for the Bid: Vacation rental / vacation home portal


Concept

The concept is like a mix of www.domegos.com, www.vacasol.co.uk and www.provacances.com web-sites with variations in some features and some extra features too.
You can either build website from scratch OR you can clone it and make modifications-- whatever you prefer as long as it meets all the specifications below:

The backend system (booking engine and maybe some common CMS options) shall provide a uniform control system for www.nonameyet.com and other frontends, like www.borntours.dk and www.miniferiebornholm.dk or others. Booking engine is one for all frontends (there shall be a possibility of choosing which location (hotel, room, etc., or selected by country) is turned on for a current frontend). The CMS should have the same interface for all frontends and have a simple and user-friendly interface.

Design of a www.borntours.dk can continue (maybe some changes); www.miniferiebornholm.dk can be a clone of www.nonameyet.com
+ a redesign of our logo, with the frase “renting made simple”

CMS system

The CMS system shall be flexible, so it can handle both sales and rent.

CMS should provide a full administration of website content, there should be features like:

• Add/edit a web-page;
• Remove/upgrade listings;
• Update/change the look (layout) of a front page.

CMS should provide a possibility of inserting/changing images/flash animation on all static pages like index page of a website or other information/about us pages.

SEO capability

Including page optimization, possibility to add/edit meta info, landing page, etc. Website must have clean code and all files / structure should be SEO-friendly. The web-site should include a landing pages to show properties according to certain content/keywords. All photos shall have meta tags same as property titles or city / area name.

URL rewriting for dynamic pages (mod-Rewrite): all pages should have a SEO-friendly URL including search result page, property details page, etc.

Property details page should have a unique URL which owners can post on their websites/ social network websites (like a facebook), so the search engine method should be http get.


Booking engine

Buyers can cancel booking.

Owners can edit/delete listings, accept / decline booking and get paid for each booking by enter the “payment code” (which they will receive from buyers when they arrive).

Listing management options:
• Commission-based
• Standard / Premium (home owners that pay fix amount)

Users can list own properties/edit etc. Standard users can upgrade to Premium listings. Premium and Standard Home owner can choose to get their payment online throug us or to have the direct payment contact with the client, meaning its up to the owner to cash in the rent price.

The website shall include following booking steps:

1) Search function - by form requirements or interactive map (like on www.vacasol.co.uk , with the extra feature that the map on the 3rd step changes to Google map, where you easy can pinpoint your holiday house and make a “route planner” from your home. When search results are displayed there shall on the side be a “refine result feature similar to this http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/costa-de-prata-silver-coast , There shall be a search filter: sorting by size, reviews, price, price per person.

Currency shall be like on www.domegos.co.uk (adjustable option, we can change the exchange rate on the CMS control panel)

2) Search results - standard and refined listings --also sort the results by price, location, ratings, etc.— The clients can add properties to their short list which will be stored in “My short list” at the top of the page. Clients can save My short List for future visit but they must register or log in. “print / send email” button for each house, so clients can easely share what they found.

3.1) Property detail page – photos like on www.vacasol.co.uk but with the information and subfolders as on www.domegos.co.uk (description/map/rates/availability/review/contacts) with the possibility of editing subfolders.

If homeowner is a Premium owner, then at the end of page should be information of other homes from him (http://www.holidaylettings.co.uk/rentals/sao-martinho-do-porto/88948 .
Or If he is a “Standard” client, similar properties as searched for.

Premium owners shall have the possibility to create they own sub-domain (like http://www.domegos.com/OwnerHomepage/PreviewAndEditDemo with similar options.

3.2) Payment procedure: On the payment stage the client can choose to pay via creditcard/paypal or via banktransfer, there shall be a option to make several installments (payment amounts and length of time shall be admin regulated via booking engine).

After client has paid there will be a message telling them that their booking request has been sent to the owners. Booking requests will be emailed (and SMS optional) to owners to be confirmed within 36 hrs. Once confirmed the payment will be charged and email will be sent to the client with unique code which client will give the owner as a payment upon arrival.(in case the booking is rejected by owners, the payment will not be charged)

Payment is authorized at the time of the booking - Hold payment until booking is accepted and confirmed by owners.

Whole payment process shall work automatic.

Owners will get the “payment code” from client on arrival and input it in the system for owners payment, that then will follow after buyer have ended lease period, the administrator can send this to the owner’s bank/paypal account at the end of each day/week. Payment facility integrated – Paypal, Visa, Amex, Master/Eurocard etc and Banktransfer.

In commission cases there shall be an instant confirmation with a email/sms notification (admin regulated) for owner with the net lease.

SMS alert –users can request a free SMS alert (in addition of emails) for when they receive a booking request which they can reply Yes / NO to accept or decline booking. The system should recognize the answer Yes/ No accompany with booking code and update the system in the same way as if they click the email link. Buyers get a SMS alert when their booking is accepted and the payment code which they need to give it to the owner when they arrive. Users will also get SMS alert when someone send a message to them via the website.

Review/Ratings system

Review/Ratings system – www.domegos.co.uk (admin can switch on and off this rating).

Other functions

• ‘Message board –Wanted board’ where users can post special requirement for any owners to respond. i.e. “ Want an apartment suitable for wheelchair user”

• Google Map integration -- pinpoint properties on map, search properties on Google map, show price and title when rollover.

• Add/delete and manage banners from advertisers

• My short list, Refer a friend, display price in different currencies, Site Map, etc.

• The website should remember visitor and previous requirements and properties they recently viewed.

You will also need to upload to hosting server, test and get the website up and running. After that you should give us all programming and graphic sources so we will be able to make a control upload to a hosting server.

if you use a PHP/MySQL technology, you should upload all scripts to a server and make scripts to install the MySQL databases (creating tables, fields, etc.);
if you use an Asp/.NET technology, you should give us all source codes of a project with instructions how to install, configure and run all engines;
Also you should produce an instruction where you descript in common file and class structure of a program part of the site;
You should produce a template of a frontend so we with minor changes could create a 4th, 5th frontend, for example, two years later;
In the end, you should give us all design sources like PSD files for pictures and FLA files of flash animations.
There shall also be written (pdf) full manual of all features of the system.

You will get paid once the websites are up and running and all applications are fully tested and only after the control upload. Payment will be as following

10% - contract signing;
30% - after first version of a website will be uploaded to Developer company (approximately after 20-30 days);
After that every 7 days new version of a web site should appear in purpose to make some changes until the project is ready at all. Adequate revisions until we are satisfied with the project.You should report to us, which changes was made and which new features added.
30% - when full job is done on the Developer (IT company) hosting, client receives sources files, which are uploaded on the client server, and the client is satisfied;
30% - after 2 weeks testing
Please contact me for if you have any more questions about the project. This project has a limited budget so it will go to the LOWEST bidder with the best skills set. Ideally you should bid under $2.500.

All bidders must send me the links to their previous work particularly if it has similar features or can demonstrate relevant skills/experiences.

Detailed specifications will follow when we have a dialogue
If it all goes well, there are also other projects in line.

We look forward to hearing from you soon.