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I have created new custom field code BXID and when I tried using BXID field code in messaging template, the field code does not currently render anything in preview of the message. Is this supported or will simply be supported later?

Hi Maria! The field code won't render a file name on message preview unless you have a file actually uploaded to the booking custom field you're previewing. To test this, upload a test file under the Custom Fields tab of an existing booking, then go back to Messages and preview your message and make sure you have that booking selected. You can then delete the test file from the Files tab on that same booking.

Awesome! Thank you!

Rodney, I emailed support with the same question earlier today. They confirmed that when you add the field, it's part of the page a guest sees when they go to sign the Renters Agreement - the one that asks the guests for their contact information. The form field is at the bottom of the page, then they click onward to complete the Renters Agreement. So on my end, all we need is confirmation that the guest completed the Renters Agreement to know the required file upload has been completed and happily waiting my review under Files under the booking. We already send out Renters Agreement links in post-booking emails to AirBnB and VRBO guests, so viola - the ID upload requirement is already passed along to them. It was so much LESS work to implement than I expected. 

For others using Jotform, of course, we went through our templates and removed references to JotForm links. We've already had a guest complete a Renters Agreement and upload their ID via the new custom field this afternoon, so all around it's working perfectly! 

If anyone needs an example, here's a test direct booking quote I sent to myself earlier. On the first page, turn down travel insurance and click next, and then you'll see the guest information form for their address, etc, and at the bottom, the ID upload field. https://orez.io/v1/q/599c25c723a64742a2d541c340886374.

Hi Alece! This addition should be out in a few weeks. Thanks for your patience!

Now that Categories have been added to Expenses (so awesome, by the way), the Expense Excel Template used to import expenses needs to have a Categories column added. Right now, because it's lacking one, we need to manually categorize each item in OR after importing the spreadsheet. With a Categories column (and, ideally, quick access to the category names from the OR system so that things line up correctly), the expense import flow would be seamless! 

Hi, thank you for adding this feature. I created the custom field to request ID and it is working for a direct booking but I can't figure out how to add a File Upload button to the Rental Agreement Template. How would this work for a channel booking and at what step in the booking process will the ID be requested for Airbnb or VRBO? I would guess that it would be during the Rental Agreement signing step but I am not sure. Thanks

Per Shawn H from announcement:

"You can insert the field code into the rental agreement or messaging template to remind them that they have uploaded "X" file name as part of the process."

I have created new custom field code BXID and when I tried using BXID field code in messaging template, the field code does not currently render anything in preview of the message. Is this supported or will simply be supported later?

Hi Maria,

The BXID custom field is a booking field, so it won't work on email templates.

However, if you've made it a "required" field then when the guest clicks on the link to sign the rental agreement, they will see the File Upload button there on the form. 

In my process, there are 2 kinds of bookings:

1) A direct booking from my website or a quote that I've sent to a potential guest

2) A booking from any other source

In the first kind of booking, as part of the booking process the guest is presented with the form to provide the "required" information (name, address, phone number, a required custom field to enter their initials that they've read & agree to our cancelation policy, and now, the file upload button for their ID) before they proceed to the page to sign the rental agreement.

In the second kind of booking, the guest receives either an email or an Airbnb message that includes a link for them to sign our rental agreement. When they click on that link they are sent into the same process flow as described for direct bookings.

So, it is the process of signing the rental agreement that also includes the File Upload button for the collection of IDs.

To see what this looks like, if you have an email template that contains the BULEASE or BUFIXUP codes, go to the list of templates in settings and click on the "Preview" option under the drop down arrow next to the edit function for that template. It will show you what the guest sees when they are viewing that email message.

I hope this helps!

All I have to say is "Thank you" for implementing features that are high on the owner's wishlist. I greatly appreciate it.

So I have tried out the new feature by following the instruction to create new custom field code as BXID and I confirm that the ID upload section is added automatically on the renter's agreement upon successful booking.

However, I tried to add BXID in email template and then I went to preview the email, BXID did not render anything in the preview.

Is custom field for uploading file supported for use in email or message templates?

I love the checkbox to compare my report with the "Year before," but I wish that a) I could see multiple years on the graph instead of just one, and b) I could go back more than 5 years ago.

I would also like the ability to define a custom range within the Period drop-down. I am specifically wanting to compare ski seasons, and it's cumbersome to use the Custom Date Range calendar. I'd like to be able to define my season one and have it saved within the Period drop-down as a permanent selection. 

Thanks for considering!

Hi Folks, just a friendly request to avoid turning this thread into a debate on whether to collect or not collect ID.  Now that this feature is released, it's helpful to keep this post related to technical implementation questions and tips.  That's because there are hundreds of owners who are subscribed to email status updates awaiting news from OR that this long-awaited feature is released.  There are tons and tons of vacation rental Facebook forums out there that are terrific venues to endlessly debate your business practices on this topic.  Thanks!

