Add a Property Manually (No PMS) and Test with a Reservation

You don’t need a property management system (PMS) to use BetterSTR. You can add a property by hand, build its guidebook, link an Android TV to it and even add a test reservation, so you can see the whole guest experience end to end before you connect your real listings. This is also the right path if you run a hotel, motel or direct-booking rental and don’t use a PMS at all.

Step 1: Add a property manually

1. Go to Properties in your dashboard.
2. Click the green Add Property button and choose Add a property manually. (If you have no properties yet, the same option is offered in the “No Properties Connected” box at the top of the page.)
3. Enter a Property name. This is the only required field. For a hotel, add one property per room so each TV and guidebook can carry room-specific details.
4. Start typing the Street address and pick it from the suggestions. We fill in the city, region, postcode, country and the exact map pin for you. You can correct any of these later.
5. Optionally set the Timezone, Check-in and Check-out times, how many it Sleeps, bedrooms, beds, bathrooms, property type, currency and a Main photo.
6. Click Create property.

The new property appears in your property list with its Create Guide button highlighted. Build the guidebook whenever you’re ready; until then guests see our default guide template, so a linked TV still works straight away.

Step 2: Link your Android TV to the property (optional)

1. Open Android TV in your dashboard.
2. Click the TV you want to set up, then under Property choose the property you just created and save.

Until a TV is linked to a property it runs as a test device with BetterSTR branding. Once linked, the TV shows that property’s guidebook, and the guest’s name and check-in details appear automatically for each stay.

Step 3: Add a test reservation

Reservations normally arrive from your PMS. For a manual property you add them yourself, which is a great way to test what your guests will see.

1. Go to Reservations and click the green Add Reservation button (it appears once you have at least one manual property; the link above opens the form for you).
2. Choose the Property, enter a Guest first name and pick the Check-in / check-out dates. Everything else is optional: last name, email, phone, number of guests, door code, currency, total amount and notes.
3. Check-in and check-out times default to the property’s times. Change them only if this booking differs.
4. Leave Status as Confirmed and click Create reservation.

Use your own name, email and mobile number for the test guest. You can then:

• Click the eye icon on the reservation to open the personalised guest guide exactly as a guest would see it.
• Send yourself the guide by SMS or email from the same row to check the messaging flow.
• Set the dates to include today and watch a linked TV switch to the welcome screen with the guest’s name and check-in details.
• Try the door code, check-out reminders and any automated TV messages you have set up.

Ready to connect your real listings?

When you’re happy with how everything works, go to Integrations and connect your PMS. Your properties and reservations will then sync automatically, and everything you tested (guidebooks, TV welcome screens, messaging) works the same way for every synced property.