OTAs
Houfy Rentals: 101 for Hosts
Discover how this commission-free vacation rental marketplace differs from OTAs, how it works, and what features it offers to STR hosts.
As a host, you need to list your property on top vacation rental sites to maximize reach and attract your ideal guests. Travelers trust many rental sites, so it's easy to get confused about which platforms to list on.
One of them is Houfy, which differs from traditional OTAs like Airbnb or Agoda since it gives property owners a chance to do business on their own terms by connecting properties directly with guests. Read on to find out how Houfy rentals work and what benefits this platform offers to hosts.
Houfy Rentals: What Makes This Website Different?
Remember that relying on a single booking platform isn't the best strategy for STR hosts because it can't guarantee consistent bookings. The secret to thriving in a competitive STR market is multichannel distribution. It boosts visibility, diversifies your audience, and increases your chances of getting more bookings to maximize revenue.
Listing your property on major OTAs, such as Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com, and building your own direct-booking website will help you build a more resilient business. And use short-term rental software like Hospitable to automate your daily operations. You'll be able to diversify your revenue streams without increasing your workload, making your business more efficient.
Niche vacation rental sites also cater to specific demographics, regions, or preferences. Niche sites can be valuable distribution channels because they let STR hosts reduce reliance on major OTAs and their unpredictable policies. Some niche platforms, such as Houfy, encourage direct bookings. So, should Houfy rentals be your next platform? Let's find out.
Houfy is a commission-free vacation rental marketplace where guests pay hosts directly, with more than 100,000 listings across over 100 countries. It was founded in 2015 and derives its name from "HOUse For You." According to Similarweb, Houfy attracts more than 85,000 monthly users, and its core audience is in the United States. Other top countries sending traffic to Houfy are Greece, Poland, Mexico, and Canada.
The platform connects travelers directly with property owners so they can book a stay without an intermediary.
Unlike Airbnb, which limits host-guest communication to its platform, Houfy also encourages direct communication between hosts and guests. That allows hosts to get the actual customer data and improves all parties' experience.
It's important to note that Houfy takes no commission from hosts, and guests pay hosts directly through their own Stripe, Square, or PayPal account. As a result, STR hosts can set their payment terms, manage their payouts directly, save on fees, and offer their guests better deals. Hosts can also set a cancellation policy of their choice. Bookings made through certain property management software integrations carry a 5% API connection fee that the guest pays to Houfy, but listings connected from Hospitable are exempt from this fee.
Listing your property on Houfy (and other niche sites) in addition to your listings on such global giants as Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking.com and your direct booking website can offer you an opportunity to extend your reach. Hospitable is a Houfy Elite Partner, so you can connect your Hospitable account to Houfy for free. Bookings placed on either platform are blocked on both calendars, which helps you prevent double bookings.
Houfy Rentals: How to List Your Property and How Much Does It Cost?
If you want to list your vacation rentals on Houfy, with the Free plan, you only need to pay a one-time host verification fee for unlimited listings (now $5.99). Houfy allows hosts to import their Airbnb listings. The process is quick; you can import your photos, amenities, property description, location, and guest reviews. Nightly rates and availability aren't imported, so you'll need to set up your pricing and calendar on Houfy. You can also create your listing manually using Houfy's self-guided builder to enter details.
In addition to the Free plan, Houfy has two paid subscription plans, Lite and Premium, that offer additional features. Lite costs $9.99 per listing per month, and Premium costs $14.99 per listing per month. If you pay annually, the price drops to $7.99 and $11.99 per listing per month, respectively.
What Features Does Houfy Offer to Hosts?
All plans (Free and paid ones) include the following features:
Instant Payments to your Stripe, Square, or PayPal account
Calendar synchronization with Airbnb and Vrbo, as well as Booking.com
Multi-calendar
The ability to upload unlimited photos of your vacation rental property
A host verification badge
Custom quotes
Customizable short-term rental agreement
Sending scheduled messages to confirmed bookings
Creating custom links to use on social media
Adding co-hosts (requires host verification)
You can take advantage of additional features if you sign up for one of Houfy's paid plans. For example, if you choose the Lite subscription plan, you can hide price comparisons and nearby listings on the listing page and can show external links and your email/phone number on the listing page.
Conclusion
As a large commission-free marketplace, Houfy may be an option as a booking channel in addition to your direct booking website. But remember that you'll need to market your Houfy listings on social media channels actively. Of course, the platform offers paid features to increase your listing's visibility in search, such as Last Minute Specials & Featured Listings. Still, remember that the Houfy website doesn't attract as much traffic as top OTA websites like Booking.com or Airbnb.
