Booking & payment process
How a Casa Co stay is enquired about, agreed, contracted, paid for and closed out — across the guest, the host and Casa Co.
Amelia — start at the bottom. There are seven questions for you in the final section, and they're the useful part. Everything above is a reconstruction from Evan's notes, so where it doesn't match how things actually happen, that's the document being wrong rather than the process. The Casa Co filter in the header shows just your screens.
What changed in v3.4
The bond no longer sits with Casa Co. It is collected on the second invoice, passed to the host before check-in, held by the host during the stay, and returned by the host directly to the guest afterwards — with proof of the transfer uploaded to the platform. See Bond handling below.
Booking process
Eleven stages. Money and identity run as parallel tracks that only reconcile before check-in.
| Stage | Guest | Host | Casa Co | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Enquiry submittedFrom any listing page — dates, party size, age range, purpose | Submits | — | Receives |
| 2 | Meeting and verbal agreementOffline, all three parties | Attends | Attends | Coordinates |
| 3 | Invitation builtDates, rates, bond, cleaning, contract terms | — | Builds | Can act for host |
| 4 | Profile resolvedExisting profile, or a stub created by the invite | — | Enters email | System |
| 5 | Pack deliveredInvitation, tax invoice, contract of stay | Receives | Sends | Copied |
| 6 | Account claimed, ID uploadedLicence and passport to secure storage | Uploads | Badge only | Holds documents |
| 7 | Contract signedOn-screen signature with audit trail | Signs | Copied | Copied |
| 8 | Deposit paidOr full payment if inside 14 days | Pays | Notified | Notified |
| 9 | Identity verifiedRuns in parallel — does not gate payment | — | — | Reviews |
| 10 | Balance, cleaning and bond paidDue 14 days before check-in | Pays | Receives bond | Passes bond on |
| 11 | Pre-arrival checkFully paid, identity cleared, instructions issued | — | — | Clears |
| 12 | Bond returned and booking closedWithin 7 days of check-out | Confirms receipt | Returns and evidences | Verifies |
Payment methods
Payments run through Casa Co's existing Stripe account, connected to Xero. Xero generates and emails the tax invoice with a Pay now button.
| Method | Rate | Invoice 1 $20,037.50 | Invoice 2 $22,850.00 | Total cost | % of the $2,625 fee |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PayToReal-time, 24/7 | Capped $3.50 incl. GST | $3.50 | $3.50 | $7.00 | 0.3% |
| BECS Direct DebitT+2 business days | Capped $3.50 incl. GST | $3.50 | $3.50 | $7.00 | 0.3% |
| Domestic cardInstant | 1.7% + $0.30, plus GST | $375.03 | $427.63 | $802.66 | 31% |
| International cardInstant | 3.5% + $0.30, plus GST | $771.77 | $880.06 | $1,651.83 | 63% |
Surcharging ends 1 October 2026. Australian merchants can no longer add a surcharge to Visa, Mastercard or EFTPOS. If a guest pays a $20,037.50 invoice by card, Casa Co absorbs roughly $375 and cannot recover it. Method ordering in the checkout becomes the only steering tool.
PayTo is the default. Seconds to settle, works weekends, $3.50 whatever the amount, and reconciles itself through Stripe into Xero. A 48-hour hold is a PayTo hold — BECS cannot settle inside it and bank transfer cannot settle across a weekend. The deadline fits the method, never the reverse.
Rates were researched in September 2026 and need verifying against the Casa Co Stripe dashboard. Published pricing changes on 1 October 2026 and again on 1 April 2027 following the RBA interchange reforms.
Transaction rules
Invoicing
| Two invoices | A deposit invoice at booking, and a final invoice before arrival. No instalments, whatever the lead time. |
| Inside 14 days | One invoice for the full amount, due on acceptance. |
| Deposit | 50% of accommodation. Cleaning and bond are excluded from the calculation. |
| Final invoice | Issued 21 days before check-in, due 14 days before. Carries the accommodation balance, cleaning fee and bond. |
| Booking fee | 7.5% of stay value, charged in full on the deposit invoice, never split, never refunded. |
| GST | 10% on the booking fee only. Accommodation, cleaning and bond carry none. |
Holds and deadlines
| Hold created | When the invitation is sent. Dates block on the calendar immediately. |
| Window | Default 48 hours, set per booking, shown as an absolute date and time. |
| Reminders | 24 hours and 6 hours before expiry, to the guest only. |
| Frozen holds | A hold never auto-releases while a payment is in processing or declared. It waits for a person. |
| Expiry | Dates return to the calendar, invoice voids, guest and host both notified. |
| Extension | Casa Co only, once, with a recorded reason. |
Cancellation
| Guest cancels | Deposit and booking fee are forfeited in full. |
| Host receives | Nothing from a forfeited deposit. |
| Casa Co retains | The full forfeited amount. |
| Bond | Always returned. It secures damage that never occurred, so it cannot be forfeited. |
| Balance already paid | No rule exists. See decision D7. |
Bond handling
The host holds the bond and returns it. Casa Co collects it, passes it on, and verifies the return.
