HomeRunner allows you to display an average star rating and a total review count on both property cards (in the Explorer grid) and individual property detail pages. There are two primary methods for populating this data: synchronizing directly from your PMS or using custom fields for greater control.
Method 1: Standard PMS Synchronization #
By default, HomeRunner can generate ratings based on the review data currently synchronized from your Property Management System (PMS).
How it Works #
The system calculates the average based on the reviews available in the PMS feed.
- Limitation: PMS data is often incomplete because properties exist on multiple channels (OTAs). A property might have hundreds of reviews across the web, but the PMS might only sync a few dozen. This can lead to lower-than-reality review counts displayed to potential guests.
Configuration #
To use this method, ensure the following setting is enabled:
- Navigate to HomeRunner Settings > Property > General.
- Enable the option: Generate average property rating.
Note on Review Aggregation: If you want to source a higher volume of reviews (scraping from OTAs while retaining the link to the specific property), HomeRunner integrates with Reva (joinreva.com). This allows you to import external reviews directly into the website to boost credibility.
Method 2: Custom Field Mapping (Recommended) #
For the best conversion rates, you may prefer to manually control the displayed data. This allows you to present a more accurate “Trust Score” (e.g., displaying a 4.98 rating with 200+ reviews) rather than relying on potentially incomplete PMS data.
Step 1: Create Custom Fields in PMS #
In your Property Management System, create two custom fields:
- Average Star Rating
- Number of Reviews
Populate these fields with your aggregate data (e.g., combined stats from Airbnb, VRBO, and direct bookings).
Step 2: Map Fields in HomeRunner #
Once the fields exist in the PMS, you must tell HomeRunner to use them as the primary data source.
- Navigate to HomeRunner Settings.
- Click on the Sync tab.
- Select Source Mapping.
- Locate the following settings and map them to your new custom fields:
- Total number review source
- Average rating source
Result: HomeRunner will now prioritize the data in these custom fields over the standard calculated PMS data.
Configuring the Display #
Regardless of which method you use (PMS Sync or Custom Fields), you must ensure the front-end display settings are configured correctly so the ratings appear to guests.
Enable on Property Cards (Explorer) #
To ensure ratings appear on the property cards in search results:
- Go to your Explorer / Grid settings.
- Locate the Hide Rating setting.
- Ensure this is Disabled (unchecked).
If configured correctly, you will see the star rating (e.g., 4.9) and the review count on the property cards and the Property Details page.