Sometimes it is beneficial to have a swimming pool.
Jim Battan, of West Linn, Oregon, made $177,000 in less than two years by renting out his pool through an app dubbed “the Airbnb of pools”, according to CNBC Do It. (The outlet said it verified earnings through documentation.)
Swimply, a company-backed startup founded in 2019, allows people to rent their pools by the hour. Hosts may require minimum hours upon purchase.
Battan told CNBC how he brings in money as a “pool provider,” from monitoring chemicals to maintaining cleanliness. He and his wife, Lisa, work side by side.
“Unless you’re retired or don’t have a day job, it takes a long time to learn pool chemistry and management,” he told the outlet. “I check my pool chemicals probably five to 10 times a day.”
Battan told CNBC Make It that he originally spent $110,000 on his pool and spent around $37,000 on maintenance over the past 10 years.
Battan cites his love of luxury resorts for his success in attracting people: He assumed that 65% to 70% of his customers were repeat customers.
“My wife and I are very used to five-star luxury hotels, so we know what great customer service looks like,” Battan told CNBC Make It. “Part of that is making sure all needs are anticipated: answering questions appropriately, welcoming [guests] with a smile and making sure all their needs are met, then disappearing.”
The the critics are enthusiastic too. On the pool rental page, it appears that all of Battan’s 385 reviews are five stars.
“It’s more than just a swimming pool, it’s a little retreat!” wrote a swimming pool rental company from Battan. “Located in the rolling farmland of West Linn, this pool is set on a large private property…Wonderful hosts!”
Because the home is rural, there are no HOA regulations to deal with, Battan added to the outlet. (Although one day, he added, the a couple hopes to move to Portugal.)
Like outside, the Swimply competition is heating up. More hosts are joining the platform and, Battan added, people have more options to scratch their itch when they start to travel more than they did at the start of the pandemic.
Still, Swimply CEO and co-founder Bunim Laskin said the outlet’s revenue from bookings has grown 100% since last year.
In December 2021, Swimply raised $40 million in funding, less than a year after securing $10 million in support, by TechCrunch.
“As we talk about Swimply and we add more hosts to the platform, we’re also adding so many more users… The best pools will always be in demand,” he said. at CNBC Make It.
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