunately, AirBnB requires API-integrated hosts to use their simplified pricing (our property is in the Caribbean). This puts us at a severe disadvantage competitively since none of the competition is using simplified pricing and it's not obvious to potential guests that our rate includes the guest service fee. We're already a high-priced property; now we just look crazy.

I'm willing to try leaving it API integrated if I can have a different heading on AirBnB than Vrbo .  Is that possible?  If so, how?

If not, I'll have to disconnect the API integration and have some other questions.

1) What happens to my listing when I disconnect?  Does everything go blank or stay the way it was when connected?

2) What's the best way to keep the calendars synced?  We're on three platforms - Vrbo, AirBnB, and our own website (not an OR website). Ideally, we would be on IB for at least Vrbo and AirBnB.  We almost never get more than one booking in a day and rarely are they for the same/overlapping dates, so calendars syncing every 30 minutes should be OK.  But with the new ABB policies of hosts cancelling, the closer to instantaneous syncing, the better.

3) Can I still purchase the damage insurance for AirBnB bookings?

 

Thank you for any help you can give me.

 

Block-off dates show "booked" on calendar widget 1 reply

Jason W
Aug 2, 2022 7:28 AM
Member for 3 years 1 post

The block-off dates show "booked" on the single month calendar widget, although they are not booked, they are blocked. Is there a way to show "unavailable" on the calendar widget rather than "booked"?

Deposit Tool 2 replies

Kathryn R
Aug 2, 2022 4:04 AM
Member for 3 years 4 posts

Hi all, with deposits being such a hot topic I wanted to share a link with you that you may find useful, at least interesting. 

Know Your Guest™ technology from SUPERHOG actually gives you a few options here when it comes to having something in place to cover small damages, you can choose the traditional damage deposit route (typically larger amount, refundable), or choose our Damage Waiver (typically smaller amount, non-refundable), or even give your guest the option to choose what works best for them. With the waiver you also add an additional revenue stream into your business, and then for any larger damages, we can help you out there too with our up to $5million guarantee.

But I'll let you look and learn at your leisure: https://hubs.ly/Q01187cH0 simply click the link to our OwnerRez/SUPERHOG Partner page and have a browse, if you want to get straight to the nitty gritty click on "What We Offer" up at the top and then "Simplified Deposit Management". If you want to learn more by chatting to the team you can fill out the form on the page too or if it's easier simply let me know and I'll get you introduced to the right person.

Hope this helps anyone out there looking into your options!

Kathryn & the Know Your Guest™ team

HELP! AirBnb Bookings Not Showing Full Payment 2 replies

Ken T
Aug 1, 2022 1:46 PM
OR Alum Member for 6 years 1704 posts

Have you been using Channel Bridge?  You could also try the mode explained in part 2 here:

https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-bridge-common-issues-questions#debug

Note that Airbnb often doesn't post payments until around the time of guest arrival.  So, it may not be practical to use the "Paid in Full" criteria with Airbnb bookings.

HELP! AirBnb Bookings Not Showing Full Payment 2 replies

Freedom F
Jul 31, 2022 8:53 AM
Member for 3 years 1 post

Bump.  I am having the same issue.  Guests have paid in full on AirBnB but not updating in OR.   VRBO just shows zero for everything (but they are behind on API integration on their end apparently for full synch). 

Security deposit - is it possible for the amount charged to vary? 12 replies

Ken T
Jul 29, 2022 9:13 PM
OR Alum Member for 6 years 1704 posts

You'll want to change the Rules, and, potentially, also the Scheduled security deposit on the Transactions tab.

Security deposit - is it possible for the amount charged to vary? 12 replies

Loretta K
Jul 29, 2022 9:10 PM
Member for 3 years 12 posts

Thank you.  I presume I simply edit the booking to change the security deposit hold amount and the date, so I'll try it.

Security deposit - is it possible for the amount charged to vary? 12 replies

Ken T
Jul 29, 2022 8:30 PM
OR Alum Member for 6 years 1704 posts

In theory, yes, you could do that, but you'd have to set things up manually, and I don't really see what that's accomplishing for you.  We wouldn't recommend trying to do it that way, as there's so much scope for confusion, disagreement, and forgetfulness, but technically it is possible.

Security deposit - is it possible for the amount charged to vary? 12 replies

Loretta K
Jul 29, 2022 8:27 PM
Member for 3 years 12 posts

Hello, Ken - thank you for the link - that's useful information. 

But I'll ask my question this way - can I modify the booking to require a unique security deposit hold after the booking has been paid in full?  What about after arrival?  I want zero as the value for the security deposit hold at time of booking, but I want to change it to a unique value shortly before check in date.

