VRBO & Airbnb Glitches

Using this VRBO and Airbnb listing glitch checklist will help you avoid losing income.  It can also eliminate some of the headaches that glitches bring to vacation rental owners. 

Glitches happen quite often, so I have compiled a list of items you should check regularly on your Airbnb and VRBO listing.  By reviewing your listing using the glitch checklist, you can get ahead of a potential problem with your listing.  

If you choose not to regularly look over your OTA (online travel agent) listing’s settings, you are taking the risk of losing a lot of money and having additional rental headaches.  Not to mention, it is embarrassing to have to reach out to a guest to explain an error with their reservation due to a computer glitch.

Know this:  If you have ever found a glitch on your Airbnb or VRBO listing, you’re not alone.  It happens frequently and rarely do you get a notification that something has changed.  Most owners find out by accident…usually the error is found after a guest books.  

Some glitches and their fallout are unavoidable.  Therefore, the owner then has to do damage control.  You may have to eat a glitched discount or abide by the erroneous cancellation policy. 

The alternative is to pass the additional charge on to the guest or notify the guest of a different cancellation policy.  However, this process would require convincing the guest to keep the reservation and pay any additional costs.

It’s never simple and it can cost you hundreds or thousands of dollars if it’s not caught promptly.

Daily Checklist for Airbnb & VRBO Listings

To ensure your listing site is running accurately, you’ll need to do a few routine maintenance checks.  Avoid getting into a tricky situation by looking over your site to be sure nothing has changed with your preferred setup.

Log In to Your VRBO and/or Airbnb listing Site, then go through these steps.  It is also a good idea to create a quote from your site to check accuracy.

Daily Checklist

1. Check the Calendar
   • Look for erroneously blocked dates 
   • Check the calendar for months/years in the future (for the entire timeframe you allow guests to advance book)
2. Check Instant Book
   • Is Instant Book turned on or off appropriately?
3. Check Rates
   • Standard rates accuracy
   • Seasonal/holiday rates accuracy
   • Weekly/discounted rates accuracy
   • Is dynamic pricing set accurately?
   • Do a couple sample quotes for various dates.  Is the OTA offering an erroneous discount?
4. Check Cancellation Policy
   • Is your cancellation policy accurate?
5.  Check Security Deposit
   • Is the security deposit accurate?

Periodic Checklist

Additional areas of your listing should be checked periodically for accuracy.

• Automated responses for up-to-date information and accuracy
• Listing’s cover photo (sometimes this gets changed in error)
• Calendar syncing between OTA websites.
• Tax rates, collections and remittances
  • Is the OTA collecting all required taxes
  • Are the tax rates accurate?
  • Is the OTA remitting all the collected taxes, remitting a portion of the collected taxes, or are some of the remissions the owner’s responsibility?  The tax collection terms have been changing frequently, as states and local laws go into effect. It is important for your to stay informed of the laws in your state and locality.

Experiencing a Glitch?  What you can do…

If you find an error or inaccuracy with your listing, there are a few things you should do.  Check the OTA’s community boards/forums to see if others are posting about the same issues you are experiencing.  It could be a short-term glitch that the OTA is in the process of fixing.

Airbnb Community Forum 

VRBO Community Forum

You may want to post about your issues in a Facebook group board.  Other members tend to respond to the group posts quickly.

If you are unable to get a resolution tot he issue, you may need to contact the OTA’s customer support.  

How to Contact VRBO

How to Contact Airbnb

To maintain the best guest customer service, while avoiding losing potential income, don’t become complacent with your OTA listing.  Don’t expect the OTA will notify you of a known glitch.  And don’t assume the glitch is happening to all listings, as it could very well be just your listing that is affected.  

Leave a comment below if there is something I have missed and I’ll be sure to update this post.