Guest pays Casa Co
Casa Co passes to host
Host holds during stay
Host returns to guest
Host uploads proof
Casa Co verifies
| Collected | On the final invoice, due 14 days before check-in. |
| Passed on | Outbound EFT to the host before check-in, separate from the payout. |
| Returned | By the host, directly to the guest's account, within 7 days of check-out. |
| Deductions | Itemised in writing with evidence, given to the guest before the remainder is returned. |
| Evidence | Host uploads the payment receipt as PDF or transaction listing, showing amount, date and destination. |
| Guest confirms | Host evidence alone does not close the booking. The guest confirms receipt. |
| Disputes | Casa Co adjudicates under the management agreement, even though it no longer holds the funds. |
The risk this creates. The guest pays Casa Co, on a Casa Co tax invoice, under a Casa Co contract. If the host doesn't return the bond, the guest pursues Casa Co — the money moved but the obligation didn't. Casa Co is now guaranteeing an outcome it doesn't control.
The control that makes it workable. Hold the host payout until the bond return is evidenced and the guest has confirmed it. The payout ($35,000 on the Brighton booking) and the bond return ($5,000) both fall due after check-out, so sequencing them costs nothing operationally and turns a request into a condition. It is the only leverage available once the money has left. See decision D21.
Worked example — Beachside Sanctuary, Brighton
14 nights, 6–20 February 2027, 10 guests. Invitation sent 3 September 2026 — 156 days of lead time.
| Component | Amount | Treatment | Ends up with |
|---|---|---|---|
| Accommodation — 14 nights × $2,450 | $34,300.00 | No GST | Host |
| Cleaning fee | $700.00 | No GST | Host |
| Stay value | $35,000.00 | Base for the booking fee | |
| Casa Co booking fee — 7.5% | $2,625.00 | Taxable supply | Casa Co |
| GST on booking fee | $262.50 | 10% of the fee | ATO |
| Security bond | $5,000.00 | Not a supply | Host, then back to guest |
| Total collected from the guest | $42,887.50 | GST content $262.50 |
| Invoice | Issued | Due | Contains | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-2088-D | 3 Sep 2026 | 5 Sep, 5:00pm | Deposit 50%, booking fee, GST | $20,037.50 |
| CC-2088-F | 16 Jan 2027 | 23 Jan 2027 | Balance, cleaning fee, bond | $22,850.00 |
Live issue on this booking. The deposit deadline is a Saturday. Bank transfer does not settle on weekends and BECS takes two business days, so PayTo is the only rail that can meet it. PayTo agreements are authorised in the guest's banking app and carry their own limits — $20,037.50 may need the guest to approve a higher cap. That has to be raised today, not at 4pm Saturday.
GuestGuest
G1 · Xero invoice with Pay now
InboxCasa Co Pty Ltd — Invoice CC-2088-D
Sent from Xero on behalf of Casa Co · to sarah.kent@email.com, amelia@casaco.com.au
Your dates are held until Saturday 5 September, 5:00pm.
| Accommodation14 nights × $2,450 · no GST | $34,300.00 |
| Less balance on CC-2088-FDue 23 January 2027 | −$17,150.00 |
| Casa Co booking fee 7.5%Non-refundable | $2,625.00 |
| GST on booking fee | $262.50 |
| Amount due | $20,037.50 |
PayTo is the fastest option and works on weekends. Cards are available but attract a processing cost — please use PayTo where you can.
Annotation
- Amount
- $20,037.50 — deposit $17,150.00, fee $2,625.00, GST $262.50
- Generated by
- Xero, created over the API by the platform. Invoice number, PDF, tax invoice wording and email all come from Xero.
