information – Heimish Rentals

Complete Guide: Building an Airbnb-Style Marketplace with HivePress

Let me walk you through the entire process step-by-step. This is how you build a property rental marketplace like Airbnb.

📋 PHASE 1: UNDERSTAND THE CORE WORKFLOW

The User Journey:

Host (Vendor) → Signs up → Chooses membership plan → Submits property listing → Sets prices & availability

Guest (Customer) → Searches properties → Views listing → Books dates → Pays → Reviews after stay

Admin (You) → Takes commission from each booking → Manages disputes → Approves listings (optional)

⚙️ PHASE 2: INITIAL WORDPRESS SETUP

Step 1: Install Required Plugins

You already have HivePress + all extensions. Now install:

WooCommerce (required for payments) - even though you wont sell products, HivePress uses WooCommerce for payment processing
Stripe for WooCommerce or PayPal Payments (payment gateways)
Loco Translate (optional - for changing any text)

Step 2: Activate These HivePress Extensions:

✅ HivePress Bookings
✅ HivePress Marketplace
✅ HivePress Memberships
✅ HivePress Geolocation
✅ HivePress Reviews
✅ HivePress Messages
✅ HivePress Favorites
✅ HivePress Search

🏗️ PHASE 3: CONFIGURE HIVEPRESS SETTINGS

Step 3: Listings Settings

Go to HivePress > Settings > Listings

Enable:

☑️ Allow submitting listings
☑️ Allow editing listings
☑️ Allow claiming listings (optional - if you want to import listings and let hosts claim them)
☑️ Moderate listings (if you want to manually approve before they go live)

Disable:

☐ Allow purchasing listings (you're using Memberships instead)

Step 4: Bookings Settings ⭐ CRITICAL

Go to HivePress > Settings > Bookings

This is one of the most important configuration sections for your rental marketplace.

Configure:

Booking Type: Date Range (for multi-day stays like Airbnb)

☑️ Allow multiple places per booking - This lets you set different pricing for 2 guests vs 6 guests (like Airbnb)

Require approval: Choose between:

☐ Unchecked = Instant Booking
☑️ Checked = Request-to-Book (host must approve)

Min/Max booking days: Set minimum (e.g., 2 nights) and maximum stay limits

Booking Window: How far in advance can guests book? (e.g., 365 days)

Cancellation Policy: Set default cancellation rules

You can let hosts choose this per listing using an attribute

Important Booking Docs:
How to enable time-based bookings - if you want hourly bookings
How to enable price extras - for add-ons like cleaning fees, pet fees

Step 5: Marketplace Settings 💰 COMMISSIONS

Go to HivePress > Settings > Marketplace

Configure:

Commission Rate: e.g., 15% (you keep 15%, host gets 85%)

Commission Type: Percentage or Fixed amount

☑️ Hold payments - Highly recommended! This holds money in escrow until booking is complete

Payout Method: Stripe Connect (recommended) or manual bank transfer

Minimum Payout: e.g., $50 (hosts can't withdraw until they earn at least this)

Payment Flow:

Guest books and pays $100
You hold $100
After stay completes, you release $85 to host, keep $15
Host can request payout when balance reaches minimum

Key Doc: How to start accepting payments

Step 6: Memberships Settings 🎫 PAY-TO-LIST

Go to HivePress > Settings > Memberships

Enable:

☑️ Require membership - Forces all vendors to choose a plan before listing

Now create your 3 plans:

Go to WordPress Dashboard > Memberships > Add New

Plan 1: Starter (Free)

Name: Starter
Price: $0
Listing Submissions: 2
Listing Duration: Unlimited (or 30 days)
Description: "Perfect to get started"

Plan 2: Advanced ($18)

Name: Advanced
Price: $18/month (or one-time)
Listing Submissions: 5
Listing Duration: Unlimited
Description: "Best for small hosts"
Featured: ☑️ (shows badge on their listings)

Plan 3: Premium ($36)

Name: Premium
Price: $36/month
Listing Submissions: 10
Listing Duration: Unlimited
Description: "For professional hosts"
Featured: ☑️

How it works: When a vendor registers, they're redirected to choose a plan. After purchasing, they can submit listings up to their limit.

