How to List Your Houfy Property on Google Vacation Rentals

Houfy’s integration with Google Vacation Rentals (GVR) enables you to showcase your property directly via Google Search, Google Maps, and the dedicated Vacation Rentals tab on Google Travel. Listing your Houfy property on Google Vacation Rentals increases your property's exposure, attracting direct bookings through the world's largest search engine—at no extra cost.

What is Google Vacation Rentals?

Google Vacation Rentals is Google's dedicated feature that allows travelers to find vacation rentals quickly and easily through its search ecosystem. Unlike traditional OTAs like Airbnb or Vrbo, GVR is a metasearch platform—meaning guests are redirected to your direct listing page on Houfy, allowing for immediate bookings without intermediary fees.

Who Can List on Google Vacation Rentals through Houfy?

Houfy users can currently list their properties on Google Vacation Rentals if they meet the following requirements:

Instant Book is highly recommended on your listing (learn how to enable Instant Book here).

• Entire-property listings (no private rooms, hotels, or shared accommodations).

• Properties using a connected payment processor.

Requirements to List Your Houfy Property on Google Vacation Rentals

Ensure your Houfy listing meets Google's guidelines:

• Entire Properties Only: No private rooms, hotels, or grouped listings.

• Up-to-date Pricing: Your Pricing must consistently be accurate & up to date.

• Up-to-date Availability: your calendar must be accurate and current. You can keep it current manually, or with an iCal link. Note that if you connect an external PMS or channel manager to your Houfy account, your listings are not picked up by our automatic Google Vacation Rentals rollout - you can still opt in yourself at any time from Software Partners.

• Reviews: at least one review. Listings with no reviews yet cannot be opted in from the Software Partners page.

• Instant Book (not required): Though this is not required by google, it is prefered. (how to enable Instant Book).

• Complete Address: An accurate physical address is required.

• Property Summary: Clear, concise description of your listing.

• Amenities: At least one listed.

• Photos: Minimum of 8 high-resolution photos, including: Living room, common areas, and bathrooms. Recommended resolution: 1920 x 1080 px Maximum dimensions: 4000 px Maximum file size: 10 MB Formats: JPG, JPEG, PNG, WEBP Landscape orientation; no branding or watermarks.

Note: Google restricts maximum stays to 30 days; long-term rentals will not be eligible for GVR.

How to List Your Houfy Property on Google Vacation Rentals

Follow these simple steps to list your property:

1. Log into your Houfy account.

2. Navigate to your property via Manage Listings.

3. Ensure your property meets Google’s listing requirements (detailed above).

4. Access your account's Software Partners Settings.

5. Select your property for Google Vacation Rentals integration.

6. Save your settings.

Once you have saved, your listing is queued for the next feed to Google, and Google then runs its own approval before anything appears. Google reviews each listing on its own schedule. Most listings are reviewed within a few weeks, but Google does not publish a queue position or a review deadline, and we cannot see or speed up their review.

Listing Status:

• Pending: it is not yet published. That can mean it is still being processed, that it has not been picked up yet, or that Google has declined it. If a listing stays on Pending for more than a few weeks, contact support and we will check its status against Google's own file for you.

• Live: Google has published it and it is visible in the vacation rental results.

Benefits of Listing Your Houfy Property on Google Vacation Rentals

• Greater Visibility: Increase your property's exposure via Google’s vast user base.

• Commission-free Direct Bookings: Guests book directly through your Houfy property page, saving fees typically paid to OTAs.

• Enhanced Trust and Credibility: Google's reputable platform reassures guests.

For more assistance, visit Houfy’s Help Center or contact Houfy Support directly.

FAQ's:

Can I control the order of my listing photos on Google? No, the order of listing photos on Google Vacation Rentals cannot be manually controlled. Google automatically arranges images based on factors like search terms—for example, showing pool photos first if a user searches for properties with a pool. To optimize your listing, upload at least 8 high-quality photos, including key areas (bedroom, bathroom, common spaces). For best results, aim for 20 or more.

How long before my listing appears on Google?

Google reviews each listing on its own schedule. Most listings are reviewed within a few weeks, but Google does not publish a queue position or a review deadline, and we cannot see or speed up their review. If your listing is still Pending after a few weeks, contact support and we will check its status against Google's own file.

Why do I need to connect a payment processor like Stripe? Connecting a payment processor, such as Stripe, helps ensure Houfy remains in good standing with Google’s platform. Google's integration requirements are strict and can vary by account source. Enabling Stripe is part of meeting those standards and supporting a seamless booking experience.