Knowledge Base

Learn Rental Unify from sync to Direct Booking.

Guides for calendar unification across Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Furnished Finder, and any iCal channel - plus private Direct Booking pages (link & QR) so guests can rent from you directly.

Overview

What Rental Unify does

Short-term rental platforms each keep their own calendar. Rental Unify pulls those calendars together, shows one master view, lets you add personal or maintenance blocks, and publishes a merged availability feed that every channel can import - so a night booked on one site is far less likely to stay open on another. On eligible plans, hosts can also share a private Direct Booking page (link or QR) - not a public marketplace. That page can offer Short Term nightly stays and optional Long Term month stays on the same link.

Clear role

Rental Unify is software only. We are not your co-host, landlord, insurer, or the merchant for guest stays. Hosts are responsible for their properties, taxes, legal compliance, and guest relationships. Read the Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.

Illustration of Airbnb, Vrbo, and Booking calendars merging into one unified calendar

Connect once

Paste each platform’s export iCal URL into your property.

See everything

One master calendar plus conflict alerts when sources overlap.

Stay aligned

Automatic syncs plus Sync now when you need an instant refresh.

Book privately

Share a link or QR; guests pay you via Stripe - not a public marketplace.

Quick start

Getting started in minutes

No card is required to create an account. Connect your first calendar as soon as you add a property. On eligible plans you can later enable a private Direct Booking page (link & QR) after Stripe payouts are ready - see Private Direct Booking.

Step 1

Create your host account

Go to Host Sign Up (marketing registration is for hosts only) and enter your name, email, and a password (at least 8 characters).
Confirm your password and submit. You’ll land in the host dashboard.
Already registered as a host? Host Log In. Guests use Register on a private listing link or Guest Log In.

Step 2

Add your first property

Open Properties in the left navigation (or use Add property from Overview).
Enter a clear name (for you), a real street address (required), timezone, and check-in / check-out times. Address suggestions appear as you type so you can pick a correctly formatted address.
Save. You’ll open the property detail page where connections and manual blocks live.

Step 3

Connect platforms (import)

In the rental platform, find Export calendar / iCal and copy the HTTPS URL.
In Rental Unify → property detail → choose the platform (Airbnb, Vrbo, Booking.com, Furnished Finder, or Other iCal).
Paste the URL, optionally add a label, and save. The calendar will sync on the next run.

Step 4

Close the loop (export)

On the property page, copy your Rental Unify export feed URL (standard for Airbnb; Vrbo only for Vrbo).
In each platform, open Import calendar and paste that URL so they receive merged availability (including your manual blocks).
Repeat for every channel you use. This is the step that keeps other sites from staying open.

Step 5

Verify on the calendar

Open Calendar to see the master month view across properties.
Click a day to inspect source, date range, and connection health.
If something looks stale, open Connections or Activity and press Sync now.

Portal wiki

Using the host portal

After login you work inside /dashboard. Here’s what each area is for.

Overview

/dashboard

Portfolio snapshot: occupancy for the next 30 nights, open calendar conflicts, property health, and shortcuts to add a property or jump into calendars. Start here when you want a pulse check.

Calendar

/dashboard/calendar

Master availability across your properties. Filter by property, navigate months, open day details, and review which channel (or manual block) owns a night. Great for planning personal stays around bookings.

Properties

/dashboard/properties

List and create rentals. Open a property to manage its platform connections, copy the export feed, and add or remove manual blocks. Limits depend on your plan.

Connections

/dashboard/connections

Portfolio-wide view of every iCal connection: platform, health (Healthy / Delayed / Needs attention / Failed), last successful sync, and sync errors. Use Sync now to refresh all feeds for your account immediately.

Activity

/dashboard/activity

Compliance-friendly log of sync success/errors, conflicts, connection changes, account updates, and billing events. Filter by category when you need to investigate.

Billing

/dashboard/billing

Compare plans, upgrade, add extra properties (on eligible plans), and open Stripe’s portal to manage payment methods or the subscription.

Settings

/dashboard/settings

Update your name, avatar, email (confirmed via your current inbox), and password. On paid plans, manage MFA, host email alerts, Direct Booking payouts, and your fee-avoided estimate. Platform tools like maintenance mode are Rental Unify Master Admin only and do not appear for hosts.

