Feature Requests

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Given that each OTA has its own specifications for titles, as well as different audiences, it would be great to add the ability for us to use a different title free service.

For Instants, I total for AirBNB and a different title for Vrbo and you had another title for booking.com.

instants, I total for AirBNB and a different title for Vrbo and yet another title for booking.com.

Unless I’m missing something it seems like this could easily be accomplished in the description section.

It's not hard to code some rules around this to handle this.

-If guest enters all lowercase, convert to title case

-If guest enters all uppercase, convert to title case

-If guest enters a mix, make no changes

In my thank you for booking template, I have this line

If you booked direct with us, Vrbo or HomeToGo, here is payment link if you wish to make interim payments.

Oh, good idea. Thanks!

You can simply have them pay a deposit, send them payment link and they can make payments at their own pace as long as they are paid by due date. Works for advance bookings. 

It would be so much easier accounting wise if we could have the Damage Protection Fees subtotaled by property on the monthly invoice. I currently have to manually add up the total for each property in order to allocate the bill properly to my different properties. 

Hehe, well you could have a list exceptions ;)

The trouble is that not all names work that way.  What about deWitt?  Or O'Hara?

Often we have guests write their names without proper capitalisation, and then the automated emails look unprofessional until we manually correct:

Example; Hello john doe 

Or: Dear JOHN DOE

So could the system not automatically fix each word so only the first letter of each is capitalised? 

Would be a time saver!

I, too, am very interested in this feature.  The inability to use native messaging in VRBO is what keeps me continuing to consider going back to Hospitable (Smartbnb) just for their awesome messaging capabilities.  OR is really a game changer for me and, and native messaging with both Airbnb and VRBO would make me very happy!  Glad you are continuing to work on it.

Deleted due to accidental duplicate post - sorry!

I am absolutely dying for this feature.  Half the time the emails guests use for VRBO are ones they don't check often, so I have to tell them to make sure they check it, and THEN half the time the OR emails go to spam anyway.  High percentage of guests asking me for information the day before/day of check-in when it's already been sent to them... but went to spam.  Extra hassle for me and poor experience for the guests.

Also I'm sure this is a VRBO side issue, but half the time a booking shows up as confirmed in OR with payment accepted, but just shows as an inquiry in VRBO.  So I can't even respond in the VRBO interface to look out for emails from X email address... it won't let me send an email address, I have to say something generic like "keep an eye out for emails from me".  Totally inconsistent as to which bookings show up as confirmed in VRBO and which ones don't.

Very much dislike that communication is off-platform so if there's a dispute there's no record of it on VRBO.

I've given serious consideration to switching to Hospitable purely for the native VRBO messaging, but so far OR has won out because of other features/integrations it has that Hospitable doesn't.  But that doesn't make this feature less important to me, or the current situation less frustrating, and I sincerely hope it's able to be integrated very soon!

I don't like the VRBO app at all.  Updates lag, notifications aren't  great, attachments stink.  Airbnb is fine.  Ideally I'm on a computer more than not so that's what drives my desire for OR and VRBO native messages.  Plus the templates in VRBO are weak.  VRBO app gets the job done for now...

While waiting for this to work, I just use the Vrbo inbox. I have the owner app on my phone, so super easy to use. I often use the Air inbox that way too, even though it’s supported.  
when on my phone, it’s a lot easier than going through OR to message guests.

My prior PMS didn't have reliable VRBO messaging capability.  Had to do it all through VRBO messaging or direct to their email (we had their clear emails).

On the 90 day migration plan too, but VRBO says it's more like 3-4 weeks of you have an existing PMS.

So how are you handling communication with VRBO? Just through emails? Also when I tried to connect with VRBO they said it's processing and it may take up to 90 (!!!) days to complete. Is that normal?

I feel you.  Kind of silly to not want it solely because there's a kludgy workaround.  That said I feel OR has more utility than Hospitable.   Literally only thing missing for me (can't speak for others) is VRBO messaging. 

