Calendar & Availability

• Go to Manage listings > Click on calendar
• Click on Export calendar
• Copy the “Only Houfy Reservations” link by clicking the Copy button.

• Go to Edit listing > Calendar
• Click on ICAL to edit it
• Change color of the ICAL
• Click save to save the changes.

• Go to Edit listing > Calendar
• Click on the date and select the dates
• Click Blocked
• Click on Save to block the dates.

• Manage listings > Calendar
• Click on any date and select start and end date.
• Enter the price, minimum stay, maximum stay.
• Click save.

• Go to edit listing > Calendar
• Click on the date you want to un-block.
• Click on Available and select Houfy as channel connection.
• Check the price and click save.

Once you do this, the Airbnb calendar needs to pull these changes. So, wait for Airbnb to sync, or perform a manual sync on Airbnb.

The "correct" way of Synchronizing Calendars: (assuming 3 sites)

1. EXPORT Airbnb + VRBO and IMPORT into Houfy
2. EXPORT Houfy + VRBO and IMPORT into Airbnb
3. EXPORT Airbnb + Houfy and IMPORT into VRBO

TIP: When doing this, keep the browser tabs open.

Step 1) Export Airbnb and VRBO & Import into Houfy

Calendar importing allows you to automatically keep your Houfy calendar up to date with an external calendar that supports the iCalendar format, including Google, Airbnb, HomeAway or VRBO.

Log in to Airbnb: Select Host > Listings > Select listing (Browser Tab 1)

Select the correct listing and find: Availability Settings

To export a calendar:

1. On airbnb.com go to Host and select Listings > Select Listing
2. Select Calendar and Click Availability settings
3. Scroll down to Sync calendars, select Export Calendar and copy URL.
4. Paste the Airbnb URL into the Calendar address (URL) field at Import at Houfy.
5. Name your calendar. (Airbnb)
6. Click Import calendar.

Scroll down and find "Export Calendar"

Copy the link - Make sure you select the whole link..

Open a new Tab on your browser. (Browser Tab 2)

• Log in to Houfy
• Click on the menu icon top right
• Go to Manage Listings on Houfy.com
• Click Calendar for the listing you want to import.
• Click on the top-right corner of your calendar view, select Import calendar and paste the Airbnb link.

Open a 3rd tab: Log into VRBO and go to owner dashboard. (Browser Tab 3)

Select property > Manage > Calendar

Click on the up/down arrows > Export Calendar

Click on the top-right corner of your Houfy calendar view, select Import calendar and paste the VRBO link.

NOW YOU HAVE IMPORTED AIRBNB AND VRBO INTO HOUFY

Step 2: EXPORT Houfy + VRBO & IMPORT into Airbnb

• Copy the export Houfy link (First one) and go to Tab 1: Airbnb > Select "Import" and paste the Houfy link.
• Copy the export VRBO link from tab 3 and go to tab 1: Airbnb > Select "Import" and paste the VRBO link

Step 3: EXPORT Airbnb + Houfy & IMPORT into VRBO

• Copy the export Houfy link(First one) and go to Tab 3: VRBO > Select "Import" and past the Houfy link.
• Copy the export AIRBNB link from tab 1 and go to tab 3: VRBO > Select "Import" and paste the AIRBNB link

Youtube video:

Houfy - How to sync your calendars

Houfy Help Tutorial: How to sync calendars

https://www.youtube.com/

In the vacation rental industry, Calendar Sync allows reservations from one calendar to be shared with another calendar automatically. Calendar sync is done using a format called iCal. (.iCal is an format just like .pdf / .com & .xml for example)

With Houfy: Calendar importing allows you to automatically keep your Houfy calendar up to date with an external calendar that supports the iCalendar format, including Google, Airbnb, HomeAway or VRBO.

The "correct" way of Synchronizing 3: AIRBNB, VRBO & Houfy Calendars:

TIP: When doing this, keep the browser tabs open.

1. EXPORT Airbnb + EXPORT VRBO and IMPORT into Houfy
2. EXPORT Houfy + EXPORT VRBO and IMPORT into Airbnb
3. EXPORT Airbnb + EXPORT Houfy and IMPORT into VRBO

Houfy says: can NOT import this link?

Most probably, you copied the wrong link, you might have copied the url in the browser. Please read the above document. ALL larger marketplaces have proper synchronization set up through specific export and import links. (.ics files) - These do not show in the browser.

I'm blocking dates on VRBO but they do not show on Houfy?

Please make sure you have VRBO synced into Houfy.