Thank you so much Scott I agree. Most of us have had notifications for this topic turned on for quite a while as this has been a much requested feature and I would like to keep it turned on for any changes and as Scott mentioned, technical issues. Would rather not have to turn the notifications off to keep from receiving endless notifications of non pertinent side discussions. Thanks!
The Unofficial Ownerrez Facebook page is a good place for discussion among many, many others.  

Hi Folks, just a friendly request to avoid turning this thread into a debate on whether to collect or not collect ID.  Now that this feature is released, it's helpful to keep this post related to technical implementation questions and tips.  That's because there are hundreds of owners who are subscribed to email status updates awaiting news from OR that this long-awaited feature is released.  There are tons and tons of vacation rental Facebook forums out there that are terrific venues to endlessly debate your business practices on this topic.  Thanks!

While I agree that it is a good business practice to collect IDs, I can see how this creates friction if it is REQUIRED at time of booking. From a business perspective, you do want the booking process to be a simple experience and some guests may be on their mobile phones, not tech savvy enough to figure it out or perhaps don't have their ID available.  Perhaps an option to create a tag for those that didn't provide it and send the request based on trigger (i.e. x days after booking) would provide greater flexibility?

Well that (tag function) already exists, and so does sending follow-up emails/text to ask for ID (which I am sick and tired of). And "at time of booking" in this case is AFTER they already committed to booking, booking actually happened and they are about to e-sign the rental agreement. I do not understand what is the problem with this sequence???

My listing clearly states in description and house rules that ID is required. 

So when someone gets to the booking stage, it is no surprise to them. I weed out people with don’t want to give ID. No problems with booking my properties. 

If I get push back or if guest doesn’t upload in 24 hrs their ID, the booking is cancelled. 

Thanks OR for making collecting ID easier. I greatly appreciate it. 

After all the requests for it, it is here!! Yay. 

 

 

Yes, Yes, and Yes! I do not NEED guests that have an ulterior motive for not providing IDs. I am not renting a shack, I am renting quite pricey properties. I have to know who stays in them. If they are not OK with ID requirement (clearly stated in house rules and description), then I do not need such guests and they can book elsewhere. 

This! We asked and OwnerRez delivered! This is an amazeballs tool. 

My listing clearly states in description and house rules that ID is required. 

So when someone gets to the booking stage, it is no surprise to them. I weed out people with don’t want to give ID. No problems with booking my properties. 

If I get push back or if guest doesn’t upload in 24 hrs their ID, the booking is cancelled. 

Thanks OR for making collecting ID easier. I greatly appreciate it. 

After all the requests for it, it is here!! Yay. 

While I agree that it is a good business practice to collect IDs, I can see how this creates friction if it is REQUIRED at time of booking. From a business perspective, you do want the booking process to be a simple experience and some guests may be on their mobile phones, not tech savvy enough to figure it out or perhaps don't have their ID available.  Perhaps an option to create a tag for those that didn't provide it and send the request based on trigger (i.e. x days after booking) would provide greater flexibility?

Insinuating Airbnb will be upset we are discriminating for asking Vrbo guests for ID but not Airbnb guests?

Now you've heard of it! Many times actually through these threads actually. 

No, it is not Airbnb being upset. There is a type of discrimination called "disparate treatment". Look it up. The bottom line, you are safest when you treat ALL your customers in the same manner (i.e apply the same rules) regardless of the source. And not picking and choosing how and when to apply your rules or policies. Best of success. 

No idea what you're trying to say, chap. 

If you just started this 3 weeks ago, then my first advice is not to let the guests dictate how you run your business either. And my second question would be, did your listing state that you require ID? Because understandably guests don't like those things thrown at them after the fact. Don't fear the loss of bookings. Target the good bookings. Good guests know that we're allowing them use of our pricey properties and we want to know who they are. And because you are only 3 weeks in, doing so will help you avoid the guests that come in, destroy your property, say it wasn't them, and walk away with no repercussions, ready to do it again to the next host. This business is strengthened by there being a balance of power between hosts and guests. My post above was about this ID maybe not being a good tool for all hosts, but those of us that have been asking for it are so happy to get it. This is a huge addition to OR. Not for you? Cool. But maybe ask yourself why seasoned hosts want this. 

Insinuating Airbnb will be upset we are discriminating for asking Vrbo guests for ID but not Airbnb guests?

Now you've heard of it! Many times actually through these threads actually. 