Step 7: Geolocation Settings 📍

Go to HivePress > Settings > Geolocation

Configure:

Map Provider: Google Maps (recommended) or Mapbox

API Key: Get from Google Cloud Console - Enable Maps JavaScript API and Places API

Default Location: Set your default map center (e.g., New York)

Radius Search: Allow guests to search "within 50 miles of..."

This adds the location search field and displays maps on listing pages.

Step 8: Reviews Settings ⭐

Go to HivePress > Settings > Reviews

Enable:

☑️ Allow submitting reviews
☑️ Moderate reviews (optional)

Rating Categories: Star rating (1-5)

Guests can leave reviews after their booking is complete (just like Airbnb).

Step 9: Messages Settings 💬

Go to HivePress > Settings > Messages

Enable:

☑️ Allow sending messages

This allows guests and hosts to communicate before/during bookings

🏠 PHASE 4: CREATE LISTING ATTRIBUTES ⭐ MOST IMPORTANT

This is where you define what information hosts provide about their properties. Think of Airbnb's property details.

Go to Listings > Attributes > Add New

Essential Attributes for Rental Properties:

1. Property Type (Select - Single)

Type: Select
Options:
• Entire Home
• Private Room
• Shared Room
• Hotel Room
Display Area: Page (Primary)
☑️ Searchable
☑️ Filterable
☑️ Required

2. Bedrooms (Number)

Type: Number
Min: 0
Max: 20
Display Area: Page (Primary)
☑️ Searchable
☑️ Filterable
☑️ Required

3. Bathrooms (Number)

Type: Number
Min: 0
Max: 10
Display Area: Page (Primary)
☑️ Searchable
☑️ Filterable
☑️ Required

4. Max Guests (Number)

Type: Number
Min: 1
Max: 50
Display Area: Page (Primary)
☑️ Searchable
☑️ Filterable
☑️ Required

This is critical for your "Allow multiple places per booking" pricing

5. Beds (Number)

Type: Number
Min: 0
Max: 20
Display Area: Page (Primary)
☑️ Searchable

6. Square Footage (Number - Optional)

Type: Number
Suffix: sq ft
Display Area: Page (Primary)

7. Amenities (Select - Multiple) ⭐ KEY FEATURE

Type: Select
Multiple: ☑️ (allows selecting multiple)
Options:
• WiFi
• Kitchen
• Free Parking
• Washer
• Dryer
• Air Conditioning
• Heating
• TV
• Pool
• Hot Tub
• Gym
• Workspace
• Fireplace
• BBQ Grill
• Outdoor Seating
• Pet Friendly
• Smoking Allowed
• Events Allowed
• Family Friendly
• Wheelchair Accessible
Display Area: Page (Secondary) - shows as icon list
☑️ Searchable
☑️ Filterable

This creates an Airbnb-style amenities section

8. House Rules (Textarea)

Type: Textarea
Display Area: Page (Secondary)
Example: "No smoking, No parties, Check-in after 3 PM"

9. Cancellation Policy (Select - Single)

Type: Select
Options:
• Flexible: Full refund 24 hours before
• Moderate: Full refund 5 days before
• Strict: 50% refund 7 days before
Display Area: Page (Primary)
☑️ Required

10. Check-in Time (Time)

Type: Time
Display Area: Page (Secondary)

11. Check-out Time (Time)

Type: Time
Display Area: Page (Secondary)

12. Instant Booking (Checkbox - Optional)

Type: Checkbox
Display Area: Page (Primary)
Label: "Enable instant booking (guests can book without approval)"

This lets hosts choose per listing

Display Areas Explained:

Page (Primary): Shows prominently at top of listing page
Page (Secondary): Shows in separate sections (like amenities grid)
Search: Shows in search form only
View: Shows in listing cards on search results

