HomeAway and its partner site VRBO (Vacation Rentals By Owner) are booking sites that specialize in connecting customers with amazing rental properties all over the world.
The initial appeal of HomeAway is undoubtedly the amazing homes you can rent on the platform.
But part of the reason so many travelers trust the service is its Book With Confidence Guarantee (more on that shortly) and its secure HomeAway payment system, known as HomeAway Payments.
In this article, we’ll provide a brief guide to HomeAway, explain HomeAway Payments, and show homeowners how to set up HomeAway Payments.
We’ll also explain the Book with Confidence Guarantee in depth and answer some frequently asked questions about HomeAway.
A Brief Guide to HomeAway
HomeAway is an online platform that allows people who own vacation homes or rental properties to connect with travelers.
And it allows travelers to experience a new city, mountain village, or beach town.
Searchable online listings on HomeAway.com let renters find the perfect getaway home, and the service’s secure online payment system allows travelers to book with confidence (and allows property owners to receive payments securely and easily).
For Guests
HomeAway is a popular website that specializes in vacation homes.
With listings all over the world, you should be able to find that perfect spot no matter where you’re planning on traveling.
On top of its impressive property database, part of the appeal of HomeAway is its ease of use.
You can search properties by location and travel date, and set filters based on price range, number of travelers, and other factors.
The site gives you everything you need to find the perfect place to stay for whatever kind of trip you’re embarking on.
This is what the website looks like from a booking perspective:
You can search with the map to find the perfect property no matter where you want to be.
You can also see photos of the property, look at reviews from other guests, make inquiries about special accommodations, and more — all simply and easily within the app.
For Property Owners
Property owners use HomeAway because it allows them to connect with potential guests from all over the world.
It also allows them to hand off the hassles of online credit card payment, insurance protection, and more.
HomeAway takes on much of the logistics of setting up a short-term rental agreement.
For owners, HomeAway does come with a subscription fee or a pay-per-booking fee (for more on that, see our article on HomeAway‘s fee structure for property owners), but most owners are happy to pay those fees in exchange for the services the site provides.
The site also allows property owners to orchestrate check-in remotely, give a property manager access to the online account, and accept different payment methods easily and securely.
What Is HomeAway Payments?
The HomeAway payment platform is called HomeAway Payments.
HomeAway.com says it is “a payment transaction method that provides owners and property managers with a more secure way to receive payments from travelers.”
Both owners with subscription and pay-per-booking listings are able to use the HomeAway Payments platform.
The system lets owners receive online bookings and make payment requests to guests from their HomeAway account page on the website.
HomeAway Payments accepts Visa, MasterCard, American Express, and Discover, as well as eChecks (though they only accept eChecks from U.S. residents).
Why Use HomeAway Payments?
HomeAway Payments allows for easy, secure payment online and keeps things organized within the HomeAway system.
For travelers, it’s a matter of ease of use — most would prefer to pay quickly online instead of having to arrange payment with a property owner (or travel with cash or checks).
HomeAway Payments is also about guaranteeing security.
HomeAway insists that new owners use their payment platform.
Doing so allows them to ensure travelers that their payments are protected against internet fraud.
Setting Up HomeAway Payments
If you’re an owner, setting up HomeAway Payments is an easy process, whether you have a subscription listing or a pay-by-booking listing.
Here is the simple step-by-step guide, according to the HomeAway Help section:
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“Log in to your account.
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“If you have more than one listing, select the appropriate property.
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“Click the Reservation Manager icon on the left navigation menu.
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“Click Payments.
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“Enter the required information.
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“Review and accept the Client Service Agreement and Terms and Conditions.
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“Click Finish.”
That’s it.
Follow those instructions, and you’ll be ready to accept secure online payment and give travelers an easy way to complete the booking process.
The Book With Confidence Guarantee
Speaking of the booking process, people who book using HomeAway and use the HomeAway Payments system are automatically given the Book with Confidence Guarantee.
What’s the Book with Confidence Guarantee?
Glad you asked.
The Guarantee provides travelers with numerous benefits, which according to the HomeAway website, include:
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“Payment protection against listing fraud.
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“A Dedicated Traveler Care Team to answer questions before and during your stay. Support is available by phone or chat, depending on your region.
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“Lodging assistance if you’re unable to check into the property or it’s been significantly misrepresented.
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“Rebooking assistance to help you find another vacation rental should your booking be cancelled by an owner or manager at the last minute.
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“Damage deposit protection to help you recover your deposit if it is wrongfully withheld after your stay.”
Using HomeAway Payments not only makes life easier for the property owner, it also gives travelers peace of mind.
Frequently Asked Questions
We’ve covered HomeAway, how it works for renters and owners, and how its proprietary payment system works.
Let’s get to some other questions you might have.
1. Do owners have to use HomeAway Payments?
No, but owners are strongly encouraged to use the HomeAway Payments system.
This is done to prevent fraud.
It also easily allows owners to process credit card payments and provides protection for travelers (among many of the other benefits already listed).
2. What are the fees for HomeAway Payments?
There are no sign-up fees for using HomeAway Payments and no annual fees either.
There is a 3% transaction fee applied for every payment, which is used to offset the fees charged by credit card companies.
There can also be an additional 2% international transaction fee for credit cards that aren’t issued in the US.
3. How does HomeAway deal with foreign currency?
One of the biggest benefits of the HomeAway Payments system is that travelers can pay in EUR, USD, GBP, or CAD and funds can then be disbursed in your local currency (or in any of the currencies just listed).
One caveat, according to HomeAway:
“HomeAway Payments can be used in a vast majority of countries with the exception of bank accounts or billing addresses in countries sanctioned by the Office of Foreign Affairs Controls (OFAC). In some cases, you may be asked to provide your social security number, passport number or verify your tax information.”
4. How does HomeAway compare to competitors?
The biggest competitor to HomeAway is Airbnb.
The short-term rental site has grown in popularity all over the world, and unlike HomeAway, Airbnb is fine with renters who offer a single room, as opposed to an entire property.
(HomeAway insists that property owners list entire properties for rent and does not allow room rentals.)
Other competitors include booking sites like Expedia and Orbitz, though those sites specialize in hotel bookings and not private home rentals.
Expedia and Orbitz also offer airplane tickets, car rentals, and more, while HomeAway focuses exclusively on rental properties.
Secure Payment With HomeAway
HomeAway is one of the world’s largest platforms, listing beautiful vacation homes and rental properties all over the world.
And when owners list their homes on HomeAway, it’s a good idea to use HomeAway Payments, HomeAway’s secure payment platform.
Using it allows both owners and travelers to ensure that money is exchanged safely, securely, and conveniently during rental bookings.