I am not talking about Fair Housing laws. I'm talking about Airbnb having a very hard line against anything that smacks of discrimination. That is the reason we're made to accept service animals on Airbnb, for example, even though the ADA does not require transient housing to accept them. Anytime you are using different rules for different guests, you expose yourself to an issue with the OTA. I have never heard of anyone losing a guest because they asked for ID after stating it was required on the listing. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

We are so lucky that OwnerRez has worked hard to give us what we've asked for in the ability to have guests upload their ID so that we do not have to do this manually. This is an amazing tool. If you do not want to ask for ID, then that is fine. But it is best practice to have as much information on guests as possible in case there are issues. I have never lost a booking because we ask for ID. We state it clearly in our listing that ID is required. Also, note that asking some for ID and not others can be seen as a discriminatory practice. All or none. The benefits of requiring an ID of all guests are many, including having their information in case you have to take them to small claims, and for them to be better guests because they know that you know who they are. Add to that the renter's insurance, plus the security deposit, all listed as required in your listing, and you end up with a well-behaved group of future guests. And if a guest backs out because they don't want you to know who they are, be forewarned that you may be dodging a bullet. 

Bren, I am happy they included this but I not asking you to run my business and yes I did lost booking by asking photo ID and I had even bad review because of it and I started this 3 weeks ago. Thank you. I personally think simple upload feature would do it, currently the only option to add the field is on one form and I can choose it it optional or required. Not sure how can I use it if I say it "Display NO" option.

Paul

Lol. I don't think Vrbo or Airbnb guests are protected classes from discrimination. 

Every market and business is different btw. You might not lose guests over asking for ID on certain platforms, but others might. 

From reading it is optional. You don’t have to include in the booking. 

It appears can source code can be used in separate email. 

We are so lucky that OwnerRez has worked hard to give us what we've asked for in the ability to have guests upload their ID so that we do not have to do this manually. This is an amazing tool. If you do not want to ask for ID, then that is fine. But it is best practice to have as much information on guests as possible in case there are issues. I have never lost a booking because we ask for ID. We state it clearly in our listing that ID is required. Also, note that asking some for ID and not others can be seen as a discriminatory practice. All or none. The benefits of requiring an ID of all guests are many, including having their information in case you have to take them to small claims, and for them to be better guests because they know that you know who they are. Add to that the renter's insurance, plus the security deposit, all listed as required in your listing, and you end up with a well-behaved group of future guests. And if a guest backs out because they don't want you to know who they are, be forewarned that you may be dodging a bullet. 

What you said!!!!

We are so lucky that OwnerRez has worked hard to give us what we've asked for in the ability to have guests upload their ID so that we do not have to do this manually. This is an amazing tool. If you do not want to ask for ID, then that is fine. But it is best practice to have as much information on guests as possible in case there are issues. I have never lost a booking because we ask for ID. We state it clearly in our listing that ID is required. Also, note that asking some for ID and not others can be seen as a discriminatory practice. All or none. The benefits of requiring an ID of all guests are many, including having their information in case you have to take them to small claims, and for them to be better guests because they know that you know who they are. Add to that the renter's insurance, plus the security deposit, all listed as required in your listing, and you end up with a well-behaved group of future guests. And if a guest backs out because they don't want you to know who they are, be forewarned that you may be dodging a bullet. 

I also believe that there should be more flexibility in selecting which channel we require upload of ID. 

Also, unless I am missing something,  I do not want to FORCE potential guest to upload a picture on initial booking since the may not have it readily available for booking. So, I would choose OPTIONAL.

However, later on I want to send them reminder to upload the picture. This option is seems to me missing and I am worried  about that if I force guests to upload the picture on my website at the time of booking I will loose the booking. There must be some other solution.

I do not think collection of ID at the time of digning of the Rental Agreement is required, it is needed to just collect it later for chargebacks.

Paul

If the field is of type BOOKING (which it will be), and you add it to the check out/rental agreement form, that will be when booking already happened and they are e-signing the rental agreement. Actually, I am thrilled to collect ID when they sight the RA, because many don't send it AFTER and I have to chase them by sending repeat emails/texts. The OR staff explained above that you can make the field optional (or not use it at all). Just collect  ID after like you do now (if you do). But for those of us who want a smooth all-in-one process, this is a BIG improvement. 

I also believe that there should be more flexibility in selecting which channel we require upload of ID. 

Also, unless I am missing something,  I do not want to FORCE potential guest to upload a picture on initial booking since the may not have it readily available for booking. So, I would choose OPTIONAL.

However, later on I want to send them reminder to upload the picture. This option is seems to me missing and I am worried  about that if I force guests to upload the picture on my website at the time of booking I will loose the booking. There must be some other solution.

I do not think collection of ID at the time of digning of the Rental Agreement is required, it is needed to just collect it later for chargebacks.

Paul