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 

Pourquoi choisir Host Tools 

Logiciel antérieur 

Pourquoi passer à Host Tools

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

What Host Tools does it does very well; messaging and pricing. With the new August Lock integration, my guests no longer need to dig through their inbox to find their lock code, since Host Tools puts it right in their Airbnb message thread. As for the pricing, while it's already much more flexible than Airbnb, allowing the ability to price a percentage above or below Airbnb's smart pricing, I've also found it's more reliable. Questions I've asked about the product are always answered within a day.

Inconvénients

There's not much I would change about Host Tools. Conditional messages in which parts of messages can be customized might be nice (use case: remind guests to fill out the NYS COVID travel form, but only if they're coming from out of state). Or the ability to see the results of messages based on actual upcoming events.

Avantages

Saves hours of messaging, quick response time ( handy when we get messages at 3am) ensures all import messages are sent ( directions, check in, check out) automates the time consuming reviews .

Inconvénients

There was a couple of minor improvements I thought would be useful when I first started using it, I send a message to them, expecting no reply or the usual thank you note, support team came back to me more or less by return agreed with me and 2 days later had made the improvement, great service.

Thinking about it, I guess the only improvement would be to have several feedback comments loaded that are selected at random.

Avantages

Good automated email set. Other pricing tools that I haven’t yet made use of. Quick response from customer support.

Inconvénients

Difficult to use on mobile device web browser after the recent update. I haven’t used it on a computer recently. Wasn’t able to get pricing tools working in my own.

Avantages

Once I got the hang of the messaging system it has been a good send. It means we no longer have to watch the calendar as it is fully automated. Great customer / tech support very responsive. I can send guests documents via Drop box. Love it, it is a game changer!!!

Inconvénients

Nothing. I love the ease and running it via my phone or Mac.

Avantages

You can make it your own and write your own algorithms.

Inconvénients

Manuals are outdated. It is hard to find someone who is highly educated on this software.

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

This tool is honestly a life saver. I went from managing an airbnb all day every day, to barely having to do anything now except just over seeing and making sure everything is running smoothly.

Inconvénients

I LOVE the fact that you can have it text the cleaning people to have them schedule the cleanings and it reminds them the morning of, however that feature stopped working for awhile and hasn't been texting my cleaning lady. Thankfully i reached out to her to make sure she was good for all the cleanings this month, and her response was "what cleanings?". It would have been a nightmare had I not reached out to her!!! So as much as I'd like to fully rely on this tool, I still have to over see everything and stay on top of everything so nothing gets missed.

Avantages

Host Tools is great for setting up pricing with AirBnB. Takes a little time (less than an hour for me) to understand what is happening and how you need to arrange things but once set up correctly, it's great. Customer support is also great.

Inconvénients

Nothing I can think of. Yes, others have more features but for most AirBnB hosts, Host Tools is more than enough.

Avantages

Ease of use, all-encompassing, straightforward, and functional.

Inconvénients

There isn't anything about HostTools that I dislike

Avantages

I can sit back and trust it to reply and manage my customers

Inconvénients

Doesn't always sync so well with Air bnb and wish it would work among other sites as well.

Avantages

Once the web-app is set us (which only takes 5-10 minutes) with my personalized message templates, I no longer need to message each guest. This web-app cut down 80% my time messaging of guests. It automatically sends personalized messages such as thanks for booking, check-in instruction two days prior to their check-in, reminds guest to check-in on the day of their check-in, reminds guest to check-out on the day- of their check-out, reminds guest to leave a review if they haven't already. I can't stress this enough. It costs only little. Thanks you for making my life so much easier.

Inconvénients

I thought about this for 5 minutes but I don's see any.

Avantages

Easy to set up and edit.
Can have as many automated messages as you need.
Keeps my guests informed.
Encourages guests to alert me of any problems.

Inconvénients

Cant think of anything at all! All great from my experience.

Avantages

I love that I have instant access to the owner and builder of the platform. Always accepting of new features and supporting of current features. I love the blogs that are written as well as it helps me determine some business methods.

Inconvénients

There are quite a lot of features that could be better and more user friendly.

Alternatives envisagées 

Pourquoi passer à Host Tools

Avantages

Not overloaded with features, easy to use

Inconvénients

Can't attach photos to messages, can't queue in order messages wanted to send the same timr