Post by High Priestess on Dec 30, 2018 2:58:32 GMT
An alternative to AIrbnb? Often when hosts get exasperated with something else Airbnb is doing that doesn't work well for hosts, they say they wish there was a decent competitor.
There are other platforms out there, but some of them also have problems. So....if you were going to design a platform, or if you were asked for input about what you wanted.....here's your chance. I'm asking this not because I want to set up an STR platform but just because I think it helps us to envision what we all want, in terms of moving this into a reality...collective thinking about this could help bring about a reality.
Describe your ideal short term rental platform.
Consider things such as....
(1) Does the platform handle the money (collect it from guests and then disburse it to hosts) or do guests pay hosts directly?
(2) What software features would make a good site?
(3) Does the platform verify identity of hosts and guests, or not?
(4) Does the platform charge a fee to hosts and/or guests? If so, how much, and in what way? A percentage commission, or a flat fee?
(5) Does the platform have any rules about who can list, or types of listings? Are there any rules or emphases on type of business -- for instance, would the platform be strictly for short term stays, or could long term reservations also be made. Could hotels list? Could real estate companies list?
(6) What types of policies or "terms of service" would you like to see and what would you definitely NOT want to see in TOS?
(7) What would you want to see in cancellation policies?
(8) What pricing features would you like?
(9) What rules or policies should the platform have about discrimination issues or host/guest ethics, if any?
(10) What process, if any, should the platform use for disputes or complaints by either hosts or guests? Eg: should the platform help hosts/guests with disputes, or leave it to them to resolve?
ANything else?
There are other platforms out there, but some of them also have problems. So....if you were going to design a platform, or if you were asked for input about what you wanted.....here's your chance. I'm asking this not because I want to set up an STR platform but just because I think it helps us to envision what we all want, in terms of moving this into a reality...collective thinking about this could help bring about a reality.
Describe your ideal short term rental platform.
Consider things such as....
(1) Does the platform handle the money (collect it from guests and then disburse it to hosts) or do guests pay hosts directly?
(2) What software features would make a good site?
(3) Does the platform verify identity of hosts and guests, or not?
(4) Does the platform charge a fee to hosts and/or guests? If so, how much, and in what way? A percentage commission, or a flat fee?
(5) Does the platform have any rules about who can list, or types of listings? Are there any rules or emphases on type of business -- for instance, would the platform be strictly for short term stays, or could long term reservations also be made. Could hotels list? Could real estate companies list?
(6) What types of policies or "terms of service" would you like to see and what would you definitely NOT want to see in TOS?
(7) What would you want to see in cancellation policies?
(8) What pricing features would you like?
(9) What rules or policies should the platform have about discrimination issues or host/guest ethics, if any?
(10) What process, if any, should the platform use for disputes or complaints by either hosts or guests? Eg: should the platform help hosts/guests with disputes, or leave it to them to resolve?
ANything else?