Full Guide: How to add listing attributes

💰 PHASE 5: WOOCOMMERCE & PAYMENT SETUP

Step 10: Configure WooCommerce

Go through WooCommerce setup wizard
Set your currency (USD, EUR, etc.)
Enable Stripe or PayPal gateway

Go to WooCommerce > Settings > Products > Downloadable Products and uncheck any email options (you don't sell products)

Step 11: Enable Stripe Connect (for Marketplace)

Install WooCommerce Stripe Gateway
Get Stripe API keys from your Stripe Dashboard
Enable Stripe Connect - this allows split payments (you + hosts)
Hosts will connect their Stripe accounts to receive payouts

Payment Guide: How to set up payments

👥 PHASE 6: USER ROLES & REGISTRATION

Step 12: Configure Vendors (Hosts)

Go to Vendors > Settings

Enable:

☑️ Allow registration (anyone can become a host)
☐ Moderate vendors (optional - approve hosts manually)

Registration Fields: Name, Email, Profile Photo, Bio

Hosts automatically get a vendor profile page at /vendor/username

📄 PHASE 7: COMPLETE PAGE STRUCTURE GUIDE

Part 1: Pages HivePress Creates AUTOMATICALLY ❌ (Don't Create These)

These are static templates generated by HivePress. They exist automatically at these URLs:

Core Functional Pages:

/submit-listing - Add Listing form (where hosts submit properties)

/listing/property-name - Single Listing view (property detail page)

/listings - Listings archive (search results page)

/vendor/vendor-name - Vendor Profile page (host profile with their listings)

/vendors - All Vendors page (browse all hosts)

/register-vendor - Vendor Registration form (if direct vendor registration is enabled)

User Dashboard Pages (Automatic):

/account/ - Main Dashboard

/account/settings - User Settings (edit profile, password)

/account/listings - Manage My Listings (for hosts)

/account/orders - Bookings/Orders (for both hosts and guests)

/account/messages - Messages Inbox (with Messages extension)

/account/favorites - Saved/Favorited Listings (with Favorites extension)

/account/reviews - Reviews (given/received)

/account/vendor/dashboard - Vendor-specific dashboard (stats, earnings)

Membership Pages (Automatic with Memberships extension):

/select-plan - Choose Membership Plan (before adding listings)

Part 2: Pages YOU Need to Create in WordPress ✅

Go to WordPress Dashboard > Pages > Add New and create these:

Marketing/Static Pages (Design in Bricks):

Page Name	Purpose	Where to Design
Home	Main landing page	Bricks Builder
About Us	Company info	Bricks Builder
How It Works	Guide for hosts/guests	Bricks Builder
Contact	Contact form	Bricks Builder
FAQ	Questions & answers	Bricks Builder
Terms of Service	Legal	Bricks or WordPress Editor
Privacy Policy	Legal	Bricks or WordPress Editor
Blog (optional)	News/articles	Bricks or WordPress Posts

Configuration Pages (Special Purpose):

These pages need to be created and then assigned in HivePress settings:

Page Name	Create?	Assign Where	Notes
Listings	✅ Yes	HivePress > Settings > Listings > "Listings Page"	Leave blank (HivePress fills it with listings archive)
Vendors	✅ Yes	HivePress > Settings > Vendors > "Vendors Page"	Leave blank (HivePress fills it with vendor profiles)

How to assign:

Create a blank page called "Listings"
Go to HivePress > Settings > Listings
In the "Listings Page" dropdown, select "Listings"
Save
Repeat for Vendors page

Part 3: What About the Dashboard, Messages, Vendor Listing View?

User Dashboard 🏠

URL: /account/
Status: Automatically generated by HivePress
Accessible: After user logs in
Contains:
- Dashboard overview
- Links to Settings, Listings, Orders, Messages, etc.
- For vendors (hosts): Shows earnings, bookings, stats
- For customers (guests): Shows bookings, messages, favorites

You dont create this! It exists automatically once a user registers.

