Hostfully Property Management Platform

Tried the rest...this is the best! Look no further

Comments: Everything about Hostfully shows a pattern of superior thought and workmanship. The Hostfully team members I have come in contact with have all showed me a unique desire to deliver a robust solution to the day to day struggles I deal with as a property manager. I have used 3 other "top rated" alternative property management solutions and they all fall flat and short. When I say I recommend "them"...Hostfully...I say that because you are not just getting software...you are getting a team dedicated to making their customers user experience a successful one! They understand their clients success (us) means their success. I am happily staying with this company because nobody else has come close to solving my challenges as they are currently doing.

Pros:

Simple setup...really nice GUI...easy to navigate...no unnecessary clicks and extremely intuitive. The calendar is fabulous...you know where your bookings are coming from...it's easy to make contact with guests (due to the new inbox feature)...easy to make direct bookings...take payments...make changes...issue refunds...schedule housekeeping...I mean the team at Hostfully has thought of virtually everything to make your life easier. Not to mention distribution, channel management...all this is supposed to be cumbersome...not so anymore. My revenues have increased immensely not just as a direct result of better channel integration but for the simple fact that I have so much more free time! Free time equals more marketing, etc. The productivity that this software achieves must be worth checking out. Oh...and the support! ...due to the thoughtful design of the platform I find myself figuring things out on my own....however when you are in a bind...it seems the support is always there. Hostfully's support apparatus is easily twice as fast as the other platforms I have used. It's not even close frankly. In fact, I left another platform because of this very support problem that Hostfully has solved. Lastly, let's not forget value...the price. I think their pricing plans are competitive and more than reasonable when you think about how many problems they have solved.

Cons:

While it's not a deal breaker...an app would be nice. Using alternative property management solutions, they all had "apps". But what's the point of an app whey they are broken, clunky and lacking in every way imaginable? That describes the "competitors" mobile offerings. Believe me I tried them...for years...each! Hostfully does not have an app...but their site is completely "mobile friendly". Initially I was concerned but it turns out I couldn't have been more wrong. I would rather have a mobile friendly site that achieves ALL than an app that claims to have all, most...or some...yet has nothing of real value. Hostfully's site is SUPER EASY on your mobile device. Don't worry about it! I'm extremely mobile and if it was a pain...I would have moved on by now...and I'm not...no way.

Hostfully PMS, I'd recommend it

Pros:

The customer service is good. They respond relatively quickly and typically solve the issues. The integrations are good. However, we've recently had issues with the Lynx integration so it seems like there's been some negative changes.

Cons:

The app is painfully simple. Also, we cannot edit existing templates, simply delete them. Also, there are some bugs that have been an issue since day 1 - such as jobs being assigned to someone, even though we don't have that selected as an option and never have. Also, we don't get the notification bubble on our iPhone if we've received a notification on Hostfully (our settings are updated to receive these). Overall, there are bugs, but the app is easy enough to use so we will keep using Hostfully in the meantime.

Too Many Bugs

Comments: There is great potential with this product if they would ever fix it and it could do what they say that it is capable of doing. They have a user forum for users to suggest improvements for upgrades and it is a joke in my eyes when they can't get the bugs out of the current product. How can they be asking for suggestions when the current product won't work?

Pros:

The calendar syncs between Airbnb and VRBO, which are the only two platforms we use right now. It is the only thing that works. The calendar is accurate. And, their support team is responsive because I spend 50% of my day messaging them about bugs in the system.

Cons:

Bugs. It is so difficult to manage anything about the reservation - communicating with the guest (you can't get messages into the platform from VRBO; cohosts can't communicate via Airbnb); you can't modify rates or add on additional nights w/out rates changing from dates already paid for; messages don't come through; etc. You double space after the end of a sentence and it sends &nspc after each period; It doesn't have a sort system to show you outstanding balances or pending transactions so you don't know who to follow up with; and there are problems every single day trying to do basic things that the system will not do. The answer is "we are forwarding to our higher tier department". You never hear back.

New property manager

Comments: Initially it was superb with [sensitive content hidden]
, after that we’ve lost touch with any one contact, the help button is responsive but almost never solves a problem. They’re very nice, but refer owners/managers to the platforms directly.

Pros:

The onboarding specialist [sensitive content hidden] , after [sensitive content hidden] unexpected departure from Hostfully, we never connected with anyone else. She was a huge asset and we are so sorry she’s gone!

Cons:

Not easy to get answers about platform issues that arise. I thought Hostfully would have had their own customer service connections through the platforms to help maneuver issues/problems resolve issues that occurred with property managers specifically! Virtually impossible to communicate with the platforms about management issues.

Sweet Spot Rentals loves Hostfully

Pros:

We love the people at Hostfully. They are always willing to listen to the needs you have and come up with a great implementation and time line for it. Always willing to grow with you.

Cons:

There isn't much because if we have an issue or something we would like for them to add they have been great about helping us with it.