Managing Vrbo inquiries in Guesty can sometimes cause temporary payout discrepancies caused by mismatching payout amounts on the inquiry and the final reservation. This article explains why these discrepancies happen, what to expect during the booking process, and how to handle them effectively.
How Vrbo payout discrepancies occur
When Vrbo sends a guest inquiry to Guesty, it only includes the nightly rate. Guesty creates a payout estimate based on the nightly rate. This can cause discrepancies as the estimate payout displayed on the inquiry may not align with the payout amount displayed on the confirmed reservation. Read below to learn more.
1. You receive an inquiry
An inquiry is a received message from a guest who asks a question before making a reservation. It may include requests for clarification about the property, availability, or check-in/check-out times.
Inquiries don't include other details, such as a confirmation code, payment method, or guest details.
2. Guesty creates an estimate payout
When Vrbo sends an inquiry to Guesty, it includes the nightly rate only. Markups and additional fees, such as cleaning fees and taxes are not included. Guesty therefore calculates and displays an estimate payout, which may differ from what the guest will actually pay.
3. The reservation transitions
Once their questions are answered, the guest clicks Request to Book or Book Now to turn the inquiry into a reservation. Vrbo sends the guest details and full pricing breakdown, including fees and markups to Guesty. Guesty updates the guest folio with the accurate payout information.
Important:
- Always let guests complete the booking process via Request to Book or Book Now before reporting payout discrepancies.
- Don't change the status in Guesty manually. This skips essential steps (payment, guest info, confirmation code) and can cause errors.
Troubleshooting Vrbo payout issues
Follow the steps below if you notice a payout discrepancy.
For inquiries
A payout discrepancy is temporarily expected. Wait until the reservation is confirmed or reserved to see the accurate payout.
For confirmed or reserved reservations
If reservation is verified as confirmed or reserved in Guesty, compare the payout in Guesty with Vrbo. If the amounts still don't match contact Vrbo Support to verify payout details. If further investigation is required, contact us with the Vrbo confirmation code.