- Methods
- PayTo, BECS, card and wallets, all behind the Pay now button via Stripe.
- Rules applied
- Casa Co is copied on every invoice, as on the original invitation pack.
- Steering sits in the invoice body, because a surcharge can no longer do the steering.
- The negative line makes the 50% deposit self-evident and carries the second invoice's date.
- Cost to Casa Co
- $3.50 by PayTo · about $375 by domestic card
G2 · Stripe checkout
checkout.stripe.comCasa Co Pty Ltd · CC-2088-D
Pay Casa Co Pty Ltd
$20,037.50
| Invoice CC-2088-DBeachside Sanctuary · 6–20 Feb 2027 | $20,037.50 |
Payment method
Recommended · instant, works weekendsPayTo
Bank debit · 2 business daysBECS Direct Debit
Card, Apple Pay, Google PayInstant
Secured by Stripe. Casa Co never sees or stores payment details.
Annotation
- Pre-filled
- Amount, currency and invoice reference come from Xero, so the guest cannot mistype a reference — the largest single cause of unmatched payments.
- Rules applied
- PayTo listed first with its advantage stated. Method order is the steering mechanism.
- Above the card threshold, card options are hidden rather than shown and discouraged.
- Card details never reach Casa Co, Xero or the platform.
- Live issue
- PayTo agreements carry limits set in the guest's banking app. A five-figure payment may need the guest to raise theirs first.
G3 · Confirmed
casaco.com.au/bookings/CC-2088
Payment received. Your booking is confirmed. 6–20 February 2027, Beachside Sanctuary.
| CC-2088-DPaid 5 Sep by PayTo | $20,037.50 |
Still to come
| Accommodation balance | $17,150.00 |
| Cleaning fee | $700.00 |
| Security bondHeld by your host, returned after check-out | $5,000.00 |
| Invoiced 16 Jan, due 23 Jan | $22,850.00 |
Set up now, pay in January
Authorise the January payment against the same account and it will be collected automatically on the due date. You'll be notified before it happens and can cancel any time.
Identity pending. Upload your licence and passport to complete your profile.
Annotation
- Trigger
- Xero webhook on invoice paid. No human action required on the Stripe path.
- Rules applied
- The bond is now described as held by the host, not by Casa Co. That has to be said plainly here and in the contract of stay.
- Identity verification runs separately and does not gate payment or confirmation.
- The opportunity
- An authorised PayTo mandate turns the January invoice from a payment the guest has to remember into one that collects itself — the difference between the highest collection risk in the flow and a non-event.
G4 · Confirm the bond came back
casaco.com.au/bookings/CC-2088/bond
Your host has returned your bond. Please confirm it has landed.
| Bond paid | $5,000.00 |
| DeductionsNone claimed | $0.00 |
| Returned by David Mercer, 24 Feb | $5,000.00 |
| Sent to the account ending 4471 | Receipt attached |
If it hasn't arrived, tell us and Casa Co will follow it up with your host.
Annotation
- Amount
- $5,000.00 less any adjudicated deduction
- Method
- Host-to-guest bank transfer. Casa Co is not in this payment leg.
- Rules applied
- Within 7 days of check-out, in every case including cancellation.
- Guest confirmation is required to close the booking. The host's uploaded receipt alone is not enough.
- "Not received" opens a case for Casa Co and holds the host's payout.
- Why it matters
- This is the second half of the evidence. A receipt can be edited, be for the wrong amount, or record a transfer later reversed — the guest saying the money landed is the only thing that actually proves it did.
HostHost
H1 · Invite a guest — the money panel
Host portalInvite a guest · Beachside Sanctuary
You set these
Check-in6 Feb 2027
Check-out20 Feb 2027
Nightly rate$2,450
Cleaning fee$700
Security bond$5,000
Guests10
Deposit window48 hours — expires 5 Sep, 5:00pm
A 48-hour window means PayTo only. BECS and bank transfer cannot settle in time.
Casa Co calculates these
| Stay valueAccommodation + cleaning | $35,000.00 |
| Casa Co booking fee 7.5%Charged to the guest | $2,625.00 |
| GST on fee | $262.50 |
| Your payout after check-out | $35,000.00 |
| Bond you'll hold and return | $5,000.00 |
Two Xero invoices
CC-2088-D · 5 Sep · $20,037.50
CC-2088-F · 23 Jan · $22,850.00
CC-2088-D · 5 Sep · $20,037.50
CC-2088-F · 23 Jan · $22,850.00
Annotation
- Host receives
- $35,000.00 payout, plus $5,000.00 bond to hold and return
- Casa Co revenue
- $2,625.00 plus GST, less about $7.00 of Stripe cost on the PayTo path
- Rules applied
- Processing costs are Casa Co's and are never deducted from the host.
