re: Listing A Property on VRBO and AirBNB. Information Needed.

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You didn't read my post. Again, I've been doing this for 12+ years. The owner was using auto booking services that are for me not worth fooling with.

I pay VRBO a flat annual fee, and my guests pay me the exact amount I tell them it costs, using PayPal or if I trust them a check. No HomeAway or VRBO fees.

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VRBO is planning on doing away with anyone that is not using Book Now in the near future. Additionally, anyone that does not use Book Now and pay through VRBO gets a lower rating for their algorithm on where they are placed on their website. If you have been around for awhile that's great you are clearly doing well, but you are one of the few that continues to do this and it is no longer an option for new customers as far as I know. Its book now and use Credit Card payments or nothing.

VRBO used to charge up to $1400/ year to the owner of the property to use their website. They have now moved that back to $499 but they now charge the guests a varying fee of I believe its 4-9% of their reservation. For me, this has worked out to VRBO doubling or tripling their income. Which is bullshite. But they did it because Expedia bought them out and they needed increased short term earnings. They also did it because this is the Airbnb model and it works well for them.

VRBO also makes a crap ton on Credit Card payments. They charge owners 2.99% now, and I have a contract directly with the same company they use who takes on 100% of the liability for all payments and my contract is 2.43%. Vrbo's i'm sure is lower than that, so VRBO is making over .5% on all transactions, which for a couple billions in transactions a year adds up.

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I don't know why vrbo does these little scams against their hosts.

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Because they have lost touch with what kind of company they are. They think they are hotel service now that they are owned by expedia, and this is completely false.

They are not even Airbnb or close. Airbnb is great for near term weekend trips and smaller groups of people 2-4. Airbnb is a joke in that they don't add tax to their reservations and they require the full amount up front. Who pays for something 6 months to 12 months+ in advance?

The customer service for both companies is a joke.

I'm interested to see how long they let me stay where I am. I'm the no 1 ranked property in the resort on VRBO and up there for the whole town. I've never paid $1400/yr or anywhere near that. Max was in the $400 range. I took another property off and it still gives me the option of paying an annual fee with no %.

I'll switch to Airbnb if all this changes.

I've been planning to add it but just haven't. We stay pretty well booked and I haven't wanted the hassle of avoiding double booking. But you're right, it's time. I can come up w a fail-safe system to avoid double and give pref to VRBO until they jack up fees.