Security deposit - is it possible for the amount charged to vary? 12 replies

Ken T
Jul 29, 2022 7:37 PM
OR Alum Member for 6 years 1704 posts

I'm not sure I understand the question?  It sounds like you're basically just describing a security deposit hold - we collect the credit card info in advance, then set the hold a day or two before arrival and keep it active as long as necessary.

Here's information on hold length and renewal:

https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/security-deposit-holds#multiple-holds

 

Security deposit - is it possible for the amount charged to vary? 12 replies

Loretta K
Jul 29, 2022 5:25 PM
Member for 3 years 12 posts

Like at a hotel, we offer services at our villa in the Caribbean (such as meal preparation and sometimes local currency cash advances). I'd like to set up a credit card hold to cover these services like the hotels do.

It looks like the security deposit hold would work, but some guests don't use the services and others pay cash to avoid credit card fees. Is there a way to add a security deposit hold about a week before arrival to be collected the day before arrival?  And how long is the hold good for?  Most of our guests stay a week.

Help -- Vrbo and owner rez calendar sync 4 replies

Ken T
Jul 28, 2022 10:00 PM
OR Alum Member for 6 years 1704 posts

This is normal - iCals do not carry rate data.  You'll need to work towards our more advanced connection methods, such as our API connection.

https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/channel-management-api-integrations

 

Adding Customer messages 1 reply

Help -- Vrbo and owner rez calendar sync 4 replies

Dan C
Jul 28, 2022 6:39 PM
Member for 3 years 1 post

I changed some rates in the calendars in vrbo but they are not reflecting in OR. I went to settings,  calendar import/export, clicked on the appropriate ical and clicked sync now and no changes appear. It has been over 30 minutes also.

Please help

Thanks

Dan

Adding Customer messages 1 reply

Chris R
Jul 28, 2022 3:38 PM
Member for 3 years 2 posts

I see the standard "Booking" email templates but wanted to add a "how is your stay so far" and "thanks for staying with us/leave a review" automated message. is there any way to do this in Owner Rez, to set them up to send at specific times during and after the customer stay?

Messages and different channels 3 replies

Le Touquet Holid
Jul 27, 2022 6:25 PM
Member for 7 years 113 posts

I asked for some filters in the screen a long time ago but it's just been composted to the bottom of the list.

https://www.ownerrez.com/forums/requests/booking-email-tab-filter-to-only-show-scheduled-emails

Booking/Blocked Off Time messages 1 reply

Ken T
Jul 27, 2022 4:56 PM
OR Alum Member for 6 years 1704 posts

We've looked into making changes to this, but, for now, if you want booking-type messages to be sent, it needs to be a booking, not a block.  A $0 charge booking is valid however.

Theming 2 replies

Chuck K
Jul 27, 2022 1:08 PM
Member for 6 years 93 posts

Understood. In our case, we are going through rebranding. Incrementally. But when done, I guess I will have to duplicate the Theme as the account theme. Not really a big deal overall. But I suspect that as people grow their business and portfolios it is something that may be desirable.

Theming 2 replies

Chris Hynes
Jul 27, 2022 6:13 AM
OR Team Member Member for 13 years 1405 posts

Not currently -- the account theme is special in that it's the contact info/logo etc. on the account itself. The other themes are stored separately, but the account theme is the default and it's stored on the account.

Typically you'd want to use the account theme as the default, so there can be a fallback if there's no property in some context -- like an inquiry with no property.

Then, you'd set up the per property themes separately. If you don't have a property that uses the account theme, that's fine -- you can map all properties to specific themes and leave the default more general.

Booking/Blocked Off Time messages 1 reply

Celia W
Jul 27, 2022 12:10 AM
Member for 3 years 13 posts

We have friends coming to stay at our home free of charge.  I would still like for them to receive the "Welcome" messages and "Check out Instruction" messages, etc before/during/after their stay.  There is important info in each.

Can I just block off time and the messages with triggers will still go out?  Or do I create a booking, change the fees to "0" and allow the trigger messages to go out that way?  Block off time seems easier and cleaner. But I'm not seeing the message options.

Theming 2 replies

Chuck K
Jul 26, 2022 2:13 PM
Member for 6 years 93 posts

Is there an easy way to "swap" a theme into or out of being the Account Theme?

Example: we are rebranding property by property and nearly done. I need to update the account theme to the new name and info. We have been doing this property by property until now. However, I also want to KEEP the old account theme for a while - just in case.

So I want to make the new brand the account theme and the current account them saved in a different slot.