You can rent out your car with Turo, your home as a vacation rental with Airbnb, and now your pool with Swimply.
Swimply is pretty simple; you create a listing for your pool, set your hourly rate and availability, and start collecting money.
Some pool owners report earning over $100,000 via Swimply. I’m not saying you’ll make that much, but if your pool and yard are in good shape, why not try to make some cash? Swimply reviews are generally positive, and it even made an appearance on Shark Tank.
Here’s a rundown of what you need to know about renting out your pool (or other spaces) with Swimply.
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1. To rent out your pool … you gotta own a pool.
As a Swimply host, you can rent out in-ground, above-ground, and even hot tubs. Swimply doesn’t allow you to rent out a portable pool or a community pool (like one at your apartment).
2. Set up a free Swimply account in less than 10 minutes.
To list your pool and attract potential pool renters, you’ll first need to set up a free Swimply account. In addition to your personal info like name, address, and phone, you need to provide information, including:
- Type of pool you have (in-ground, aboveground, hot tub)
- Pool features (diving board, deep end, water slide, sunny or shaded)
- Access to a bathroom — one in your home, a private outdoor bathroom, or a portable restroom—which isn’t required
- Level of pool privacy from neighbors
- Amenities you offer (grill, Wi-Fi, fire pit, towels, etc.)
- Number of cars that can park in driveway/outside your home
- Number of people who can fit in your pool
- Whether you allow children under 12, pets, alcohol, and smoking
- The price you want to charge (see next tip for help on that one)
3. Your max guest size will determine your Swimply listing’s price.
You can charge however much you want — within a range. Let me explain, Swimply uses a tiered pricing system based on the number of guests you allow. For example,
- Small groups (1 – 5 guests) $1 – $50
- Large groups (6 – 10 guests) $50 – $75
- Small gatherings (11 – 15 guests) $75 – $100
- Medium gatherings (16 – 20 guests) $100 – $150
- Large gatherings (21 – 30 guests) $150+
You can set a Discount up to 90% to boost your listing in search.
You can also set a Surge (price increase) up to 100% when demand is high. However, this will likely lower the number of people wanting to rent your pool.
For amenities like a heated pool, hot tub, pool toys, shower, sauna, or grill, you can charge extra either as an hourly fee or a flat rate.
TIP: To help figure out how to price your pool, compare it to others in your area — things like how long they have been a Swimply host, pool size and features, the price they’ve listed, and reviews.
4. Expect to pay a 15% fee for every Swimply booking.
It’s free to list your pool. However, Swimply charges a host fee of 15% on all bookings, which they subtract before you get paid.
Here’s how one booking could look:
- 4 hours x $50/hour = $200
- 4 hours x 3 extra guests at $5/guest/hour = $60
- 4 hours x $10/hour to heat the pool = $40
- Total before fees = $300
- Host fee: $300 x 15% = $45
- Total received: $255 (or $63.75/hour)
Swimply doesn’t take out taxes, so calculating and paying taxes for your pool rental side hustle income is on you. You’ll get a 1099-K form every year for tax purposes only if you earned $20,000 USD, had more than 200 transactions, AND your Stripe account is based in the U.S.
5. You can easily make $1,000/month with Swimply.
Swimply claims pool owners can make thousands of dollars a month renting out their pools. While there are a ton of variables to consider, like your hourly rate, the number of guests, how often you rent your pool, and so on, here’s a look at what you could make if you rented your pool for only 4 hours, twice a week, year-round (minus the 15% service fees):
- Charging $20/hour: $136/week, $589/month, $7,072/year
- Charging $35/hour: $238/week, $1,031/month, $12,376/year
- Charging $50/hour: $340/week, $1,473/month, $17,680/year
TIP: You have to have an account with the online payment service Stripe to get paid from your Swimply rentals. Direct payment to your bank typically takes 3 – 7 days after people swam in your pool. Stripe charges $0.25 per transaction.
6. Be home — or not — while guests are swimming in your pool.
You don’t have to be home while guests are swimming; you’re covered by the Swimply $2 million Protection Guarantee and $10,000 property damage coverage at no cost to you or your guests.
But apparently, more than 80% of renters are home while guests are swimming.
7. Rent out your backyard, home gym, private pickleball or tennis courts, and more with Swimply Spaces.
With Swimply Spaces, you can rent “spaces” like your home gym, basketball court, boat dock, private pickleball court, tennis court, or putting green. The fee structure and payment process are the same as renting your pool. Here’s a look at what average rates are for Swimply Spaces:
Pickleball courts/ tennis courts/basketball courts: $40/hour
TIP: You can list your “space” now, but Swimply Spaces isn’t yet available for guests to enjoy.
8. Follow the Swimply Neighbor standards.
Unless you live in an isolated area, you’re going to have to keep the peace with your neighbors about renting your pool with the Swimply Neighbors standards:
- Notify neighbors that you’re sharing your pool.
- Exchange contact information with your neighbors.
- Limit the number of guests and cars that may park.
- Ensure the noise is kept to a minimum.
- Rent your pool during reasonable hours.