Host Tools

Avantages

I have multiple properties listed with both Airbnb and VRBO, Host Tools makes it very easy to sync calendars and view messages all in one site. The automation of messages was icing on the cake for me. [SENSITIVE CONTENT HIDDEN] is super responsive to any support issues/needs as well. There are always new features coming available and I look forward to taking advantage of things like lock automation.

Inconvénients

Sometimes there is a little bit of a lag between the Host Tools calendar synching with the Airbnb/VRBO feeds.

Avantages

This product has made our AirBnb hosting so much easier. We create custom messages which send at different intervals, we set up reminders for ourselves to get certain things done (such as set up door codes) based up check -in dates, we have the system send text message reminders to our cleaners on the day of check-out, and the automated reviews are fantastic. Host Tools has reduced the amount of time I spend managing these details by at least 80% and has actually made us far more organized than we would've bern otherwise

Inconvénients

I wish it would remote set our Yale with Nest locks and I wish I could just share my calendars with my cleaners without having to have them texted every time there's a change

Alternatives envisagées 

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Logiciel antérieur 

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Avantages

The price used to be competitive before the 2023 price hike. I also like the website link where your housekeeper can check all the future cleanings in one big list. However, this list doesn't have any optionality to add text or notes onto the reservations.

Inconvénients

The unreliability. The connection can go down at any moment without any prior notice. If the connection doesn't go down fully, there may be other issues with it. Most of the issues are with reservation information from the OTAs not coming through to Host Tools as they should. I also do not like it that Host Tools only supports Airbnb, VRBO and Booking integration (No Google vacation rentals or others).

Avantages

This tool automates so much of my correspondence with AirBnB guests. I was spending too much time re-writing the same message, making sure I didn't miss a deadline, and checking the calendar. As my rentals grew, I knew I need a tool to automate this. I wanted something simple and affordable. I didn't want to pay for a solution that offered more functionality that what I would use. Host Tools fit the bill perfectly.

Inconvénients

There are a few bugs here and there; I had a guest receive 9 'thanks for staying with us' messages once, until I noticed it and disabled the message completely. Sometime those messages will still send twice and I don't know why.

Alternatives envisagées 

Pourquoi passer à Host Tools

Avantages

After trying several different programs to help automate our small boutique hotel operations, we knew after a short time with Host Tools that this was the program for us. It was clearly created by a fellow property owner and addresses our biggest concerns without unnecessary fluff. The price is fair, and we feel fortunate to have found it.

Inconvénients

The pricing tools are a little intimidating, and there is a bit of a learning curve all around. Not quite as intuitive as one might hope, but once you get started and learn the lingo, it’s pretty user-friendly.

Avantages

Automated messaging is the feature I can't live without. Works perfectly and makes everything run smooth.

Inconvénients

Not very mobile friendly. I run about 95% off my phone.

Alternatives envisagées 

Pourquoi passer à Host Tools

Avantages

Super duper easy to navigate. It's the easiest user interface I have ever dealt with for our AirBNB stays.

Inconvénients

It doesn't give us full control of our AirBNB account. It would be nice if HostTools allowed us to confirm/deny reservations and if the calendar integrated with AirBNB.

Avantages

...Well worth the investment, and peace of mind for auto-replies.

Inconvénients

Sometimes the automated template emails did not go out in the best order. Would like to fine-tune that order.

Avantages

This total automates a lot of the tasks I would have had to had done manually.

Inconvénients

There are a few minor quirks, but they seem to get resolved pretty quickly. It would be nice to have a feature to send sms notifications to third parties, like cleaners, when new bookings are made.

Avantages

Easy to set up, saves time and trouble, great customer service

Inconvénients

A bit expensive for multiple listings, message timing is not spot on

Avantages

I love this app - host tools as it was my primary app that allowed me to automate my whole business. It would increase/decrease the price as I needed and/or set it up like so. I have 0 complaints about the app itself. Once you learn how to set up pricing and its not too hard you just sit back and watch your airbnb fill up. The way my system was set up - I was never home to greet the guests unless I really needed to or they wanted to see me. I found that most of the time the guests don't want to see the host anyway and so this application was a life-saver. Combined with Instant-Book - it worked out perfectly and allowed me to bypass the Airbnb Algorithm that gives you less money for a booking if you use their "recommended" settings. I wholeheartedly recommend this tool for anyone hosting with Airbnb - especially if you have multiple listings. 12/10 from me.

