Double Bookings

[Cherie185]

I double booked my rental for a second time.  I have my home listed on VRBO as well.  I cancelled within 5 minutes when I found what I need wrong. Now I’m being penalized $127 for the cancellation.  
I’m not sure how to juggle both sites. I may have to remove my home from this site so it doesn’t happen again.  I really don’t want to but I can’t stand the anxiety with making a mistake. 
Any help would be welcomed 

[Elaine701]

@Cherie185 

You haven't indicated who double booked it, VRBO or Airbnb. 

Some years ago, VRBO was famous for its faulty calendar sync that routinely resulted in double bookings, which of course had to be cancelled, and then the host would be penalised by VRBO for the cancellation. It's one of the reasons I removed my listing from VRBO. 

Is that still happening?

[Cherie185]

It was my total fault.  I do not have calendars synch.  I just looked at the wrong month on VRBO.  Their calendars are kind of funky I think.  I would take my listing off of VRBO but I get most of my bookings on one listing in VRBO.  I have two listings on two platforms.  It gets a little confusing.  

[Mike-And-Jane0]

@Cherie185 The simplest way to make sure this does not happen is to remove Instant Book from your Airbnb listing. That way you will get reservation requests on Airbnb and you can block the VRBO calendar before accepting the Airbnb request.

[Cherie185]

I don't have instant booking.  It was totally my fault.  I looked at the wrong month when I accepted the booking.  I didn't know anything about synching the calendars.  This is my first year with 2 properties.  Trying to figure it all out. 

[Frances3408]

@Cherie185 . In addition to @Mike-And-Jane0 excellent advice I suggest that you also consider the decline impact on each platform. For example VRBO requires 99% acceptance rate for Premier Host. Airbnb isnt as strict but they may downgrade your SEO ranking. 

Yes you can synch the calendars but if you have a problem with a platform or a booking you have forfeited all opportunity to get another booking(s).

As I use both I would never Instant Book- better to decline than cancel. OR accept the cancellation fee risk. 

[Cherie185]

I found that out quickly.  I don't do auto bookings.   VRBO's calendars are pretty crazy so I was actually on the wrong calendar when I accepted.  I would just use Airbnb but one of my listings gets more activity on VRBO.  This is my first year, and I screwed up two listings. with a double booking.  Thanks for your suggestions though.  

[Margaret491]

Have you looked at investing in a channel manager? There are lots to choose out there who support single listings!

[Lorna170]

@Cherie185   I list on multiple sites. I log in to one or the other several times a day. My first step on logging in is to manually synch the calendar.  Whenever I see a message or accept a booking, I log in and manually synch the calendars.  I do not rely on the timing of the website synchronization. 

If you cannot log in in a timely manner, i.e., as soon as you receive the "You have a booking" message, take your property off instant book and only accept requests.  That will give you time to verify the availability.  Some hosts have their properties listed as instant book on one site and request to book on the second or third sites.