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Brooke - Community Manager

Question of the Week: advice for first 30 days?

Hi everyone,

The first month is often the most challenging for new partners – but your advice could make all the difference.

Can you think back to when you first listed your property on Booking.com?

Maybe you wondered why you were charged for a no show… or you wanted to contact a guest, but couldn’t find their phone number. Perhaps you didn’t yet know how to handle payment with a virtual credit card?

Now that you've had some experience, what would you tell a fellow partner to help them with their first 30 days?


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M Adamopoulou 5 years ago

Thanks Brooke for this post.

The reservation was made two months ahead and although I send them a couple of messages there was no answer. They only informed me they were coming to my place an hour before check-in. I was so anxious when they came I cannot describe it in words. They were a beautiful, very generous, friendly and polite couple that we became friends from the very moment. Of course they loved our place and left us an excellent review. So I would suggest just be yourself and try to be cool, cool, cool.

Dont worry be happy and your guests will appreciate everything you have prepared and done for them.

If some are naggy, nasty, unthankful again be cool. Handling the situation with kindness try to convince them that they have come to the right place. Positive thinking helps sending good vibes to everyone....

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Aaltje B. 5 years ago

New to B.com?

This forum would be an excellent tool to see how other people are doing things.

Since you will have many questions, you can find the answers here most of the time, and the help centre will do their best to assist you.

It could be disappointing to read about some negative experiences people have, but hey, Rome wasn't built in a day, and hosting is not for everyone.

Having ears to listen to guests needs is a big one. The challenges you go through, take them as a learning curve, you will get there.

And don't be afraid to adapt or change the "recipe" if things don't work out. There are many ways to Rome too, haha.

Team up with someone who's in the trade for some time. That is very helpful.

Don't wrestle with problems too long, ask assistance. It's OK to ask for help.

Wishing you many fantastic guests and joyful hosting days ahead.

Greetings,

Aaltje B.

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M Adamopoulou 5 years ago

Very well said Aaltje B.

You might be new in booking.com but your life experience is valuable and of course hosting is not for everyone....

Have a wonderful Valentines Day!!!

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Gingerlass57 5 years ago

Hi, I have been in the Booking.com payment scheme from Dec 2019, I am having real problems with revieving my remittance money, I am in New Zealand and deal with kiwi bank, the payment keeps on bouncing back, wrong a/c number, I have been in touch now trying to sort it out, Kiwi Bank has only two dijets in the last numbers, booking.com told me to add another 0, I have done this it doesn't work, Kiwi Bank days the account needs to be loaded from B>Com manually with just the last two numbers, its a nightmare as I have still been paying my invoices but with no income, I love dealing with B>Com and realize that it is only a glitch, any advice from anyone in NZ dealing with Kiwi Bank would be really gratefully received, Kind regards Margo

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Aaltje B. 5 years ago

December 2018 probably.

If you add another 0 at the beginning of the last three instead of end does that help?

Greetings,

Aaltje B.

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Gingerlass57 5 years ago

Hi Aaltje B, yes I have done that, to no avail, many thanks for answering me, Cheers Margo

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Aaltje B. 5 years ago

And you have been in contact with NZ contact person? per telephone?

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Aaltje B. 5 years ago

If not, Margot , try to get in touch with the finance team via the contact number. Login to Extranet and find Inbox tab. After that find the space where to put your question and scroll down to contact phone number of NZ

Having to wait to Monday unfortunately.

Write down to whom you have spoken and what they advised to do.

I am hosting in NZ too. I use a different bank. But ask if kiwi bank should be ok even if only two digits in the end. I am sure you are not the only one using kiwi bank.

Come back to me on Monday and see what they say.

I will support you. ( hosting like you, not working for BDC but trying to get my head around the system and supporting other hosts :)

Cheers,

Aaltje B.

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M Adamopoulou 5 years ago

Hi! Margot and welcome to the forum. Sorry to hear your struggles with payments. I am not from your beautiful country but since other partners have had problems with payments through banks I would suggest you to check out if your IBAN number is correct.
Wish you all the best and have a nice weekend.

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Gingerlass57 5 years ago

Hi M Adamopoulou, I shall do that today, many thanks for helping, kind regards Margo

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M Adamopoulou 5 years ago

Massive pleasure. Hope you solve your problem as soon as possible...

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Gingerlass57 5 years ago

Have taken all advice on board re codes ectr, went through form with b.com man on phone, I just hope the nightmare is over, will keep you informed, kind regards margo

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M Adamopoulou 5 years ago

Margo it will work.... Think positive....Beginings are always difficult...

Have a pleasant day....

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Gingerlass57 5 years ago

Hi Many thanks to both Aaltje and M Adamosoulou, I have now recieved dec and Jan, so the link has been corrected, just hope Feb comes in, I used all of your sugestions but they did not tell me why the delay, all is well I believe they pay before the 15th of the month, Best to you both and many thanks, Margo.

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Aaltje B. 5 years ago

Yay Margot. Well done for holding on, digging in, persistence, perseverance, and now the joy.

The joy of hosting without worries.

But keep on your toes still, keep checking account and there may be something nice around the corner that you can benefit from too. (upgrades)

I am happy for you Margot!

A big breath in and off to a great start.

Wishing you a very good season.

And any other questions, just bring it on dear Margo.

Thank you for thanking us.

Cheery

Aaltje B.

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M Adamopoulou 5 years ago

Margo massive pleasure. Very happy for you. Booking.com pays excactly on the 15th, in my case at least.

Thanks for feedback and thumbs up...

Wish you all the best...