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First up, I wouldn’t be too worried about this turning into a Stayz thread as what we are discussing is probably applicable to many other hosts - that is, the concept of whether or not to charge a security bond.
So, lets get onto the dreaded security bond! With Stayz, if you nominate a security bond, this amount is actually taken from the client upon booking and if all okay, refunded within 48 hours after departure. So if I was a potential guest booking and I had to stump up the security bond as well as the tariff, I would probably go elsewhere. It always worries me when other people have control over my money. What other industry does this? If I book a flight, I am not asked for an additional $500 in case I damage part of the aircraft or leave rubbish in the the back of the seat or something. Or if I go to a restaurant, I am not asked to pay a bond in case I break a chair, or steal a plate or something.
Enough of my raving. Lets get back to how Stayz operate their security deposit. For full details of how it all works, I have put this link here for you to read more.
As explained, I don’t ask for security deposits for any booking platform and have had no problem for 14 years. This is not to say it is not a good idea, but to me, more trouble organising it all and potentially putting off guests. Once again, it would be good to hear from other hosts about their experiences.
With regards to future dates, all you do is make a booking as the owner. This is done once you log in. As far as the calendar is then concerned, the room night is unavailable as it is booked. You need to do this if operating through other platforms that may not synchronise. No commission payable on these blocked out dates of course. What you end up with is a calendar which looks like the one below showing where my December dates are blocked out:
On other platforms I do collect a damage deposit upfront and I return within 72 hrs. of departure. I don’t like to do it, but I don’t think it deters travelers who are booking my area. As far as I know most places in my area have them…then again I would need to take another look to see if that has changed.
If I rented to only two people max and was basically getting all couples, no pets, no children - I would feel no need to collect a damage deposit. But my minimum age of renter is 25, not 18.
But seeing how some guests tend to try hide damage so that they don’t lose a damage deposit…I cannot imagine how some might behave if there wasn’t one at all.
When I first started renting I did not use a damage deposit. I cannot recall why I decided to switch.
It would not be off putting to me if the owner had many legitimate reviews. An owner has a lot at risk when one group can do so much damage with (often times) their one and only rental property. A hotel most likely would never, ever rent the entire hotel to one group, with no staff onsite, no damage deposit, etc. In essence, I would say that hotel owners do not trust their guests…but a guest destroying one room in a 100 room hotel is much different than having to shut the entire hotel down if one group does damage.
Thanks Clyde me mate! love your detailed replys.
Agreed on those points re bond. hmmm my airbnb bond is $500, but I’ve put the Stayz one at $200 for now. Just hate the hassle of refunding…If I do a bank transfer refund it will take more than 48hrs, otherwise I have to roll up on check out day, inspect the place and give them cash! I’ve never seen a guest off yet! Often they leave really early to catch a flight or something. They always self check out, lock up and leave the keys in the ‘spot’ .
Yep, got the blocked booking thing sussed. I’ve done that with my Airbnb bookings to block out the dates, wasn’t sure if there was another way to block off from a certain date to infinity, but that will work.
I couldn’t sind a "sync my Airbnb site with Stayz " button, so have spent a good many hours today manually blocking off all my bookings.
Hohum, the joys!
August is still only 4 days booked but I’ve just got another Airbnb booking for Sept which leave me only 4 free nights for Sept! yay $$$
I found the place via VRBO/HA. I have signed a contract but not yet paid because there is an issue with taking online payments in Costa Rica (so they say) right now and when they get it straightened out they will contact me. However, I’m being charged up front and then on check out it will be refunded to me. But it’s going to be on credit card so techinically it’s not about how much is in my account it’s about how much credit I have. I don’t know how much your listing is but I think if someone can afford hundreds a night for place they can afford hundreds for a deposit. And if they can’t, do you want them staying at your place? Who is going to pay if there is serious damage?
Unless there is no where else to go. All the homes I looked at had $500-$1000 deposits where on HA or websites. I can understand when you are staying in a home worth millions and you are booking in groups and families of 6-14 that you’d want a deposit.
Hello Australia. Some time back I mentioned I was working on my own website. Now finished but not yet fully proof read. Please make any suggestions. Anyway here it is:
Nice Clyde, coming along very nicely. (I would eliminate the ‘Book Now’ button from the actual pictures but love the way that classy script materializes in the pictures).