Messages 💬

Extension: Messages extension
URL: /account/messages
Status: Automatically generated
How it works:
- Users click "Send Message" on a listing
- Modal form opens
- Message appears in /account/messages
- Email notifications sent

You dont create this! The Messages extension handles everything.

Vendor Listing View (Hosts Properties) 🏡

What users see: /vendor/host-name - Public profile showing all properties by that host
What vendors see: /account/listings - Private dashboard to manage their listings

Both automatic! No creation needed.

Part 4: Template Customization (Advanced)

If you want to customize the design of automatic pages:

Go to HivePress > Templates
Click Add New
Choose template type:
- Listing View - Single property page
- Listing Search - Search results page
- Vendor View - Host profile page
- User Account - Dashboard pages
- Add Listing - Submit form
- etc.
Customize using WordPress blocks (not Bricks!)
Save

This is block-based customization, not Bricks Builder.

Part 5: Your Menu Structure

Suggested Main Menu:

For non-logged-in users:

Home
Browse Listings (link to /listings)
Browse Hosts (link to /vendors)
How It Works
Register / Login

For logged-in users (dynamic menu):

Dashboard (link to /account/)
My Listings (hosts only)
My Bookings
Messages
Logout

🎨 PHASE 8: DESIGN WITH BRICKS BUILDER

Understanding HivePress Integration

Option A: Use HivePress Templates (Recommended)

Go to HivePress > Templates
Customize these templates using WordPress blocks:
- Listing Single Page
- Listing Search Page
- Vendor Single Page
Use CSS to style them to match your Bricks design

Option B: Custom Bricks Integration

Since HivePress uses blocks (not shortcodes), youll need a developer to:

Create custom Bricks templates
Query HivePress post types (listing, vendor)
Build dynamic data bindings

Recommendation: Use HivePress templates for functionality pages, use Bricks only for:

Homepage
About page
Contact page
Custom landing pages
Header and Footer

✅ QUICK SETUP CHECKLIST

Follow These Steps in Order:

1 Create "Listings" page (blank) → Assign in HivePress > Settings > Listings

2 Create "Vendors" page (blank) → Assign in HivePress > Settings > Vendors

3 Create marketing pages (Home, About, etc.) → Design in Bricks

4 Configure Memberships → HivePress > Settings > Memberships

5 Configure Commissions → HivePress > Settings > Marketplace

6 Test user flow: Register → Choose Plan → Add Listing → View Dashboard

🎉 Congratulations!

You now have a complete understanding of how to build an Airbnb-style marketplace with HivePress. Follow each phase carefully, and youll have a fully functional rental platform.

Remember: Test everything thoroughly before launching, and always keep backups of your site!

🔍 BONUS: CREATING AN AIRBNB-STYLE HOMEPAGE SEARCH

YES! This is 100% possible and exactly what HivePress Bookings + Geolocation are designed for! ✅

You can create an Airbnb-style search on your homepage with:

Location search (city, address, region)
Check-in / Check-out dates (calendar picker)
Search button → redirects to /listings with filters applied

Step-by-Step Setup:

Step 1: Enable Geolocation (Location Search)

Install the Geolocation extension (you have it in your bundle)
Go to HivePress > Settings > Geolocation
Choose your provider:
- Mapbox (recommended - generous free tier)
- Google Maps (requires API key + billing)
Add your API key
Enable "Add search field"
In Content Types, select Listings
Save

Result: A location autocomplete field will be added to your search bar.

Full guide: How to set up geolocation

Step 2: Enable Date Availability Search

Go to HivePress > Settings > Bookings
DISABLE these features (important!):
- ❌ "Allow multiple bookings per time period" (uncheck)
- ❌ "Enable time slots" (uncheck)
Save
Go to HivePress > Settings > Listings > Default Fields
Find "Search Fields" section
Add "Dates" field
Optional: Remove "Keywords" field (you dont need keyword search if you have location + dates)
Save

Result: Users will see a date range picker (check-in to check-out) in the search bar.