Inconvénients

nothing - it worked as I needed it.. I mean if price can be cheaper - why not? but I think its fairly priced.

Avantages

Better automation features than that provided by AirBnB. Scheduled messaging, automated email capability, flexible pricing options - all superior than that provided by AirBnB at the time of sign up

Cost per month is a no-brainer given the amount of time it saves you in automating capabilities.

Inconvénients

Mostly difficulty in getting certain things to work - automated emails sent by Host Tools getting blocked as spam by ISPs is an ongoing unresovled problem.

Also probably a lack of good quality doucmentation. The flexibility around the pricing options is excellent, but it is not the most intuitive set-up, and therefore a detailed 'user guide' would be of great benefit.

Avantages

Host Tools is easily the best $5 I spend every month. I've only used a fraction of the capabilities, simply using to respond to automatically respond to initial bookings and send check out instructions to my guests, but it works like a charm and has reduced the amount of time I spend communicating with guests. I'm looking forward to connecting Host Tools to my Yale locks and further automating the process of checking in and out, and knowing when cleaners have come and gone all with custom codes.

I also greatly enjoy the newsletters from HostTools with practical tips for improving my hosting business.

Inconvénients

The initial usability of creating custom messages was low, but through constant iterations, this seems to have greatly improved.

Avantages

I like the ability to set up my pricing and auto generate messaging. Also cross site calendar keeping.

Inconvénients

For the price point, you get what you pay for. It's great software for small operators such as myself. But it's not an AI manager. So it lacks some of the abilities that other platforms such as OwnerRez.

Avantages

Super easy to use and very customizable. It automates 90% of your communication and makes the guest feel like you have great communication. It also helps you get great reviews. Being a Superhost is easy now! The developer is very responsive to input.

Inconvénients

Nothing - maybe if you have 100+ properties it might seem expensive, but the value would still be there. There might be less value if you only rent 2-3 times a year.

Avantages

This tool allowed us to enjoy our lives and get away from the computer keyboard.

Inconvénients

There was a small learning curve we had to learn.

Avantages

Easy to use and you practically not worry about been writing messages and rules on every time you book a place. The software does everything for you, on a timely manner ( previously programmed )

Inconvénients

There are some messages in the last minute that are set chronologically in sort order of conversation that some times the systema send disorderly and the guest probably realizes it is a bot or automated messages. I dont know if I could fix that or if is just like that.

Anopther Con is that Now airbnb is working on a free host tool, not so good at the moment but eventually will be similar and with no price.

Avantages

As I have some properties to manage on Airbnb, message automation was crucial to provide me a way to do a better job in hosting, whether sending messages for the guest, to the cleaning staff or for myself. One of my favorites messages is to remember guest to do a review, that is only sent if the guest did not do a review :)

Inconvénients

I would like to see in future versions an area to manage all Airbnb hosting messages.

Avantages

The automated messages were very useful and I could resolve 99% of guest inquiries using this feature. The price point was fair for the solution I was using.

Inconvénients

updates to either airbnb or host tools would cause properties to turn off their messaging, without warning, so I would miss guest questions by thinking the auto response was working. the text feature did not ever work for my maids.

Avantages

Created the messages with ease and they automatically send so I don’t have to think about it. Great templates, easy to change when you need.

Inconvénients

Nothing I have seen so far. Has been great for what I needed

Avantages

It works every time, is very customable, and is a great value

Inconvénients

Pricing tool is not as robust with outside data, so you have to make all the decisions on your own

Avantages

This software is efficient and easy to use!

Inconvénients

Once I became familiar with the system, I did not have anything negative to say regarding this online software product.

Avantages

Really happy with the amount of time this tool has saved me.

Inconvénients

I’m not sure, nothing I can think of right now.

Avantages

Automating my short term rental properties has made my life easier. I look more professional and many people appreciate the quick response from automation. The product was simple to use and worked perfectly. I always recommend it to other hosts.

Inconvénients

This had all the features I currently need but my business is growing and I will let you know when I find I
need something more.

Avantages

It’s taken a lot of the work away from me. I can now convey exactly what I need to to my guests in a way that is easy to understand and comprehensive.

Inconvénients

Timed emails can sometimes overlap and cause confusion. Depending on when the guest books. Until I worked out a better set of messages to send, it was very annoying.