NomaHow booking times work
Learn which hours and service rules decide the times customers can book.
What makes a time available
A time appears only when an eligible inspector can fit the whole visit and the booking rules allow it.
Noma checks these parts together:
- Work hours: the inspector's weekly work hours, replaced by any override for that date.
- Service rules: notice, allowed start times, buffers, and booking limits.
- Time needed: the service duration plus selected add-ons.
- Existing visits: time already occupied by scheduled work.
- Available times: the times that pass every check.
Work hours and service rules
| Setting | What it controls | Where to change it |
|---|---|---|
| Weekly work hours | The days and time ranges an inspector works | Work hours |
| Date overrides | Changed work hours or a day off on a specific date | Time off and changes for one day |
| Duration and add-ons | How long the booked visit takes | Services and Add-ons |
| Minimum notice | How far ahead a customer must book | Booking limits |
| Buffers | Time reserved before and after the visit | Booking limits |
| Start times | Which times of day a service may start | Appointment start times |
| Booking frequency | How many bookings of that service are allowed in a period | Booking limits |
Both the work hours for that date and the service rules must allow the time.
Allow time for the visit and buffers
Noma needs room for all of these:
Before buffer → Service and selected add-ons → After buffer
For example:
| Part | Time |
|---|---|
| Inspector's work hours | 8 AM to 5 PM |
| Service duration | 2 hours |
| Buffer before and after | 30 minutes each |
| Allowed starts | 9 AM and 1 PM |
The 9 AM visit needs 8:30 AM through 11:30 AM to be clear. The 1 PM visit needs 12:30 PM through 3:30 PM to be clear.
Both fit the work hours. If a 1-hour add-on is selected, the 1 PM visit needs room through 4:30 PM.
If the inspector has a noon-to-1-PM break, the 1 PM start no longer fits because its before buffer overlaps that break.
Buffers reserve extra time. The customer's price and displayed visit length stay the same.
How inspector choice affects available times
Only active team members with the Inspector role can be offered for public booking.
If the page offers a choice, a customer can select an inspector or choose any available inspector. Choosing any inspector combines the available options; Noma assigns an available inspector when the booking is confirmed.
Each inspector's available times depend on their hours, existing visits, and custom start times.
How booking time zones work
Weekly work hours and allowed start times use the inspector's time zone.
Customers see the same appointment time in the property's time zone on the public booking calendar.
Daily and weekly booking limits also use a time zone:
- Per inspector uses that inspector's time zone.
- Entire company uses the company's time zone.
Weeks run Monday through Sunday. Monthly limits use calendar months.
How far ahead customers can book
The public calendar offers a 60-day window, including today. It uses 15-minute time steps unless the service restricts starts to selected times.
Minimum notice may remove the first part of that window. Other rules can remove more dates or times.
What happens when a customer confirms
Times remain available to other customers until a booking is confirmed. Noma checks availability again at confirmation. If the time has been taken, the customer chooses another.
A booking marked Price to be confirmed is scheduled too. Staff follow up with the final price.
What changes affect existing bookings
Existing visits keep their booked times when you change work hours or service defaults.
New bookings use the saved settings. A customer who reschedules must choose a time that meets the current rules. Rescheduling keeps the visit's original length.
See Fix booking problems for a step-by-step check when an expected time is missing.