Wiki · Connections

Platform connections explained

Every healthy setup has two halves: feeds flowing into Rental Unify and your merged feed flowing back out to each platform.

Diagram of platforms exporting to Rental Unify and importing the merged feed

Import into Rental Unify

Platform → Export calendar → copy HTTPS iCal URL
Property detail → add connection → paste URL
URLs are stored encrypted; guest details stay off our sync model

Export from Rental Unify

Copy the standard export URL (ends in .ics) for Airbnb, Booking.com, and most platforms
Copy the Vrbo only URL (ends in .vrbo.ics) for Vrbo - it omits Vrbo-sourced nights so Vrbo does not show Conflicts on its own stays
Platform → Import calendar → paste the matching feed
Feeds include other-channel blocks + your manual unavailable dates

Furnished Finder note

Furnished Finder offers limited one-way support. There is no full open API and Rental Unify does not promise complete two-way sync for that channel. Use it where iCal helps, and verify critical dates on the platform itself.

Where to find export calendars (typical)

Airbnb - Listing editor → Availability / Calendar → Availability settings → Connect calendars → Export calendar.
Vrbo - Calendar → Import/Export (or Availability) → paste the property’s Vrbo only Rental Unify URL (ends in .vrbo.ics), not the standard Airbnb link. That feed omits Vrbo’s own nights so imported stays from Airbnb/Direct still block the calendar without marking Vrbo’s native bookings as Conflicts. Export stays within ~1 year for Vrbo’s import window.
Booking.com - Rates & Availability / Calendar sync → Export / Import calendar URLs (labels vary by extranet version).
Other iCal - Any channel that gives you a public .ics URL works the same way.

Platform menus change over time - if you can’t find Export, search the host help center for “iCal” or “calendar sync.”

Wiki · Calendar

Calendar & manual blocks

The master calendar is your single map of busy nights. Colors distinguish platforms and manual holds so you can see at a glance who owns a date.

Reading the calendar

• Switch months with the calendar controls
• Click a day for property, source, and date range
• Connection health appears with reservation details
• Range covers recent history and about a year ahead

Adding a manual block

Open the property and use the manual block form
Choose first night and last night (inclusive)
Pick a reason: personal, friends & family, maintenance, renovation, or other
Optional note → save - those nights flow into your export feed; checkout morning stays open

Conflicts

When two sources overlap on the same property, Rental Unify flags a conflict. Check Activity for Conflict detected events, then fix the night on the platforms (or adjust your manual block). Conflicts are warnings to act on - not automatic cancellations on Airbnb or Vrbo.

Wiki · Sync

Automatic & manual sync

Sync means Rental Unify re-fetches each connected iCal URL, replaces that connection’s blocked dates, updates health status, and recalculates conflicts.

Automatic sync

Background jobs refresh connections on a schedule (about every 30 minutes). You don’t need to leave the dashboard open for this to run.

Sync now (manual)

On Connections or Activity, press Sync now to refresh every active connection on your account immediately - ideal right after you take a booking on an OTA or fix a bad URL.

If a connection shows an error

Open the property and confirm the iCal URL still works in a browser (should download/open a calendar).
Re-copy the export link from the platform - hosts sometimes regenerate feeds.
Save the connection again, then Sync now.
Check Activity for the error detail if it persists.

Remember: even after Rental Unify updates, Airbnb/Vrbo/Booking may take additional time to refresh the imported feed on their side.

Wiki · Direct Booking

Private Direct Booking (link & QR)

Direct Booking is the main product for hosts who want guests to book them privately - not a public Airbnb-style marketplace. Calendar sync is the companion feature that keeps your OTA calendars honest after someone pays on your private page. Guests only reach a listing if you share the link or QR.