- The invoice schedule is derived from the dates. The host cannot change the split.
- The bond is shown separately from the payout so it is never mistaken for income.
- The hold window warning matters — setting 48 hours narrows the guest to a single payment rail.
H2 · Return the bond
Host portalBooking CC-2088 · Bond return due
Sarah Kent checked out on 20 February. The bond is due back by 27 February. Your payout is released once this is done.
Amount to return
| Bond held | $5,000.00 |
| Deduction claimedOptional — evidence required | $0.00 |
| Return to guest | $5,000.00 |
SEND TO
S J Kent · BSB 000-000 · Acct ••••4471
The account the guest paid from.
S J Kent · BSB 000-000 · Acct ••••4471
The account the guest paid from.
Upload proof of transfer
Drop your bank receipt here
PDF or transaction listing · must show amount, date and destination
PDF or transaction listing · must show amount, date and destination
Amount sent$5,000.00
Date sent24 Feb 2027
Bank referenceFrom your receipt
Casa Co checks the evidence and the guest confirms receipt. Your payout of $35,000 releases when both are done.
Annotation
- Amount
- $5,000.00 less any deduction the host has evidenced and Casa Co has approved
- Method
- Host's own bank transfer to the guest. The platform records it; it does not move the money.
- Rules applied
- Due within 7 days of check-out, matching the commitment made to the guest.
- The destination shown is the account the guest paid from — hosts should not accept a redirection request by email.
- Amount, date and reference are typed as well as uploaded, so a mismatch with the receipt is detectable.
- A deduction requires itemised evidence and Casa Co approval before the remainder goes back.
- Reminders at check-out, day 3 and day 6. Escalation at day 7.
- Why the payout is held
- The guest paid Casa Co under a Casa Co contract, so Casa Co carries the obligation even though the host holds the money. Sequencing the $35,000 payout behind the $5,000 return is the only leverage available. Both fall due after check-out, so it costs the host nothing if they act promptly.
H3 · Payout statement
Host portalPayout · 27 February 2027
| Accommodation14 nights × $2,450 · 6–20 Feb 2027 | $34,300.00 |
| Cleaning fee | $700.00 |
| Paid by EFT 27 February 2027 | $35,000.00 |
| Bond received 20 Jan and returned 24 Feb — verified | $5,000.00 |
| Casa Co booking fee — charged to the guest, not deducted from you | $2,625.00 |
| Payment processing borne by Casa Co | $7.00 |
Annotation
- Amount
- $35,000.00 by EFT, raised as a bill in Xero
- Released
- After check-out, and after the bond return is evidenced and confirmed by the guest.
- Rules applied
- The bond appears as a verified pass-through, never as income.
- Host payouts remain outbound EFT with preparer-and-authoriser separation.
- Showing the processing cost makes the case for PayTo visible to the host too.
Casa CoCasa Co
C1 · Holds and deadlines
Casa Co adminHolds · 1 expiring today
| Booking | Property | Due now | Expires | Method | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-2088 | Beachside Sanctuary | $20,037.50 | 5 Sep, 5:00pm6 hours | — | Unpaid |
| CC-2091 | Sorrento spa house | $4,200.00 | 7 Sep, 2:00pm | BECSProcessing | Clearing |
| CC-2094 | The Iconic | $3,100.00 | — | PayTo | Paid |
Annotation
- Purpose
- Shows what is at risk of being released today. PayTo and card confirm themselves, so most rows resolve without anyone touching them.
- Rules applied
- A hold with a payment in processing never auto-releases.
- Sorted by expiry, not value.
- Casa Co can extend once, with a recorded reason. Hosts cannot.
C2 · Payment exceptions
Casa Co adminExceptions · 3 open
| Booking | Issue | Amount | Source | Check-in | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-2038 | BECS failedInsufficient funds, 3 days after acceptance | $4,180.00 | Stripe | 12 Sep9 days | Re-invoice |
| CC-2071 | Card disputeChargeback on a stay completed in July | $3,900.00 | Stripe | Past | Respond |
| CC-2083 | OverpaidDuplicate PayTo | +$3,200.00 | Stripe | 2 Oct | Refund |
Annotation
- Failed BECS
- The genuinely new risk. A booking can confirm on Monday and un-confirm on Thursday, with the calendar already updated. Needs the dates re-held and the guest re-invoiced on PayTo.
