Managing your calendar
Calendar pricing removes the need to edit the beginning/end dates of each season. By using calendar pricing, you can leave the seasonal rates alone, and just override any rates/minimum night stays.
Once your calendar starts to fill, rates/min. night stays might need to be adjusted. (It's common for owners to lift minimum night restrictions, as to minimize 1-2 night calendar gaps). To do this, you can:
1. Edit each season's beginning/end dates and/or rates.
OR
2. Override the seasonal rates with calendar pricing.
When editing one season's start/end dates, often the preceding/subsequent seasons will need to be adjusted as well. This can be time-consuming if you don't use a channel manager or dynamic pricing software.
A general (not literal) view when comparing seasonal and calendar pricing is:
- Seasonal rates = set it and forget it
- Calendar rates = manual dynamic pricing
But most hosts use a combination of the two, as they tend to overlap.
For example, in the Outer Banks, Jersey Shore, and Cape Cod it's common to require weekly reservations only, with a weekly designated changeover date. If each week was created as a separate season, then the host just edits the rate of each season as supply/demand fluctuates.
But in markets where the minimum night stay varies: reservations may range from 1 to 14 nights, calendar pricing is probably more convenient.
How do I add calendar pricing?
- Go to the calendar view in your dashboard: Manage listings > Calendar
- Highligh the calendar dates that need to be edited
- Adjust rates and minimum night stay in the left pop-up window.
You can also choose to display or hide the seasonal rates table on your listing's homepage.
How do I remove calendar pricing from my rates?
Note: Some other platforms allow this as well. For example, log into Airbnb and do a manual sync of Houfy's calendar info. And Airbnb will pull in bookings from Houfy right away.
A "hard" or "manual" sync is performed when you want to sync your calendar before the regular interval time. Example: Your Houfy calendar is synced with Airbnb. You get a booking on Airbnb. Houfy normally syncs (pulls in other calendar info) every 3 hours.
Let's say you don't want to risk your Houfy calendar being open that long for the possibility of a double booking. So you do a hard sync (pull in Airbnb's calendar info immediately).
1) Manage Listings>Calendar>Click the calendar sync icon on the far right.
This is the furthest date in the future that you want to accept bookings
Manage listings > Calendar > Scroll down to booking cut off date (Set date or choose months from today)
By leaving this date blank you'll have the option to accept a booking at any future date
This means you're taking responsibility to keep your rates up-to-date. (e.g. with a Base Rate set high enough that you won't be disappointed if someone inquires to book a high season date far in the future that you haven't updated)
Example: a guest wants to book a special anniversary in two years when you haven’t set a rate. Please make sure your rates are updated.
You also have an option to set a booking cut off date in months from today.
The booking cut-off date prevents travelers from booking your property after a specific date. This is helpful for those who may not want bookings far in advance, or for those who haven't set next year's rates yet.
- Log in>Menu>Manage Listings>Calendar
- Scroll to the bottom and enter in the last day guests are able to book.
Houfy Help Guide for Vacation Rental Owners
Menu > Manage Listings > Calendar > Booking Cut Off Date
At calendar, scroll all the way down and remove the cut off date or set the date for a future date.
What is the booking cut-off date?
This is the furthest date in the future that you want to accept bookings
By leaving this date blank you'll have the option to accept a booking at any future date
This means you're taking responsibility to keep your rates up-to-date. (e.g. with a Base Rate set high enough that you won't be disappointed if someone inquires to book a high season date far in the future that you haven't updated)
Please make sure your rates are updated. Thank you.
Frequently asked questions about calendars
Once you have synced your calendars correctly, you should be all set!
DANGER: You are listed on Tripadvisor, Airbnb, VRBO and Houfy; above example shows just 3 sites. (Airbnb, VRBO and Houfy) The screenshot below 4 sites! Make sure you have everything synced correctly.
Houfy says: can NOT import this link?
Most probably, you copied the wrong link, you might have copied the url in the browser. Please read the above document. ALL larger marketplaces have proper synchronization set up through specific export and import links. (.ics files) - These do not show in the browser.
I'm blocking dates on VRBO but they do not show on Houfy?
Please make sure you have VRBO synced into Houfy.
I added a reservation on Houfy ("Add Booking") but it doesn't show on Airbnb?
Did you import Houfy into Airbnb? Please make sure you did. Airbnb can not get any data from Houfy if you did not import the Houfy calendar into Airbnb.