I added a reservation on Houfy ("Add Booking") but it doesn't show on Airbnb?

Did you import Houfy into Airbnb? Please make sure you did. Airbnb can not get any data from Houfy if you did not import the Houfy calendar into Airbnb.

What does the little sync button do?

The little sync button fetches data from the linked website. As far as I know, only Houfy, Airbnb and Tripadvisor have this.Once you have synced your calendars correctly, you should be all set!

How do I delete a calendar from Houfy?

1. Log into Houfy
2. Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
3. Manage Listings
4. Select property
5. Click on the calendar you want to remove > Delete

1. Log in to your Vrbo account and select the property for the calendar you want to export. Note that you can only export your calendar if your listing is live.
2. From the property page, select the Calendar tab.
3. In the Calendar tab, select Import & Export.
4. From the Import & Export page, select Export Calendar.
5. In the Export Calendar window, select Copy URL and follow the instructions provided by your external calendar to import the Vrbo calendar.

Note that you have the option to include tentative reservations in the export by checking the "Include tentative reservations in this export" checkbox. However, this may cause issues with payments for those dates if you have also set up an import from that calendar to your reservations calendar. It is recommended to only include tentative reservations when exporting to a private calendar, not when exporting to another booking site like Houfy.

Log into your dashboard/calendar at VRBO:

1. Select Export Calendar
2. Select the ICS file and copy

• Log into Houfy
• Manage listings
• Calendar
• select IMPORT and paste the selected link from VRBO, name the calendar (for example VRBO) and save.

Do not copy url's from the browser. These will not work.

This process of syncronzing is fairly easy and only needs to be done once.

TIP: Open 2 tabs on your browser to switch between Airbnb & Houfy

Step 1: Export your Airbnb calendar and Import it into Houfy.

To export the Airbnb calendar: (Browser Tab 1)

1. On airbnb.com go to Host and select Listings > Select Listing
2. Select Calendar and Click Availability settings
3. Scroll down to Sync calendars, select Export Calendar and copy URL.
4. Paste the Airbnb URL into the Calendar address (URL) field at Import at Houfy.
5. Name your calendar. (Airbnb)
6. Click Import calendar.

To Import the Airbnb calendar into Houfy:

• Log in to Houfy
• Click on the menu top right
• Go to Manage Listings on Houfy.com
• Click Calendar for the listing you want to import.
• Click on the top-right corner of your calendar view, select Import calendar and paste the Airbnb link.

Step 2: Export your Houfy calendar and Import it into Airbnb.

• Log in to Houfy
• Click on the menu top right
• Go to Manage Listings on Houfy.com
• Click Calendar for the listing you want to export.
• Click on the top-right corner of your calendar view, click Export calendar annd copy the url.

To import the Houfy calendar into Airbnb: (Browser Tab 1)

1. On airbnb.com go to Host and select Listings > Select Listing
2. Select Calendar and Click Availability settings
3. Scroll down to Sync calendars, select Import Calendar and paste the copied Houfy URL.
4. Name your calendar. (Houfy)
5. Click Import calendar.

Houfy is programmed to synchronize every 3 hours. This means Houfy pulls in new data from other calendars every 3 hours.

How can I manually sync?

You can do a "hard sync or manual sync" when you get a booking on Airbnb or VRBO; go into Houfy's listing calendar section and click on the sync button to pull the reservation into Houfy's calendar.

If you get a booking on Houfy. Then Airbnb or VRBO need to pull that booking into their calendar. You can pull the reservation block in immed. by clicking on their sync button in their calendar dashboard.

It's up to Airbnb or VRBO to pull in Houfy's new calendar info. So you should find out how often Airbnb "syncs/pulls in data" with other sites. It is our understanding Airbnb syncs every 2 hrs and VRBO up to 6 hrs.

Example: Your Houfy calendar is synced with Airbnb. You get a booking on Airbnb. Houfy normally syncs (pulls in other calendar info) every 3 hours.

Let's say you don't want to risk your Houfy calendar being open that long for the possibility of a double booking. So you do a hard sync (pull in Airbnb's calendar info immediately).

• Manage Listings
• Calendar
• Click the calendar sync icon on the far right

Note: Some other platforms allow this as well. For example, log into Airbnb and do a manual sync of Houfy's calendar info. And Airbnb will pull in bookings from Houfy right away.

Click on the little update/sync button.

Example: if you get a booking on Houfy. Then Airbnb needs to pull that booking into their calendar. You can pull the reservation block in immed. by clicking on their sync button in your Airbnb calendar dashboard.