- Card dispute
- A chargeback can arrive months after check-out. Bank rails cannot be charged back — another argument for steering high-value bookings to PayTo.
- Overpayment
- Refunded through Stripe against the original payment. No outbound EFT, no authorisation queue.
- Rules applied
- Exceptions never auto-close, and a booking with one open cannot reach fully paid.
- A failure inside 14 days of check-in escalates immediately rather than entering the reminder cycle.
C3 · Invoices and collections
Casa Co adminInvoices · Xero
| Invoice | Guest | Amount | Due | Check-in | Xero | Payment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-2088-D | S. Kent | $20,037.50 | 5 Sep | 6 Feb | Sent | Unpaid |
| CC-2088-F | S. Kent | $22,850.00 | 23 Jan | 6 Feb | Scheduled 16 Jan | Auto-pay set |
| CC-2038-F | R. Alvarez | $4,180.00 | 29 Aug | 12 Sep9 days | Sent | Failed |
Annotation
- Invoice creation
- Both invoices are posted to Xero at booking. The final one is created as a draft and released on its scheduled date, so amounts are locked in from the start.
- Reminders
- Xero's automated reminders handle the routine chase. This screen is for the ones needing a decision.
- Rules applied
- Sorted by days to check-in, not amount or days overdue.
- The host is notified before a booking is cancelled for non-payment, never after.
- An auto-pay mandate removes the largest collection risk in the flow.
- Amount at risk
- $22,850.00 on Brighton, falling due five months after anything else happened
C4 · Bond returns
Casa Co adminBond returns · 4 open
| Booking | Host | Bond | Checked out | Host evidence | Guest confirmed | Payout |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CC-2088 | D. Mercer | $5,000.00 | 20 Feb4 days | Uploaded | Awaiting | Held |
| CC-2061 | K. Bell | $2,500.00 | 11 Feb13 days — overdue | None | — | Held |
| CC-2055 | A. Rao | $1,500.00 | 8 Feb | Amount mismatch$1,200 sent | — | Held |
| CC-2049 | D. Mercer | $5,000.00 | 1 Feb | Verified | Confirmed | Released |
Annotation
- Purpose
- The screen that makes a host-held bond safe. Without it, Casa Co has no visibility of money it is still accountable for.
- Two-sided evidence
- Host uploads a receipt; guest confirms it landed. A booking closes only when both are green.
- Rules applied
- Sorted by days since check-out. Anything past 7 days is overdue and escalates.
- The typed amount is checked against the bond figure — a mismatch flags automatically rather than relying on someone reading the PDF closely.
- The host payout stays held until both columns clear. This is the leverage.
- A guest reporting non-receipt opens a case regardless of what the host uploaded.
- Amelia's daily job
- Roughly the same weight as the old bond refund queue, but with chasing instead of processing. The overdue row is the one that matters.
C5 · Outbound payments
Casa Co adminOutbound · 3 awaiting authorisation
| Type | Booking | To | Amount | Timing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bond transfer | CC-2094 | A. Rao | $1,500.00 | Before check-inDue 28 Sep | Authorise |
| Host payout | CC-2088 | D. Mercer | $35,000.00 | Bond verifiedGuest confirmation pending | Held |
| Overpayment refund | CC-2083 | K. Bell | $3,200.00 | Stripe refundOriginal method | Automatic |
Only EFT rows need a second pair of eyes. Stripe refunds return to the original method and cannot be redirected.
Annotation
- What v3.4 adds
- A bond transfer to the host before every check-in, on top of the payout after it. Two outbound payments per booking instead of one.
- Rules applied
- Preparer and authoriser must differ above an agreed threshold, on EFT rows only.
- Host payouts stay in a held state until the bond return clears.
- Destination accounts are those already on file, not entered fresh at payment time.
- Every outbound payment carries a booking reference into Xero.
- Remaining exposure
- Host payouts and bond transfers are the largest outbound amounts and the only ones a person can misdirect. That is where the control needs to be tight.