Thanks Mearns. That button worried me as well. I guess I already have a red book now button call to action at the top of the page. So have taken your advice and removed the button from the pictures. Really appreciate your tip. Always good to have constructive criticism.
Hi Clyde, Peter, nah Clyde it is! Very nice! did you do that all by yourself? Fancy!
I recall you said it costs you $50/month to have that book now function? I think that’s a LOT! Does that include the cost of having the website?
Anyway, if you do pay that I’d keep the button in the pictures (sorry have to disagree @Mearns- and BTW I like your new profile pic) Given that people don’t read/see what’s right in front of them you wouldn’t want anyone to miss it.
I hope the site brings you lots of 5 Star guests!
I did end up signing up with Stayz,(have had 1 enquiry that hasn’t booked) so I’m now watching 4 platforms and it’s keeping me busy learning them all!
Hello Australia - that was quick! Yes, did build the site myself and that is why it took too long! Yes, $47 a month for the book now button. Does not include the website but they do have an option for that as a recurring product. The advantage of using booking button is that it is fully mobile responsive (as per the website) and has a translation feature and currency exchange. I used to use it in conjunction with Siteminder but that was when I had a dozen or so cottages to look after on about 10 different booking platforms. It stopped me double booking!
On a trial for a month with the button. My justification for it is that it is non-commissionable. My philosophy is to take direct bookings where possible to save commission and also to maintain dependence. Initially had the AirBnB button there but found some guests reluctant to use AirBnB and also, those who do use AirBnB would have gone straight to that platform. Time will tell.
The button on the pictures? Yes, took it off following Mearns’ suggestion. Can easily put it back again? Now am really not sure! Too late (midnight) to be making such decisions!
Glad to hear you are trying out Stayz. Going really well for us with another two guests this weekend. So far they are out performing AirBnB but I hope to see this change over time as I prefer the AirBnB system.
WOW! Just checked out your listing. Awesome photos and everything else. Well done. By the way, also checked out your own website and it is showing as fully booked for the next few months? I hope this is correct, it not, just thought I would let you know. Also, the link to AirBnB on your availability/contact page is not working. Can I suggest you put your direct AirBnB listing rather than the full AirBnB site? Get the clients to go straight to you.
Wasn’t looking at the calendar to stay - a little too far for us Aussies but Belize is on my list of places to visit.
Any other hosts reading this post, if you want to have that Robinson Crusoe experience, have a look at Mearns Airbnb listing.
Hi Mearns. Have put the button back in with the beige color which I think works. Glad to hear about your consideration for the AirBnB booking button. Keep it easy for guests to book with you.
Aye. Keep in mind the pictures are telling a story and showing them is the act of ‘selling’, the romance stage, the Book Now button is the act of ‘closing’. At first I got the impression it was a bit too much of a ‘Forget the Love, Give me the Club’ approach.
I have no idea if possible, but imagine; the pictures come up for say 3 seconds, but at the 2 second point the scrip appears roughly in the lower right quadrant, slightly out of the way. Very sexy. On the last picture, the Book Now button appears (time to close).
Hi @faheem. It is a wordpress website. Great platform and easy to manage and change but as with any software, takes a while to get to know it. The booking system is via Siteminder. I was originally going to link up my Airbnb link for bookings, but from my research, many reluctant to use Airbnb at this stage. Besides, those that do would have gone straight to the Airbnb site so my website is targeted at non AirBnB guests.
Not sure what you mean by this. I have been a host since 2010 and i have over 400 reviews and a 5 star rating. I can count on one hand the few times i have had any complaint about the guests. I always get a quick answer from Airbnb and i never had any issue that they didn’t resolve for me. As far as the web site i am sure we all can understand that with so many hosts there are going to be problems some times and the the site doesn’t always work a 100%.
Sorry to hear that you have such a bad experience but you might want to look at how You behave and maybe then you will understand why you draw these experiences to you.
love your detailed replys.
$$$
Awesome photos and everything else. Well done. By the way, also checked out your own website and it is showing as fully booked for the next few months? I hope this is correct, it not, just thought I would let you know. Also, the link to AirBnB on your availability/contact page is not working. Can I suggest you put your direct AirBnB listing rather than the full AirBnB site? Get the clients to go straight to you.
and have another look in the morning.