You can do the same in Houfy as well. It's called doing a "hard" or "manual" sync. If you get a booking on Airbnb, then go into Houfy's listing calendar section and click on the sync button to pull the reservation into Houfy's calendar.

If you remove a block on Airbnb and want to show open dates on Houfy:

To show unblocked on Houfy:

• Unblock on Airbnb
• Go to Houfy and perform a "Hard sync" at edit listing > Calendar

1. Log into Houfy
2. Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
3. Manage Listings
4. Edit > Calendar
5. Select the site you want to remove.
6. Delete

Once your calendar starts to fill, rates/min. night stays might need to be adjusted. (It's common for owners to lift minimum night restrictions, as to minimize 1-2 night calendar gaps). To do this, you can:

1. Edit each season's beginning/end dates and/or rates.

OR

2. Override the seasonal rates with calendar pricing.

When editing one season's start/end dates, often the preceding/subsequent seasons will need to be adjusted as well. This can be time-consuming if you don't use a channel manager or dynamic pricing software.

A general (not literal) view when comparing seasonal and calendar pricing is:

• Seasonal rates = set it and forget it
• Calendar rates = manual dynamic pricing

But most hosts use a combination of the two, as they tend to overlap.

For example, in the Outer Banks, Jersey Shore, and Cape Cod it's common to require weekly reservations only, with a weekly designated changeover date. If each week was created as a separate season, then the host just edits the rate of each season as supply/demand fluctuates.

But in markets where the minimum night stay varies: reservations may range from 1 to 14 nights, calendar pricing is probably more convenient.

How do I add calendar pricing?

1. Go to the calendar view in your dashboard: Manage listings > Calendar
2. Highligh the calendar dates that need to be edited
3. Adjust rates and minimum night stay in the left pop-up window.

You can also choose to display or hide the seasonal rates table on your listing's homepage.

If you prefer to offer a discount percentage instead, you are able to do that as well. Your guest needs to be a Houfy member in order to book through the link.

1. Log into Houfy
2. Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
3. Manage Listings
4. Edit >Calendar > Select dates and change rates

After saving the new rates, preview your listing as a traveler. Enter in dates and number of guests.

Copy URL or use the Share button.

The dates are pre-selected and the guest can complete the booking.

1. Please select menu > Manage Listings.
2. Select the listing you want to remove the co-host, and then click Edit.
3. Click Calendar from the left menu and click on any dates.
4. Click create a new rule-set , enter the rule name for ex. "Weekends rule"
5. Enter the Price per night in Nightly/Weekly/Monthly(28 nights) section
6. Click Pricing by the days of the week and enter the weekend price for desired weekend days for ex. Friday, Saturday.
7. Click Save.

How to apply the rule for the dates?

1. Select any dates in the calendar, you can chanage the dates from datepicker.
2. In the Rule-sets dropdown, select the rule you wanted to apply.
3. Click Save.

You can also send a flat rate special offer instead.  

1. Log into Houfy
2. Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
3. Manage Listings
4. Edit > Calendar

Once you click Save, the Share Special rates Pop-up window appears.

View of discount when shared on facebook. Traveler can click to view quote.

After clicking, traveler will be taken to your listing to complete the booking. Dates will be preselected, and they will need to edit number of guests.

If sharing via email, you can add a message. Traveler can click View Special Discount to complete the booking.

1. Log into Houfy
2. Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
3. Manage Listings
4. Edit > Calendar
5. Scroll down to the bottom and set the dropdown to Monday.

1. On Desktop/laptop:

• Please select menu > Manage Listings
• Select the listing you want to change, and then click Calendar.
• Click on any date or the date you want to change the minimum stay.
• On the left side, you can write the minimum stay and click on Save.

2.`On Mobile/tablet:

• Please select menu > Manage Listings
• Click on the Set Price button
• Select the dates and enter the minimum stay and save.
  

1. Log into Houfy
2. Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
3. Manage Listings
4. Edit > Calendar
5. Click on calendar name

• Place cursor in Color field to display color options.
• Select a color - keep in mind Houfy bookings will be dark blue.
• Adjust shade.

Note: Be sure guest name (white text) will be visible against shade.

• Go to Edit listing > calendar
• Scroll down to "Allow same day booking"
• Select No

This will not allow to book for the same date.