Full guide: How to enable date availability search

Step 3: Add Search Bar to Your Homepage (in Bricks)

Now you need to display the search form on your homepage. Heres how:

Option A: Use HivePress Block (Recommended)

Edit your homepage in WordPress Block Editor (not Bricks initially)
Add the "Listing Search Form" block (from HivePress blocks)
The search bar will now show:
- Location field (from Geolocation)
- Dates field (Check-in/Check-out)
- Search button
Save

To use in Bricks:

Since Bricks may not natively support HivePress blocks, you have two approaches:

Approach 1: Create a WordPress page with the search block, then embed it in Bricks using a shortcode/iframe
Approach 2: Use Bricks on the homepage BUT leave a section for the WordPress Block Editor to insert the HivePress search block

Option B: Link to Listings Page

If you want full Bricks design control:

Design your homepage completely in Bricks
Add a button/link: "Search Properties" → links to /listings
Users will use the search bar on the /listings page instead

This is simpler for Bricks integration.

Step 4: How the Search Works

When a user:

Enters location: "Los Angeles"
Selects dates: June 1 - June 5
Clicks "Search"

They are redirected to:

/listings?location=los-angeles&dates=2026-06-01,2026-06-05

The listings page shows:

Only properties available for those dates
Only properties near that location (radius-based or region-based)

Additional Filter Options:

You can add more filters to the search bar in HivePress > Settings > Listings > Default Fields:

Field	What It Does	When Available
Dates	Check-in/Check-out calendar	Bookings extension enabled
Guests	Number of guests	Enable "Allow multiple places per booking" in Bookings settings
Location	City/address search	Geolocation extension enabled
Price	Price range slider	Marketplace extension enabled
Categories	Property type (Villa, Apartment)	Always available
Custom Attributes	Bedrooms, Bathrooms, Amenities	Create in Listings > Attributes

Example: Advanced Search Bar

To create a search like this:

[Location] [Check-in] [Check-out] [Guests] [Search Button]

Configuration:

Geolocation: Enabled → adds Location
Bookings Settings:
- ✅ Enable "Allow multiple places per booking"
- ❌ Disable "Allow multiple bookings per time period"
HivePress > Settings > Listings > Default Fields > Search Fields:
- Add: Location (if not auto-added)
- Add: Dates
- Add: Guests
- Remove: Keywords (optional)

Sidebar Filters (On Listings Page)

The search bar handles primary filters (location, dates).

For additional filters (bedrooms, amenities, price), use the sidebar filter form on /listings:

Go to Listings > Attributes
Create custom attributes (e.g., "Bedrooms", "Pool")
Check "Filterable" (displays in sidebar, not main search bar)
Users will see these filters on the left side of the listings page

Important Notes:

For date-based bookings:

Disable "multiple bookings per time period" (this is for hourly/time-slot bookings)
Disable "time slots"
Otherwise, the Dates field wont appear in search

Geolocation requires API setup:

Mapbox: https://account.mapbox.com/
Create account → Get API key → Paste in HivePress settings

Bricks integration:

Since HivePress uses blocks, not shortcodes, you may need to use a hybrid approach (WordPress blocks for search, Bricks for layout)

Recommended Homepage Design Flow:

Hero Section (Bricks):

Large background image
Headline: "Find your perfect vacation rental"
Search bar (HivePress block or link to /listings)

Features Section (Bricks):

"How it works" steps
Trust badges
Featured properties (use HivePress "Listings" block)

CTA Section (Bricks):

"Become a Host" button → links to /select-plan

🎯 Summary

With the proper configuration of HivePress Bookings and Geolocation extensions, you can create a fully functional Airbnb-style search experience. The key is properly configuring the date availability settings and integrating the search form into your homepage design.

💻 RETRIEVING LISTING DATA WITH PHP CODE

Yes, absolutely! You can retrieve listing information using PHP code. HivePress stores all data in the WordPress database and provides methods to access it.

