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When Should Hosts Turn On Vrbo Instant Booking?
Turning on Vrbo Instant Booking only takes a click of a button. But is it the right choice for short-term rental hosts?
Enabling instant booking leads to more reservations, especially from last-minute travelers. On the other hand, you lose the chance to vet your guests beforehand.
In this article, we’ll explain how Vrbo’s Instant Booking works, how to easily enable or disable it, and go over the main pros and cons so short-term rental hosts can make a better decision about when to keep it on.
What is Vrbo Instant Booking?
Vrbo Instant Booking is a feature on the Vrbo platform that, when enabled, allows travelers to make immediate bookings. The system will instantly confirm each booking request, and the guest's credit card will be charged a set amount.
Instant booking on Vrbo still requires guests to agree upon house rules, host cancellation policy, damage policy, and rental agreement.
That is different from the 24-hour review period hosts have when the instant booking feature is off.
How Instant Booking Works for Hosts
When a guest books instantly on Vrbo, the reservation flows into your Reservation Manager just like a manually confirmed booking. The difference is that it’s confirmed immediately. Hosts don’t need to approve or decline a booking request on their end. You’ll see the booking details like dates, guest information, and payout schedule show up right away.
The Vrbo calendar updates automatically, and if you use a channel manager like iGMS, your calendar will also sync across other platforms such as Airbnb or Booking.com. This ensures these reserved dates never appear available elsewhere.
Vrbo Instant Booking Pros
Having this feature enabled has some clear advantages.
More bookings
It's no secret that Instant Booking listings attract more travelers who like instant access and make decisions fast. It will save time for both guests and hosts, resulting in a faster booked-out calendar. This convenience leads to higher occupancy and more consistent revenue.
Better rankings on Vrbo
Instant booking enabled ranks your listing higher on Vrbo and Expedia group sites. The algorithm prefers this feature to be on, so you will appear higher in search results and be seen by more travelers.
Higher guest appeal
When Instant Booking is enabled, it’s particularly appealing to last-minute travelers, and that's a huge segment of the market. Guests value the convenience of confirming their stay instantly, without waiting for approval.
Vrbo Instant Booking Cons
Instant Book properties definitely get more bookings, though there are a few other factors to consider.
Guest screening limitations
Automatically accepting every reservation request leaves no room to pre-vet guests and ensure they won’t be problematic. Nearly every host has dealt with a difficult guest at least once. With automatic reservations, pre-screening methods like checking a guest’s previous reviews aren’t possible.
Double bookings
If you’re hosting on multiple platforms without proper syncing or a channel manager, double bookings easily occur. This is challenging for hosts, as frequent cancellations lead to penalties on every platform. The best solution for managing multiple platforms is using a reliable channel manager.
Loss of control
Even though Instant Booking satisfies guest booking preferences, you give up some control over who stays in your property. As a result, you may encounter guests who don’t meet your usual standards or expectations.
Stay in Control with Proactive Host Strategies
To make the booking process as smooth as possible, you can try some of these strategies.
Set lead time to avoid last-minute stress
One of the easiest ways to avoid last-minute stress is by setting a lead time in your calendar.
Lead time is the minimum amount of notice you require before a guest can book a stay. For example, if you set a lead time of one or two days, guests must book in advance.
On Vrbo, you can adjust lead time in your Calendar by selecting Settings and then finding the Booking Window option. This ensures you have enough time between bookings for cleaning, maintenance, and preparation.
Ask the guest to perform a cancellation request
Instead of canceling the reservation yourself, politely ask the guest to cancel if they don’t comply with your house rules or if you note any red flags. This is better because you avoid cancellation penalties on the platform.
Optimize house rules
Writing strong, clear house rules is a key strategy for filtering out the wrong guests. Be specific about your expectations, from check-in times to pet or noise policies, and clearly outline house rule requirements.
Use a channel manager to prevent double bookings
If you host across multiple platforms, a channel manager such as iGMS prevents double bookings. This is especially important for Instant Booking properties, where reservations are confirmed automatically.
Automate messaging
Even with Instant Book, you can maintain a personal touch and build trust with guests through automated messaging that is set up easily with tools like iGMS. A welcome flow sets clear instructions and expectations. There is a chance that guests will reply if they have any special requirements.
Use guest screening tools
Consider using third-party guest screening tools such as Truvi. These add-ons can help you identify reliable guests and reduce the risk of problematic stays, giving you more confidence in your vacation rental business.
How to Enable Instant Booking in Vrbo Booking Settings
To enable or disable instant traveler booking requests, simply find the booking settings and select the instant booking option. Or you can disable instant booking anytime.
- Log into your Vrbo account
- Click on Property
- Navigate to Rules & Policies > Online Booking > Instant Booking
- Click Save
Key Takeaways: Is Vrbo Instant Booking Right for You?
The dilemma with Vrbo Instant Booking comes down to one question: do you want more guests or more control over your vacation rental property?
Situations where Instant Booking is a good fit
- High guest turnover/short-term stays
- Urban rentals with hotel-like amenities
- Hosts who want increased exposure
Situations where having host approval may be a better fit
- Luxury rentals
- Long-term stays
- Hosts who prioritize screening over speed
In the end, you can manage booking inquiries in different ways, but keep in mind that Instant Booking is more desirable and often rewarded by both guests and platforms.
To help you manage Vrbo and other accounts, iGMS offers a channel manager. With your calendars automatically updated, you'll never have to worry about Vrbo, Airbnb, Booking.com, or your direct booking calendar being out of sync again, especially if Instant Booking is enabled.
About the Author
Zorica Milinkovic is a B2B SaaS writer who is passionate about psychology, marketing, and, when inspiration strikes, cooking. You can find her on LinkedIn.