What hosts set up

• Connect Stripe (payouts go to you - not Rental Unify)
• Use Property Readiness on the property page to see required vs recommended setup at a glance
• Add listing basics: photos, pricing, rules, contact email & phone
• Optional: pets, parking, add-ons, Instant Book vs approval, referrals
• When Instant Book is off, review requests in Bookings with a full stay breakdown, then APPROVE AND CHARGE or DECLINE REQUEST
• Bookings & Savings shows Direct revenue, nights, averages, coupon / referral / birthday stays, repeat guests, and estimated fees avoided
• Turn host email alerts on or off in Settings (new bookings, cancellations, Trust Kit issues, calendar connection failures, daily digest, monthly report)
• Guest Stay Emails (per listing): before arrival, check-in day, and before checkout, with optional notes. Check-in codes stay private until a few days before arrival
• Automatic Stay Messages summary on the listing: what is on for stay emails, review reminders (capped), referral nudge after a positive review, birthday offers, and deposit auto-release
• On a booking, preview stay emails and SEND NOW when needed
• Optional: Local Recommendations - host favorites, distance, directions, and tips for guests
• Multi-property: Overview occupancy + conflicts inbox, Master Calendar / Bookings property filters, Copy Settings From (safe fields only)
• Booking confirmation pages need the email (or Guest dashboard) stay link; bare booking URLs stay locked
• Location Privacy: approximate area, exact on the private link, or exact after confirmed booking
• Short Term and Long Term on one private page (see Short Term & Long Term below)
• Money actions (approve/decline, cancel+refund, deposit capture/release) ask for a second confirmation
• Guests can subscribe for future discounts (Leads); send offer emails with your Coupons
• Optional Birthday Offers: surprise discount email near a guest’s birthday
• Enable the private page and copy the link or QR code
• Check Listing Traction next to your QR: QR Scans vs Link Opens, plus bookings from each
• Share & Print Marketing Campaigns: unique tracked QR/link per flyer with scans, visits, bookings, revenue, and estimated fees avoided
• Share & Print editor: undo/redo, snap guides, reset layout, and a campaign QR picker so each piece can print the right tracked code
• Confirmed stays block nights in your unified calendar / export feed

What guests do

• Open your link or scan your QR
• Choose Short Term (nights) or Long Term (months) when the host offers both
• Optionally Register or Log In (birthday month/day on register for a later surprise)
• Tap LOCAL RECOMMENDATIONS if the host added nearby picks (popup + phone QR)
• Pick available dates and pay via official Stripe Checkout only
• See the stay total with fees before checkout; deposit holds and ID checks (when the host uses them) are explained on the booking card
• Provide real name, email, and phone (autofilled when signed in as a guest)
• After confirmation, use the host’s email/phone to coordinate the stay
• Check-in notes (codes, parking tips) appear on the confirmed stay page and emails closer to arrival, not on the public listing
• Use the guest stay dashboard for past stays, reviews, and referrals

Contact exchange is mandatory

We intentionally do not build an in-app chat. Once a booking is confirmed, the guest receives the host’s contact email and phone, and the host receives the guest’s. Coordinate check-in details outside Rental Unify - cleaner for you, less noise in the product.

Wiki · Stay Types

Short Term and Long Term on one private page

Growth and above can run classic nightly Direct Booking and optional furnished month stays from the same unguessable link and QR. Guests choose Short Term or Long Term on your listing when Long Term is enabled and available. Calendar sync still protects confirmed Direct nights on Airbnb, Vrbo, and your other channels.

Short Term (nights)

Best for vacations and weekend stays. Guests pick check-in and checkout, apply coupons, add extras, and either Instant Book or request approval.

• Nightly / weekend rates, date overrides, min and max nights
• Instant Book or host approval (APPROVE AND CHARGE)
• Add-ons, pets, parking, Trust Kit, referrals, stay emails
• Guest pays lodging through Stripe Connect to you
• Confirmed stay creates a Direct calendar block that exports to OTAs

Long Term (months)

Best for travel nurses, contractors, and other furnished month stays. Inquiry first. You decide who receives a contract.