How to Get Listing Information:

1. Get Current Listing Object:

// On a listing page
$listing = hivepress()->request->get_context('listing');

// Or get by ID
$listing = \HivePress\Models\Listing::query()->get_by_id(123);

2. Get Listing Properties:

// Basic info
$listing_id = $listing->get_id();
$title = $listing->get_title();
$description = $listing->get_description();
$price = $listing->get_price();

// Images
$image_url = $listing->get_image__url('large');
$images = $listing->get_images();

// Location
$latitude = $listing->get_latitude();
$longitude = $listing->get_longitude();

// Dates (if using Bookings)
$created_date = $listing->get_created_date();

3. Get Categories:

// Get category IDs
$category_ids = $listing->get_categories__id();

// Get category objects
$categories = $listing->get_categories();

// Loop through categories
foreach ($categories as $category) {
    echo $category->get_name();
    echo $category->get_image__url();
}

4. Get Attributes (Amenities, Custom Fields):

// Replace 'amenities' with your attribute name
$amenities = $listing->get_amenities();

// For multi-select attributes
$amenity_values = $listing->get_amenities__name(); // Array of names

// Example: Get bedrooms, bathrooms, etc.
$bedrooms = $listing->get_bedrooms();
$bathrooms = $listing->get_bathrooms();
$pool = $listing->get_pool(); // Yes/No checkbox
$wifi = $listing->get_wifi();

5. Get Vendor Information:

$vendor_id = $listing->get_vendor_id();
$vendor = $listing->get_vendor();

if ($vendor) {
    echo $vendor->get_name();
    echo $vendor->get_email();
    echo $vendor->get_phone();
    echo $vendor->get_image__url();
}

Complete Example:

<?php
// Get listing by ID
$listing = \HivePress\Models\Listing::query()->get_by_id(123);

if ($listing) {
    // Basic info
    echo '<h2>' . $listing->get_title() . '</h2>';
    echo '<p>Price: $' . $listing->get_price() . '/night</p>';
    
    // Categories
    echo '<h3>Property Type:</h3>';
    foreach ($listing->get_categories() as $category) {
        echo '<span>' . $category->get_name() . '</span>';
    }
    
    // Custom attributes
    echo '<h3>Details:</h3>';
    echo '<ul>';
    echo '<li>Bedrooms: ' . $listing->get_bedrooms() . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Bathrooms: ' . $listing->get_bathrooms() . '</li>';
    echo '<li>Max Guests: ' . $listing->get_max_guests() . '</li>';
    echo '</ul>';
    
    // Amenities (multi-select)
    $amenities = $listing->get_amenities__name();
    if ($amenities) {
        echo '<h3>Amenities:</h3>';
        echo '<ul>';
        foreach ($amenities as $amenity) {
            echo '<li>' . $amenity . '</li>';
        }
        echo '</ul>';
    }
    
    // Vendor info
    $vendor = $listing->get_vendor();
    if ($vendor) {
        echo '<h3>Hosted by:</h3>';
        echo '<p>' . $vendor->get_name() . '</p>';
    }
}
?>

📍 Where to Add This Code:

Child theme templates (override HivePress template parts)
functions.php (with hooks/filters)
Custom plugin
Bricks Builder (using PHP element or custom shortcode)

🔧 Pro Tips:

Replace get_amenities() with your actual attribute name (lowercase, underscores)
Use get_attribute_name__name() for multi-select values
Use get_attribute_name() for single values
Always check if $listing exists before calling methods

📖 Documentation: HivePress Developer Docs - Models

⚠️ Common Attribute Names to Use:

These depend on what you created in Listings > Attributes:

$listing->get_bedrooms()
$listing->get_bathrooms()
$listing->get_amenities__name() (array)
$listing->get_property_type()
$listing->get_square_feet()
$listing->get_year_built()

Check your exact attribute slugs in HivePress > Listings > Attributes

🎯 Example Use Cases:

Custom search filters in Bricks: Display listings with specific attributes
Featured properties widget: Show top-rated or newest listings
Custom listing cards: Design your own property grid layout
Comparison tool: Compare multiple properties side-by-side
Custom email templates: Include listing details in notifications