That's kind of a silly approach though. So you'd rather not have the feature available at all vs having a completely useable feature like Hospitable does? I came here from Hospitable expecting ownerrez to be better. I can't believe you guys don't support VRBO messaging. 

I started using channel bridge in January. Which means I started getting guest addresses. Once I figured out why so many had a specific California address (they cam from Affirm), I learned about Affirm. In the first three months using Channel Bridge, 17% of my VRBO reservations have used Affirm. I understand that once API takes effect, the Affirm payment option will no longer be offered as an option to my VRBO guests. This is concerning. So yes, it would be good to be able to offer Affirm. I'm assuming that individual small businesses cannot do that. But I wonder if there is another way, perhaps something OR can arrange. By the way, as I understand it Affirm is not zero interest. I believe they charge an interest rate, but it may be less than a credit card charges and I think they apply interest - rate determined by guest credit rating - to the whole amount and then  split the payments over a specified time period. Not really sure of the details, but the method seems to be advantageous compared to a credit card. Also there seem to be different methods of using Affirm. Some transaction were paid by Affirm, some paid by Affirm Visa. Don't know what that's about.

On the other hand, I've held off splitting payments for direct bookings until after API gets done. Maybe allowing split payments on VRBO API bookings will alleviate that. At least for far future bookings.  

For now, I've created a duplicate listing and sync'd their calendars.  The duplicate is only on BDC while the primary is on ABB and (eventually) VRBO.  $7/m workaround, but for now it'll have to do.

Great idea.

I should point out that we do have an open API:

https://www.ownerrez.com/support/articles/api-overview

So Airdna is welcome to integrate with us whenever they please, we'd be glad to have them available.  Feel free to suggest this over at Airdna.

I should mention that, if you are using direct security deposits and making your guests sign our Agreements as we recommend, then in a sense you are independent of the channels.

Yes, it is possible for the channel to side with a guest in a dispute, just as they can do a chargeback via their bank.  But if you have a signed agreement, you can sue them in small claims court and win in front of a real judge, who trumps everything else.

Thanks Paul - 

1.  Not having ACH by channel bridge is fine.

2.  A "PENDING" status is fine.  Most of my bookings are 4-6 months in advance, so pending a few days is no problem

3.  As my bookings are 4-6 months in advance, the chargeback on an ACH won't be possible by the time they check in, so this would be a preferred payment method for my properties.

Well, that is the requirement that Airbnb imposed on us, in order to allow us to do Request-to-Book at all.  Their system, their rules I guess.

Are you sure that other systems allow RTB in Airbnb but IB on other channels?  Do you have a specific example?  Perhaps they have changed their policies and we can also take advantage.

Understood, though unfortunate.  Yes, Lodgify is one I can attest to from first-hand experience.  At 8am this morning (Pacific), before I started migrating to OR, I had an API connection to Booking.com which was IB by it's very nature.  I had VRBO and ABB as IB.  This was for my "Resort" property. 

Up until two weeks ago on my "Oasis" property I had AB&B and VRBO as RTB and Booking.com as IB.  Two weeks ago we decided to go back to IB and I put ABB on IB.  VRBO I put on IB a few days ago, I think that may be a new feature for them as I don't recall seeing it before.

Booking is geared towards hotels, so it does not allow an RTB function.  That's the crux of the problem is that if I want to be on that site, I can't keep a higher level of control on the platforms where the userbase is more "party focused" and people will rent a space and think nothing of having 50 people come over for a wedding reception/brunch.  AB&B's party prohibition is completely ignored.

Edit: I was with them since May of 2021 and on Booking from probably August or September on.

Well, that is the requirement that Airbnb imposed on us, in order to allow us to do Request-to-Book at all.  Their system, their rules I guess.

Are you sure that other systems allow RTB in Airbnb but IB on other channels?  Do you have a specific example?  Perhaps they have changed their policies and we can also take advantage.

email goes to vrbo renter's blind disguised email and ends up in vrbo portal, has nothing to do with spam . Maybe see what available features already do what you need them to do b4 asking for thge new ones. Seems like you are not utilizing full functionality or OR. If need be, you can always take screen shots and upload to vrbo portal. That happens like once in 5 years when you really need to do it. 

