Experience the difference of "Elite".

OpenEdge - I DO NOT recommend!
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BlueMtnCabins
Mar 11, 2019 1:28 PM
Joined Jun, 2016 1115 posts

So 3 weeks of dragging me through 3rd degree. I had to send proof of paid property taxes (they could have looked themselves online - it is publicly available) as they could not "verify ownership". I had to give statistics on how far in advance each cabin books, with percentage breakdowns of 1-5 days, 5-14 days, 14-30, 30-60 days etc. I had to give data on how much down booking deposit is. Now they are asking for last 2 years of tax returns saying this is "high risk". WUT? I have over 800 credit score and I am not even applying for a loan, mind you. All this nuisance is not worth to save .025 over stripe. I have been with stripe for over 2 years and NEVER had to go through such nuisance, I simply signed up online. I work for a major bank IT for Pete's sake, and they can see it by my email. All this for me to receive my own money? pass.

JTVRs
Mar 11, 2019 1:36 PM
Joined Jun, 2018 385 posts

I filled out the lynnbrook form like 3 weeks ago, and they never got back to me!

Rich S
Mar 11, 2019 2:08 PM
Joined Dec, 2018 301 posts

I checked with Lynnbrook about 3 months ago and got a call from a very knowledgeable person. He was surprisingly open about how their system works, costs, etc, spent about 15 mins on the phone with me. I was impressed at least with that call, but haven't activated them yet (awaiting my website)

BlueMtnCabins
Mar 11, 2019 2:22 PM
Joined Jun, 2016 1115 posts

Oh, initial conversation was fine too. he offered slightly lower rate than stripe. but now dragging me through over 3 weeks of 3rd degree...exhausted my patience. Not worth it.

JTVRs
Mar 11, 2019 5:14 PM
Joined Jun, 2018 385 posts

Online transactions like vacation rentals, especially card not present, are probably in the high risk category. Think Lynbrook specialized in VRs. Maybe openedge not. This kind of stuff may only get worse.

JTVRs
Mar 11, 2019 5:25 PM
Joined Jun, 2018 385 posts

I am going thru hell trying to get a new VR ins policy for two diff buildings

Cbiz won't do my multifamily. What, you mean there's a common hallway? We can't do that.

There is only one exit from the second floor?

Do you have hard-wired smoke alarms? ( it would be over $10,000 for this large building)

Slice wouldn't do the building because there was a commercial space in the first floor...

How old is a building? Do you have knob and tube wiring?

We can only do actual cash value. Of course that means we will seriously depreciate any work like a roof or windows or etcetera Etc

You live in the building? We can't insure that!

You don't live in the building? We can't insure that!

Sprinklers?

Where are the nearest hydrants? Firehouse?

Is the building ever vacant? (no, vac rentals are never vacant. Have u ever covered this before???)

Do you allow people? (OK, made that one up)

Rich S
Mar 11, 2019 5:36 PM
Joined Dec, 2018 301 posts

JTVR - every insurance company is different. They all have different underwriting guidelines, but I know the pain you're going through. My wife has an Allstate agency and I've seen lots of weird situations. Just move on to the next company and try them. Or try an independent agent, they might be better able to fit you with a company that **wants** these kind of properties.

JTVRs
Mar 11, 2019 7:26 PM
Joined Jun, 2018 385 posts

Didn't mean to hijack the thread, but Blue's pain with openedge is how I feel

I have gone to 3 independent agencies.

Nationwide is looking promising. They had much better deal than cbiz (much higher actual cash value coverage for significantly lower price) and I am waiting for them to get back to me on the multifamily (has two commercial spaces alsop)

Of course, they haven't asked the questions above yet. They might ask questions and then drop me...

I may wind up with patchwork on the mutifamily. landlord policy which is pretty cheap, $2 million policy for cheap, and safelystay which has a middling pay per booking service. But if nationwide offers a decent price and doesnt drop me, I would go with that...