• Always on or seasonal windows (optional yearly repeat)
• Min/max months, monthly rent, deposit, inclusions, notice days
• No Instant Book: guest submits inquiry with move-in and months
• Editable generic US contract draft + host typed-name acceptance
• Preview Sample Contract with fictitious guest data before you send
• Guest signs on a branded contract page; Stripe and/or offline move-in pay
• Calendar hold only after signed + paid (or signed with $0 due)

Topic	Short Term	Long Term
Who it is for	Vacation and short stays	Nurses, contractors, longer furnished stays
Guest path	Reserve / request on the listing	Inquiry, then contract link
Pricing	Nights, fees, add-ons, coupons	Monthly rent, deposit, move-in rules
Host control	Instant Book or approval	You choose who gets a contract
Payment	Stripe stay checkout	Stripe move-in and/or offline due-by
Calendar lock	When the booking is confirmed	When signed and paid (or nothing due)

Host setup checklist (Long Term)

Open the property Direct Booking panel → Long Term Stays.
Enable Long Term. Choose Always On or Seasonal. Set months, rent, deposit, and pay options.
Edit the contract draft if needed. Use PREVIEW SAMPLE CONTRACT, then ACCEPT TEMPLATE with your full name.
SAVE DIRECT BOOKING SETTINGS so toggles and prices persist.
When an inquiry arrives, SEND CONTRACT. Guest signs and pays. Confirm offline pay only after you received funds.

Legal posture (required reading)

Rental Unify is a software and tools company. Long Term settings and the contract template are drafting aids based on common US practices. They are not legal advice, not an official attorney document, and not a guarantee of local compliance. You own and are solely responsible for any contract you edit, send, or enforce. Rental Unify is not a party to host-guest long-term agreements. Long Term stays may create residential tenancy rights under local law. Consult your own counsel when needed.

Wiki · Referrals

Guest referral program (optional, per listing)

Hosts who enable referrals on a Direct Booking listing let each guest earn a unique referral link for that property only. You choose the economics - Rental Unify just runs the math.

What you configure

• On/off per listing (never account-wide by default)
• Referrer credit % - added after each successful referred stay
• New guest discount % - off lodging when booking with a referral link (0 = none)
• Max free nights - when a referrer reaches 100% credit

How earning works

• Guest A stays → gets a unique ?ref= link for this listing
• Guest B books with that link (optional welcome discount applies at checkout)
• After Guest B checks out, Guest A’s credit increases by your referrer %
• Credits stack to 100%, then apply to Guest A’s next stay here (capped by max free nights)
• Credits never move to another property - even if the same guest stayed elsewhere

Important rules

• Self-referrals (same email, Gmail-style aliases, or matching phone / card) are blocked.
• Referral discounts are rate-limited per phone and card on each listing (about 3 per 30 days).
• If abuse is detected after payment, the referrer does not earn credit (logged in Activity).
• Abandoned checkouts and declined requests do not earn credit.
• Discounts apply to lodging; cleaning fees and add-ons are still charged unless lodging covers the whole stay under your rules.
• A daily job finalizes credit after check-out dates; guests also receive their link on the booking confirmation page when the program is on.

Trust & safety

Avoiding scams

Private links reduce drive-by spam, but hosts and guests must still stay sharp. Rental Unify will never ask you to pay a “verification fee” by gift card or wire.

Guests: Pay only through the official checkout on the Rental Unify booking page. If someone with your link asks you to text money, crypto, or gift cards instead - stop and report it.
Hosts: Keep listing details accurate. Complete Stripe Connect with your real identity. Do not ask guests to pay outside Checkout for Direct Booking stays.
Everyone: Use real email and phone numbers - they are exchanged at confirmation. Fake contacts violate our Terms and can get accounts suspended.
Report suspected abuse to support@rentalunify.com. Full rules live in the Acceptable use & anti-fraud section of the Terms.

Plans

Plans & billing

Property and platform limits are enforced across your account. Annual billing saves versus paying month to month. Payments are processed by Stripe.

Plan	Monthly	Annual	Properties	Platforms
Free setup	$0	-	1	1
Starter	$19	$194	2	2
Growth	$29	$296	5	3
Pro	$49	$499	15	5+
Scale	$99	$1010	50	5+

• Growth, Pro, and Scale include private Direct Booking (link & QR). Starter is calendar-sync focused - upgrade when you’re ready to take direct guest payments.
• Pro and Scale can add extra properties (see Billing for current add-on pricing).
• More than 50 properties? Business plans for volume pricing.
• Use Billing → Manage this plan for invoices, cards, and cancellations via Stripe.

FAQ

Frequently asked questions

Ready to unify - and book privately?

Create a free account, connect your first calendar, and unlock private Direct Booking on eligible plans.

Start unifying Already have an account? Log in