What does the little sync button do?
The little sync button fetches data from the linked website. As far as I know, only Houfy, Airbnb and Tripadvisor have this.
How do I delete a calendar from Houfy?
Log In > My Listings > Select property > Calendar
If you list your place on Houfy and other websites, you can prevent multiple guests from booking the same dates by syncing your Houfy calendar with your other calendars.
The "correct" way of Synchronizing Calendars: (assuming 3 sites)
- EXPORT Airbnb + VRBO and IMPORT into Houfy
- EXPORT Houfy + VRBO and IMPORT into Airbnb
- EXPORT Airbnb + Houfy and IMPORT into VRBO
TIP: When doing this, keep the browser tabs open.
Step 1) Export Airbnb and VRBO & Import into Houfy
Calendar importing allows you to automatically keep your Houfy calendar up to date with an external calendar that supports the iCalendar format, including Google, Airbnb, HomeAway or VRBO.
Log in to Airbnb: Select Host > Listings > Select listing (Browser Tab 1)
Select the correct listing and find: Availability Settings
To export a calendar:
- On airbnb.com go to Host and select Listings > Select Listing
- Select Calendar and Click Availability settings
- Scroll down to Sync calendars, select Export Calendar and copy URL.
- Paste the Airbnb URL into the Calendar address (URL) field at Import at Houfy.
- Name your calendar. (Airbnb)
- Click Import calendar.
Scroll down and find "Export Calendar"
Copy the link - Make sure you select the whole link..
Open a new Tab on your browser. (Browser Tab 2)
- Log in to Houfy
- Click on the menu icon top right
- Go to Manage Listings on Houfy.com
- Click Calendar for the listing you want to import.
- Click on the top-right corner of your calendar view, select Import calendar and paste the Airbnb link.
Open a 3rd tab: Log into VRBO and go to owner dashboard. (Browser Tab 3)
Select property > Manage > Calendar
Click on the up/down arrows > Export Calendar
Click on the top-right corner of your Houfy calendar view, select Import calendar and paste the VRBO link.
NOW YOU HAVE IMPORTED AIRBNB AND VRBO INTO HOUFY
Step 2: EXPORT Houfy + VRBO & IMPORT into Airbnb
- Copy the export Houfy link (First one) and go to Tab 1: Airbnb > Select "Import" and paste the Houfy link.
- Copy the export VRBO link from tab 3 and go to tab 1: Airbnb > Select "Import" and paste the VRBO link
Step 3: EXPORT Airbnb + Houfy & IMPORT into VRBO
- Copy the export Houfy link(First one) and go to Tab 3: VRBO > Select "Import" and past the Houfy link.
- Copy the export AIRBNB link from tab 1 and go to tab 3: VRBO > Select "Import" and paste the AIRBNB link
Youtube video:
These screenshots will help you sync your VRBO calendar with Houfy
Log into your dashboard/calendar at VRBO: Select Export Calendar
Select the ICS file and copy
Log into Houfy, My listings/Calendar/ and select IMPORT. Paste the selected link from VRBO, name the calendar (for example VRBO) and save.
Do not copy url's from the browser. These will not work.
If you have a last minute opening or cancellation, share a discount offer such as 10% off the nightly rate. Or, use the feature to send returning guests a discount. Ex: 5% off next visit.
You can also send a flat rate special offer instead.
Click top right arrow to display Drop-down Menu>Manage Listings>Calendar
Once you click Save, the Share Special rates Pop-up window appears.
View of discount when shared on facebook. Traveler can click to view quote.
After clicking, traveler will be taken to your listing to complete the booking. Dates will be preselected, and they will need to edit number of guests.
If sharing via email, you can add a message. Traveler can click View Special Discount to complete the booking.
Sometimes you'd like to offer a last minute discount on specific dates, or a special rate for a repeat guest. Maybe you just want to provide a quote. You can easily do this by sending the person a special offer. If you prefer to offer a discount percentage instead, you are able to do that as well. Your guest needs to be a Houfy member in order to book through the link.
Log in>Menu>Manage Listings>Calendar.
After saving the new rates, preview your listing as a traveler. Enter in dates and number of guests.
Copy URL or use the Share button.
The recipient will receive this email and click the View Listing button.
The dates are pre-selected and the guest can complete the booking.
