All Forum Posts by: Account Closed

Hello! I've been utilizing Wheelhouse for market analytics and insights, but I find it lacking in the depth required for our needs. Could you share which analytical tools you employ and might suggest? I'm in search of an option that is not only cost-effective but also offers detailed sub-market intelligence.

I use Hostfully currently for a portfolio over 50+ properties. Honestly, it's one of the better softwares I've used but it could be better. I absolutely hate the inbox. The notifications are iffy and it just looks very outdated, however the sheer number of platforms and ease of getting started makes it worth it. The custom messaging across all platforms is a huge plus as well. It's a great dupe for Guesty and is only developing further. I'm able to fully access my calendar via my phone and answer messages from all platforms. When a guest sends an inquiry you can't see their reviews so you might have to toggle back to Airbnb if that bothers you, but you can accept or decline right there. I wish the personal booking website was better. It's lacking in that area with no promises to grow thusfar. 

As all salesman, the Hostfully specialist I spoke with oversold the accounting features which we really depended on. We are able to connect it to Quickbooks but I was looking for a platform that did in depth custom reporting which this one does not. It really does not provide much help in terms of reporting. 

@Trent Reeve I have 20+ listings in Ohio. Majority are in Columbus and all over Cleveland. They range from 1 bedroom/1 bath apartments to 5 bedroom/3 bath houses and are all performing the same on Vrbo. 

I'm contemplating whether to list all my units on Furnished Finder, but I'm unsure if it's a worthwhile decision. Could anyone share the advantages and disadvantages of joining this platform? I'm aware of the associated property fee, but I'm curious about other aspects, both positive and negative. If any hosts have experience with Furnished Finder, your insights would be invaluable in helping me make an informed decision.

I've read quite a few posts about other hosts receiving the majority of bookings through Vrbo and that is just not the case for me and I'm curious as to why. I started off using Lodgify as a pms system and now I'm using Hostfully. My airbnb and booking.com bookings have always been 90% of my bookings and I've only had maybe 4 Vrbo bookings this year. What am I doing wrong? The listings were imported from my pms system so they weren't manually entered in Vrbo. The units are doing great on Airbnb and Booking.com but I've had no success with Vrbo all around. 

How can I change this? How can I get more bookings with Vrbo?

I highly recommend staying on the original platform. Attempting to pay in cash is a huge red flag, as there is no way to collect compensation if/when they cause damage to the property. As mentioned previously, paying in cash usually indicates that the individual cannot meet the criteria elsewhere and wants to avoid documentation. This poses a significant risk for potential squatters. Depending on the area, once they've established residency for a certain period, you might have to take legal action to evict them.

That said, I have previously taken a guest inquiry offline and it turned out fine. However, I did this through my property management system and personal booking website. By doing so, I was able to gather accurate credit card information and required them to sign a rental agreement, making them legally bound. I would never accept cash unless I personally knew and truly trusted the individual.

I started out using Turno, and it made things pretty easy in the beginning. It's great when you need a quick backup cleaner; however, I found it comes with some risks. For a few properties I had in Columbus, my regular cleaner encountered an emergency and couldn't make it for a same-day checkout/check-in. So I contacted my backup on Turno. They accepted the job and even marked the clean as completed on the app. However, I later found out when my guest arrived that the property hadn't been cleaned. The Turno cleaner, with whom I had previously had no issues, never responded to my messages, and I had to contact Turno customer support to get my money back. I had to refund the entire stay and cover the costs of a new place for the guests. It's a good platform, but be sure to develop a relationship with the cleaner just as you would with an in-person employee.

I've had much better luck reaching out to locals in the area or through Facebook.

There are always some challenges in this business, but the good definitely outweighs the bad. Currently, I have a guest who has been staying for just under two months with absolutely no issues, and I have no concerns about issues after they check out. Asking the right questions and accepting the right guests for mid- and long-term stays is key. The time I save on less communication and the money I save on cleaning services make it more than worth it!