What you're saying is you're sending emails to VRBO's masked email address it delivers for guests that wind up in their VRBO messaging inbox?  Is that correct?

After the booking is created and you've captured the guest's real email address through your rental agreement how do you proceed?

email goes to vrbo renter's blind disguised email and ends up in vrbo portal, has nothing to do with spam . Maybe see what available features already do what you need them to do b4 asking for thge new ones. Seems like you are not utilizing full functionality or OR. If need be, you can always take screen shots and upload to vrbo portal. That happens like once in 5 years when you really need to do it. 

Very easy. 

1. Set up text-only template of type "Inquiry". In my example it is called AVAILGEN

something like this (of course content can be yours but remember - has to be text-only)

Hi {CFIRST},

Thank you for considering {PDISPNAME} for your vacation.

The dates you are inquiring about {IARR} - {IDEP} are available. Please see information about renting our cabin:

~ {PDISPNAME} is a private vacation home, rented out by owners (not a management company or an agent).

~ NO smoking | NO pets (no exceptions!) | NO house parties | NO bachelor/bachelorette parties | NO student/school/chaperoned groups.

~ Must be at least 25 years of age to rent, and be present during the entire stay; No third party rentals. Minors under 18 can only stay with parent, legal guardian or responsible adult, and must never be left at the property unsupervised.

~ No occupancy above {PXOLIMIT} persons (of any age 1 day and up), with maximum {PXMAXADULTS} adults. Our quoted rate is per property/stay and it is the same whether one guest is staying or {PXOLIMIT}, but we do not permit over limit occupancy. 

~ Property is not reserved in your name until deposit (or full balance) is paid AND booking is accepted. Availability is real-time and may change after this email is sent.

~ Rental Agreement signed by primary Guest and Valid Photo ID are required if you decide to book. If the required is not returned to Owner within 48 hours from booking acceptance, we reserve the right to cancel your booking and issue a refund of any amounts paid.

~ If you are booking more than {QSPDAY} days in advance of your check in date, you will need to pay a deposit plus site fee (if applicable). Balance will be due {QSPDAY} days prior to check in. 

~ If you are booking {QSPDAY} days or less prior to your check in date, the full balance is due immediately. 

~ Cancellation policy: {QCANPOL} No refunds for unforeseen or unfortunate Events outside of Cancellation policy cutoff, under any circumstances, including but not limited to: weather, storms, fear of travel, work/life events, change of plans, change of travel party composition, evacuation or hospitalization.

~ We recommend obtaining Trip insurance for your trip if your stay is during winter months, or if you are concerned about possible Cancellation.

~ The exact address, driving directions and check in instructions will be provided after balance is paid and few days prior to check in.

~ Deposit will released/refunded within 2 weeks after check out provided there are not damages, Agreement violations, and no  excessive cleaning required. It may released be sooner depending on satisfactory post-departure inspection. 

~ Check in is {PCHECKIN} ET and check out is {PCHECKOUT} ET unless pre-arranged otherwise with the Owner IN ADVANCE. Late check outs may be subject to docking of the deposit.

~ Owners reserve the right to install and operate security/image capture devices on the property outside of the cabin for the express purpose of securing the property, driveway, entryway, parking, dwelling and its contents and ensuring adherence to occupancy limits and NO PET policy.

~ Complimentary WIFI is available (Connection speed and availability is not guaranteed).

~ Our cabin is on well and septic. Guest understands that they be charged above and beyond the damage Deposit amount if prohibited items are flushed & clog or damage plumbing or the septic system.

~ Our cabin has yard with fire pit. Yard is NOT fenced and surrounded by nature, small children must be always supervised by a capable adult. 

~ All roads leading to the cabin are paved. AWD/4WD and/or snow chains may be needed during winter IF there is snow/ice on the ground.

2. Set up auto responder with following

3. set up similar for unavailable responses. 

Though I do appreciate the Highlander reference on the integrations page.