To set a booking cut off date go to:

• Manage listings
• Calendar
• Scroll down to booking cut off date (Set date or choose months from today)

By leaving this date blank you'll have the option to accept a booking at any future date

This means you're taking responsibility to keep your rates up-to-date. (e.g. with a Base Rate set high enough that you won't be disappointed if someone inquires to book a high season date far in the future that you haven't updated)

Example: a guest wants to book a special anniversary in two years when you haven’t set a rate. Please make sure your rates are updated.

• Log in
• Menu
• Manage Listings
• Calendar
• Scroll to the bottom and enter in the last day guests are able to book.

1. Log into Houfy
2. Click your profile picture in the top right of Houfy
3. Manage Listings
4. Edit > Calendar
5. Scroll down to the bottom and select:

• Cut off date by date or
• Cut off date by months from today

Please note: you can only choose 1 of these options. If you wish to set by a date you will need to remove the cut off date by months from today.

How do I block my calendar on my Houfy listing?

On Desktop/laptop:

• Manage listings > Edit listing > Calendar
• Click on any date
• Select "Blocked" and click Save

On Mobile/tablet:

• Right menu > Manage listings > Edit listing > Calendar
• Click on "Set Price"
• Select "Blocked" and click Save

Houfy offers two import options: Reservations Only and Everything

EX: if you block dates on XXXX platform, but want them to remain bookable on Houfy, select to import "Only Reservations" instead of "Everything."

Menu > Manage Listings > Calendar > Import tab

1. You might have created a block. Remove by scrolling down in the left side and click remove.
2. At calendar, scroll all the way down and remove the cut off date or set the date for a future date.

Menu > Manage Listings > Calendar > Booking Cut Off Date

What is the booking cut-off date?

This is the furthest date in the future that you want to accept bookings

By leaving this date blank you'll have the option to accept a booking at any future date

This means you're taking responsibility to keep your rates up-to-date. (e.g. with a Base Rate set high enough that you won't be disappointed if someone inquires to book a high season date far in the future that you haven't updated)

1. Go to: Manage Listings>Calendar
2. Click & select the dates you want to unblock.
3. Click on Available on the left menu.
4. Save changes

• Edit listing -> Calendar -> Navigate to the blocked dates or booking
• Click on the booking to see details
• Scroll down the left section to see the "Remove" button
• Click on Remove and confirm "Yes" to remove the blocked dates or added booking

Note: Remove button will not be visible for paid bookings on Houfy. In case you want to cancel it, the host needs to cancel the booking and refund the payment as per agreement between the host and guest.

1. Go to Listings and click the listing you want to change
2. Click Calendar from the left meu
3. Select Yes in the Export past reservations section.

Log into Houfy and select Menu > Manage Listings.

1. Select calendar of the listing you wish to export
2. Click Export calendar and copy the url (Select only Houfy reservations)

Log into VRBO and go to owner dashboard.

1. Select the property to sync > Select Manage > Select Calendar at the drop down menu
2. Click on the up/down arrows on the right side > Select Import Calendar
3. Paste the FULL HOUFY URL in the pop up

How often does your VRBO or Airbnb calendar sync? VRBO and AIRBNB calendars usually take a few hours to update. Airbnb usually within 2 hours and VRBO up to 6 hours. There's a chance that a guest could book on one platform, and another guest could book the same dates on another platform in the time it takes for your calendar to update. To avoid problems you can always "hard sync" on Houfy and on Airbnb.

To find out how to "hard" sync, click here

Log into VRBO and go to owner dashboard.

1. Select the property to sync > Select Manage > Select Calendar at the drop down menu
2. Click on the up/down arrows on the right side > Select Export Calendar
3. Copy the FULL URL in the pop up
4. Uncheck (Incl. Tentative Reservations)

Log into Houfy and go to My Listings.

1. Select calendar of the listing you wish to update
2. Click Import calendar
3. Paste the copied VRBO Calendar URL

Log into Airbnb.

To export the Airbnb calendar:

1. On airbnb.com go to Host and select Listings > Select Listing
2. Select Calendar and Click Availability settings
3. Scroll down to Sync calendars, select Export Calendar and copy URL.
4. Paste the Airbnb URL into the Calendar address (URL) field at Import at Houfy.
5. Name your calendar. (Airbnb)
6. Click Import calendar.

Log into Houfy.

To import a calendar into Houfy:

1. Menu and select Manage Listings.
2. Select calendar of the listing you wish to update
3. Click Import calendar
4. Paste the copied Airbnb Calendar URL

1. Go to Listings and click the listing you want to change
2. Click Calendar from the left menu and click Clear pricing
3. Click on Clear Pricing again to confirm the removal of prices.