ShenRent
Mar 11, 2019 7:58 PM
Joined Dec, 2009 54 posts

Check on Allrisks. Find an agent that sells them They've covered us for years with special short-term policies. I believe they're backed by Lloyds of London. https://www.allrisks.com/

JTVRs
Mar 12, 2019 5:05 PM
Joined Jun, 2018 385 posts

Talked to Lynbrook today. Nice people, VR specialists.

I told him my focus was not the cheapest price. And obviously you cannot use them for Airbnb and the HomeAway family because they use their own.

Will probably be activating this in a few weeks, when I'm closer to actually being live with vacation rentals

Paul W
Mar 12, 2019 8:50 PM
OR Team Member Joined Jun, 2009 825 posts

You can actually use them for HomeAway if you are able to join our upcoming, looming, awesome API integration with HomeAway. The users that are on that get to use their own CC payment processing just like direct bookings. HomeAway API passes through the guest credit card to our system. The pilot users that are on that are VERY happy.

BlueMtnCabins
Mar 12, 2019 9:04 PM
Joined Jun, 2016 1115 posts

IF you can get approved. I doubt a CIA agent is vetted as mush as I was.

JTVRs
Mar 12, 2019 9:19 PM
Joined Jun, 2018 385 posts

Paul W said:

You can actually use them for HomeAway if you are able to join our upcoming, looming, awesome API integration with HomeAway. The users that are on that get to use their own CC payment processing just like direct bookings. HomeAway API passes through the guest credit card to our system. The pilot users that are on that are VERY happy.


HA's current service, yapstone/VRP is widely condemned by owners.

Are you talking openedge or Lynnebrook?

This could be huge!!!

Paul W
Mar 13, 2019 8:49 AM
OR Team Member Joined Jun, 2009 825 posts

Any CC processor you want. If you get onto the HomeAway API integration, the guest and card info is passed to our system for processing and then we pass an approve/decline back to HomeAway while the guest waits at the checkout window. So it uses whatever CC processing you have in OwnerRez.

BlueMtnCabins
Mar 13, 2019 10:24 AM
Joined Jun, 2016 1115 posts

Paul W said:

Any CC processor you want. If you get onto the HomeAway API integration, the guest and card info is passed to our system for processing and then we pass an approve/decline back to HomeAway while the guest waits at the checkout window. So it uses whatever CC processing you have in OwnerRez.

yesssssss. how do i get in on that?

JTVRs
Mar 13, 2019 6:46 PM
Joined Jun, 2018 385 posts

"If you get onto the HomeAway API integration,"

This sounds like a shoe is to drop somewhere...

Will it cost extra (such as on OR)?

Are there limitations to get in?

Does it require some kind of Masonic or other secret rituals to get in on this???

Is there something complex or roundabout to "If you get onto..."?

Rich S
Mar 13, 2019 9:01 PM
Joined Dec, 2018 301 posts

I think you need to have 5 units on vrbo (minimum). I have 2 currently and asked for an exception, was told to email somewhere and for past 3 weeks crickets.

BlueMtnCabins
Mar 14, 2019 10:44 AM
Joined Jun, 2016 1115 posts

I have 3.

Chris Hynes
Mar 14, 2019 11:07 AM
OR Team Member Joined Oct, 2012 1400 posts

We've heard from HomeAway that they're working on a "self service" option for the API integration that will allow people with less than 5 properties to sign up for that integration. That's due out later this year, but we don't have any specifics or ETA on it yet.

Paul W
Mar 14, 2019 11:59 AM
OR Team Member Joined Jun, 2009 825 posts

@Rich S - did you email us (OwnerRez) about the 5 unit minimum or the channel (VRBO)? Wondering if that ticket got dropped since you said crickets for 3 weeks. If you emailed the channel, are you sure it wasn't TripAdvisor that you emailed which is already live and working for API? We do tell people to email pmsupport@tripadvisor.com but they tend not to answer quickly if you don't meet the 5+ requirement. TripAdvisor is pretty hard and fast about it. The HomeAway/VRBO side isn't open yet; only pilot users are on that.