Decisions needed
Twenty-five open calls. The seven marked blocking stop the February booking if they're unresolved at the end of September.
Decision
Owner
Priority
D1
Are the Stripe account and Xero organisation both set to Australia?Cannot be changed after connection. The only remedy is disconnecting and starting again.
Evan
Blocking
D2
Above what amount are card payments switched off?No surcharge is possible from 1 October, so around $375 on this deposit comes out of margin.
Evan
Blocking
D3
Does the Saturday deposit deadline stand?PayTo can meet it. BECS and bank transfer cannot.
Evan, Amelia
Blocking
D4
Which Xero account do Stripe fees post to?Xero nominates a default that is frequently wrong.
Accountant
Blocking
D7
What happens when a guest cancels after paying the balance?Casa Co would retain $37,887.50 and the host receive nothing for a lost peak fortnight. No clause covers it.
Evan, legal
Blocking
D20
Is the bond paid to Casa Co and forwarded, or straight into the host's account?This document assumes the first. The second means it shouldn't sit on a Casa Co tax invoice at all.
Evan, accountant
Blocking
D21
Is the host payout held until the bond return is evidenced and confirmed?The only leverage Casa Co has once the money has left.
Evan, host
Blocking
D5
Do we offer auto-pay on the final invoice?A mandate at deposit removes the largest collection risk in the flow.
Evan
Before Feb
D6
What happens when a BECS debit fails after confirmation?A booking can confirm Monday and un-confirm Thursday.
Evan, Amelia
Before Feb
D8
Where do guest funds sit between payment and payout?Whether a statutory trust account applies is a legal characterisation, not a preference.
Accountant, legal
Before Feb
D9
When does the host get paid?After check-out means six months between booking and payment on Brighton.
Evan, host
Before Feb
D10
Does a flat deposit forfeiture survive unfair contract terms review?A forfeiture must be a genuine pre-estimate of loss, not a penalty.
Legal
Before Feb
D11
Do we keep the direct bank transfer fallback?It is the only reason anyone still reads a bank statement.
Evan
Before Feb
D12
What happens if the final invoice is unpaid at check-in?No cut-off currently cancels the booking.
Evan, Amelia
Before Feb
D13
What are the actual Stripe rates on the Casa Co account?Published pricing moves twice in the next seven months.
Evan
Before Feb
D15
What happens if identity is never verified?Escalation exists; the outcome behind it does not.
Evan
Before Feb
D16
Who reads the bank and who covers them, if the transfer fallback stays?
Amelia
Before Feb
D17
What is the short-payment write-off threshold?
Evan
Before Feb
D18
Who authorises outbound host payouts and bond transfers, and above what amount?
Evan
Before Feb
D19
Does the host agreement state the host gets none of a forfeited deposit?
Evan, legal
Before Feb
D22
What happens if a host doesn't return the bond?Casa Co is the party the guest contracted with. Does Casa Co pay the guest and pursue the host, or leave the guest to chase?
Evan, legal
Before Feb
D23
When is the bond passed to the host — on receipt or at check-in?
Evan, host
Before Feb
D24
Who verifies the uploaded evidence, and what makes it acceptable?A PDF can be edited, be for a different amount, or record a transfer later reversed.
Amelia
Before Feb
D25
Does the management agreement oblige the host to return the bond in 7 days with evidence?Unenforceable without a clause.
Evan, legal
Before Feb
D14
Is the 7.5% base accommodation only, or accommodation plus cleaning?$2,625.00 versus $2,572.50 on Brighton.
Evan
Later
Questions for Amelia
These affect how the process actually runs, and nobody else can answer them.
- Enquiry volume. Roughly how many enquiries a week, and how many convert? It decides whether the enquiry inbox needs to be a proper queue in version one or can wait.
- The 48-hour window. Is that what you actually use, or is it longer in practice? It's the default here and it drives which payment methods are even possible.
- Card payments. Have guests expected to pay by card, and at what sort of amounts? This decides D2.
- Chasing. Who chases a late balance today, and what does that look like? Xero can send reminders automatically — worth knowing what they'd be replacing.
- Cancellations. How many have there been, and how were they handled? The forfeiture rules here are new and should match what already works.
- Bonds. How are they handled today, and have there ever been problems getting one back to a guest? The whole bond section rests on hosts returning them promptly.
- Anything above that isn't how it actually happens. This was reconstructed from Evan's notes. Corrections are more useful than agreement.