What should a homestay management system include?
A good homestay management system keeps every booking in one calendar, syncs Airbnb and Booking.com so no night is booked twice, takes payments and issues receipts, sends check-in details, and reports income for each unit. Choose one with clear pricing, no commission on bookings, and a plan that fits the number of units you run.
Why does a homestay need a system and not a notebook and WhatsApp?
With one unit on one platform, a notebook and WhatsApp still work. The trouble starts when units multiply, bookings arrive from Airbnb, Booking.com and WhatsApp at once, and payments come in by bank transfer, DuitNow and cash.
Then dates overlap, receipts go out late, and you cannot quickly answer which unit earned the most last month. A homestay management system keeps all of it in one place.
What 8 things should a homestay management system include?
Use this list when you try any system:
- One calendar for every unit and every platform, so you see each booked or blocked night.
- Calendar sync with Airbnb and Booking.com. Airbnb refreshes connected calendars every 3 hours, so a system that pulls more often lowers the risk of double bookings [1].
- A direct booking page, so guests can still book you without a platform taking commission.
- Online payments and recorded manual payments, with a receipt for every payment.
- Check-in details sent to guests: address, times, access instructions and a door code if you use a smart lock.
- Cleaning tasks after every check-out, so the team knows which unit to prepare.
- Income and expense reports per unit, and owner statements if you manage other people's units.
- Access control and guest data protection, because guests' IC and phone numbers are personal data under the PDPA.
How do you compare homestay software prices?
Homestay software usually charges in one of three ways: a monthly subscription for the whole account, a fee per unit or listing, or a commission on each booking.
Commission looks cheap when bookings are few, but it grows with your income. A per-unit fee is easier to predict. Compare the yearly total for the number of units you run today, not just the starting price.
On UrusPro, pricing is per listing with no booking commission, and every listing is free until 31 December 2026 [2].
Do you need a channel manager, or is iCal sync enough?
For most homestays with a few units, iCal sync is enough and cheaper. A channel manager with direct connections helps when you run many units with many last-minute bookings. Our channel manager guide explains the difference in detail.
What should you ask before signing up?
Ask the provider, or check yourself during a trial:
- What is the yearly total for my number of units, including add-ons?
- Is there a commission on each booking?
- How often are Airbnb and Booking.com calendars pulled?
- Can I export my booking and guest data if I leave?
- Is the system in Malay, and is there local support?
How does UrusPro meet this list?
UrusPro keeps the calendar, direct booking, payments, receipts, check-in, tasks and reports in one system for homestays and monthly room rentals. It syncs Airbnb, Booking.com and Agoda through iCal, and it is not a channel manager with direct connections.
Active listings also appear in the HelloStay guest catalogue (hellostay.my), with no booking commission.
Frequently asked questions
Airbnb is a platform where guests book. Homestay software is where you manage every booking from Airbnb, Booking.com and direct bookings in one calendar.
Official sources
Keep your rental records in one place
Free until 31 December 2026, then early bird RM 10 a month per homestay listing and RM 3 per room let monthly. No commission on bookings.
