Summary
If a listing is in Host Tools but isn't on Houfy yet, you can publish it as a brand-new Houfy listing from Host Tools instead of building it again on houfy.com. Host Tools creates a vacation rental on your Houfy account, fills it in with the listing's content and photos, and closes every date. Once publishing finishes, Houfy shows as one of the listing's channels, like any channel you connect yourself. Houfy then needs you to verify the listing before guests can find it in its search.
Before you start
Connect the Houfy account under
Settings > Channelsfirst.The listing needs a name, a description, a vacation-rental property type, a maximum number of guests, bedrooms, bathrooms, a city, a country, a map location, a currency, a base price and at least 5 photos.
Houfy only takes vacation rentals: Condo, Vacation Home, Studio, Apartment, Townhome, Bungalow, Villa, Estate/Castle, Chalet, Cottage and Cabin. Hotels, B&Bs, other multi-room property types and boats can't be published to Houfy.
If anything is missing, the publish window tells you what to add before you can publish.
How to publish a listing to Houfy
Go to the Listings page and click the + button next to the listing to open Connect Channels.
Next to Houfy, click
Publish new listing.Pick the Houfy account to publish to.
Under Houfy shows it as listed by, choose Owner or Manager. Houfy shows this to guests.
Click
Publish. Publishing takes a few minutes while Houfy imports the photos, and you can close the window while it works. Host Tools shows a pop-up when it's done.
What gets published
Host Tools creates the listing with the listing's name, description, property type, rooms, amenities, house rules, check-in and check-out times, fees, photos and base price, with every date closed. Content sync is turned on for the listing. Houfy's map shows the listing's location only roughly; the full address is still sent, because Houfy uses it to verify the listing.
Prices and availability
A newly published Houfy listing can't be booked until calendar sync is on for it. Every date starts closed, and calendar sync opens the dates that are free in Host Tools. If calendar sync is already on for the listing, this happens right away; otherwise it happens as soon as you turn it on.
Verifying the listing on Houfy
Houfy shows a new listing in its search, where guests find it, only once it's verified, and only you can verify it, on Houfy:
On Houfy, open the listing's
Edit listing > Verifications.Upload your ID and a recent utility bill, insurance statement or deed for the property.
Press
Submit for verification.
If Houfy doesn't verify it, or says it couldn't start verification, email [email protected] with the listing number.
While Houfy hasn't verified a listing, the Listings page shows a Houfy: Waiting for verification badge on it. This applies to every Houfy listing, whether you published it from Host Tools or imported it. Host Tools checks with Houfy once a day, so the badge can stay up to a day after Houfy verifies the listing. When it's verified, Host Tools shows a Verified on Houfy pop-up and emails you.
FAQ
What happens if publishing fails?
Houfy can't delete a listing, so a listing Houfy didn't finish stays on your Houfy account. Host Tools shows the reason in a pop-up and in the publish window. Fix it and publish the listing again: Host Tools carries on with the same Houfy listing instead of creating another one.
Can I publish a listing that's already on Houfy?
No. Publishing is only offered for a channel the listing isn't on yet. If the listing already exists on Houfy, connect it instead.
Can I publish through the Host Tools API or MCP server?
Yes. Both can publish a listing to Houfy in the same way, with the same Owner or Manager choice.