@Kelly Cochran Airbnb is definitely one of the safest when it comes to hosting any length of stay. I just ended a 9-month stay through Airbnb and faced very minimal issues. They were very polite, clean, and after the first two weeks, they didn't ask me a single question and were very self-sufficient. I couldn't have asked for a better LTR, but this also depends on the guest. Earlier in the year, I accepted a 3-month stay that developed into moving into a new unit on-site for an additional 5 months. After the first 3-month stay, my cleaners walked into a horror show. All of the furniture was destroyed with burn marks, stains, damage from a dog they acquired after they checked in, urine stains, holes in the wall, etc. I fought with Airbnb and the guest for over a month trying to get something back for the damage as the entire unit had to be repurchased, repainted, renovated. Airbnb also prohibited me from ending the current 5-month stay without absurd penalties like a full refund, no superhost for the year, a large cancellation fee, and the cost of rehoming him for the remainder of the stay. All I could do from that point on was wait. 

I lucked out by just happening to run into a family member visiting who footed the bill for both stays. I presented the documented damage and the family member paid for the damages of both units once the second stay was over. The moral of the story, even after a few horror stories myself, I still wouldn't issue a full credit/background check for MT/LT stays. I do require all guests, regardless of the length of stay, to sign a rental agreement set up through my PMS system, and I HIGHLY recommend you do this. A lot of guests will be deterred by having to sign a binding lease, but the rental agreement does the same thing and is just a little less scary to guests. Since establishing a rental agreement, I have won almost all of my cases with Airbnb and guests.

I think you should have some sort of screening process, however. I use SuperHog for every guest as well. This just ensures you're not homing a sex offender in an area they should not be in.

As for cleaning, I've hosted a good number of MT/LT stays and can honestly say you should require a monthly touch-up clean when pets are involved. I had a 4-month guest that came with 2 cats and a dog as they were in the process of renovating their home. I required a $50 touch-up cleaning each month and they seemed to have no problem with it and actually enjoyed the cleaner space. My cleaners didn't do anything extra; just the important "please don't destroy these items" maintenance cleans, i.e., scrubbing appliances, checking furniture for pet damages, floors, dusting, rugs, and bathrooms. They didn't do linens, they didn't do dishes, and they didn't replenish any amenities. They tidied up and made it look nice while checking for damages and maintaining the items that most people miss in their own homes.

The last piece of advice: make it VERY apparent what you will be supplying to them in terms of amenities. Some guests will book for 3+ months and expect to never run out of toilet paper, shampoo, paper towels, or ever have to wash towels and linens. Good luck to you!

Good morning!

Ah, Mondays, right? They always have a story to tell, especially after a bustling weekend of hosting guests at our STR properties. Just between us, today I'm dealing with the aftermath of a stay that didn't quite go as planned. It's a rarity, but every so often, guests come through who forget that ‘treat this place like your own home' also means ‘with respect.'

I walked into a bit of a scene this morning: dishes doing a balancing act in the sink, a stain on the rug, trash tucked into every knook and cranny, all amentities missing, and vomit in the tub. Not the best start to the week, but we’ve got this. Here’s my go-to plan for when things get a bit topsy-turvy:

1. Deep Breath and Document: First off, I stay cool and collected. I snap pictures and jot down notes – they're the trusty sidekicks for any STR host.
2. Reach Out: Next step, I ping the guests on the platform’s chat. It’s all about being courteous yet firm, pointing out the ‘oopsies’ and gently nudging them to remember our agreement on house rules.
3. Resolution Time: If the guests go radio silent or aren’t playing ball, I head over to the resolution center. Got to love a well-documented claim; it really speaks volumes when you need to address these hiccups.
4. Clean Up Squad: I get our cleaning wizards on the job ASAP. They're the unsung heroes who get the place spick and span in no time, ensuring the next guests walk into a home that’s as welcoming as ever.
5. Reflect: I take a hot minute to ponder – could I have spotted this earlier? Any loopholes in my screening process? It's all about fine-tuning for the future.
6. Review Honestly: After the dust settles, I leave a fair review. It's all about keeping it real for the community, helping fellow hosts know what’s what.
7. Onward and Upward: Finally, I shake it off and set my sights on the positives. I think about all the fantastic guests who've left smiles and stars in their wake. It's all about learning, improving, and looking forward to welcoming more wonderful travelers.

Hosting's got its twists and turns, but it’s mostly an adventure I wouldn’t trade for the world. So, here's to making new stories, better experiences, and to all the Mondays yet to come – may they be as bright as our guests' reviews!