First house hack - thoughts on how to rent out the rooms

Rod HanksBusiness Member

Insurance Agent · Dallas, TX · Member since 2013 · 743 posts · 462 votes

If there isn’t a true separation between the upstairs and downstairs, I’d probably think of this more as a room-rental house rather than two separate units.

Since you’re living there, renting individual rooms is usually the simplest approach. In areas near hospitals, traveling nurses can be a good fit, but they typically want a private bedroom and sometimes a private bath. If the downstairs bathroom would be shared between two rooms, that’s still workable—you’d just want to be clear in the listing that the bathroom is shared.

For marketing, a lot of people use sites like Furnished Finder, which is very popular with traveling nurses and other mid-term renters. Airbnb can also work if you set minimum stays (like 30+ days) to avoid constant turnover. The key is having the rooms furnished and making the setup clear in the listing.

Another option is exactly what you mentioned—rent the entire downstairs to one tenant or a small family. That’s simpler to manage and reduces turnover, but it may produce slightly less total rent than renting rooms individually.

Since this is your first house hack and you’ll be living there, I’d lean toward whatever setup feels easiest to manage day-to-day. Sometimes fewer tenants and longer stays are worth more than squeezing out the absolute highest rent. Also make sure to check local rules around room rentals and owner-occupied housing so everything stays compliant.

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Kyle HendricksPro Member

Lender · Member since 2021 · 172 posts · 74 votes

7mo

Hey James,

I also do md term rentals in Puyallup by Good Sam Hospital. My units are separated which is a bit easier. When you list on furnished finder and airbnb you will just need to clarify it is a room rental and not a full unit. They do not command as much rent as private units but I would guess there is still a need. You can use furnished finder to look up the data for room rentals and the average they rent for. Let me know if you have any questions!

[email protected]253-355-0247

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Duke Davila

Real Estate Agent · Madison AL · Member since 2026 · 5 posts · 6 votes

7mo

I would just post it on marketplace and zillow stating a good description. There is a place on Zillow to rent a room only and it makes it super simple. be sure and have a lease agreement. Maybe just rent per person.

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Drew SygitBusiness Member

Property Manager · Royal Oak, MI · Member since 2012 · 13k+ posts · 9k+ votes

7mo

Quote from @James Jordan:

Hello Bigger Pocket Forum-Goers,

I just got under contract on my first house that I am planning to house hack in Puyallup, WA. The house is a split level 2-1, 2-1. But there is no "real" separation between the upstairs and downstairs "units". The downstairs has 2 bedrooms and 1 bathroom and is going to have a kitchen. Same with the upstairs. The only things shared between the upstairs (where I am going to stay) and the downstairs, are the laundry units which are downstairs in the kitchen area.

So now the part where I am looking for advice: What is the method I should use for renting out the rooms? The house is close to the only major hospital in the area but I am not sure how to advertise for traveling nurses only looking for 1 room and a private bathroom if I cannot really offer that since there are two rooms downstairs and I want to fill all extra rooms that I am not staying in. I would say the MOST ideal situation is where I am doing short-mid term rentals for all 3 rooms, I am just not sure who to advertise to or if I should maybe try to advertise to a small family that can just take the whole downstairs and do more of a mid-long term rental. What do y'all think?

Furnished Finders, Airbnb, VRBO, Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist (just be wary of scammers there).

[email protected]248-209-6824

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Robert J. Rhodes

Investor · Houston · Member since 2022 · 56 posts · 27 votes

7mo

Good question, and you’re thinking about this the right way.

With a setup like this, I’d frame it less as “two units” and more as a shared housing environment where you control how the space is experienced.

The decision between renting by the room vs renting the downstairs as a single unit really comes down to what you want to optimize for.

Renting by the room will usually produce higher total income, but it requires more structure around expectations, communication, and how the shared spaces are used.

Renting to one group or a small family is simpler operationally, but typically trades off some income for stability.

Given that you’ll be living in the house, one thing that matters more than people realize is compatibility. You’re not just filling rooms, you’re shaping your day-to-day environment.

Proximity to the hospital is a strong advantage. Even without private bathrooms, there can still be demand from people who value location and flexibility, as long as the setup is clearly communicated.

If you do go the room-by-room route, I’d recommend being very intentional upfront about how the space works and who it’s a good fit for. That tends to make everything run more smoothly once people move in.

Curious which direction you’re leaning right now.

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Richard F.

Honolulu, HI · Member since 2008 · 3k+ posts · 2k+ votes

7mo

A lot depends on exactly what the floorplan looks like for the downstairs unit, including location of stairs. I've had "duplexes" where the laundry was on a small second floor enclosed porch at the top of the stairs. The (upstairs) inner door opened to the Kitchen, and was equipped with a deadbolt and security screen door. Downstairs, the stairway opened to the exterior on the right, and had an entry door and security screen door on the left to enter lower unit. Both Tenants could use the laundry, and the stairs, and both units were independently secure. If you can secure the area while keeping access and security for each unit, that would be best.

The other option as others have pointed out is renting by the room. Identify each room (1,2,3) and provide storage in the shared kitchens, refers, and bathrooms also labeled to match the appropriate bedrooms. You need to establish and post "House Rules" that apply to everyone, such as "quiet hours", no cooking or food storage in bedrooms, no smoking, no pets, overnight guest policy, cleaning up after meals, rubbish handling, etc. Each "room" would have a separate, identical basic Rental Agreement, naming all authorized occupants of the 'room". Each potential occupant is screened and processed individually based on 1/3 or 1/4 of the gross rent, depending on what you decide. They also pay there own Security Deposits. The Rental Agreement for each should specify parking space for each, or street parking only.

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Robert J. Rhodes

Investor · Houston · Member since 2022 · 56 posts · 27 votes

7mo

If you go the room-by-room route, one small tactical suggestion that makes a big difference early on is to be very explicit in your listing about the shared bathroom setup and how the house operates day-to-day.

That tends to filter for the right people upfront and avoids friction later.

Curious what you’re leaning toward after reading everyone’s input.

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First house hack - thoughts on how to rent out the rooms

First house hack - thoughts on how to rent out the rooms

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