Airbnb: To get a Pool or not in Florida

Scott Goulet

Rental Property Investor · Port Saint Lucie, FL · Member since 2015 · 107 posts · 44 votes

Hi all, quick question.

I am in the Port Saint Lucie, Fl market and i have an airbnb that is doing quite well from an income perspective.

However going into the summer my bookings have slowed down, i do not currently have a pool.

Is getting a $500 above ground pool worth it?

Anyone have any advise when it comes to liability/insurance if i have a pool at my airbnb?

Thank you very much for your input!

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Jon Martin

Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes

@Scott Goulet if that's the case and there is no significant difference in occupancy, then my gut tells me that it is not a major factor that guests consider and are willing to pay a premium for. Or, there are so pools already that it is no longer a unique differentiator.

I would do a game room over a movie theatre. I think most people are content with a decent tv in a comfy living room.

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Andrew SteffensBusiness Member
Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 3k+ posts · 3k+ votes
3y
Hey Scott
We are primarily in the Tampa market and notice our larger homes that are non pool suffer as well. I do not have experience with above ground but I believe that would be fine if done tastefully. I would encourage a deck as well. You would then alert your insurance to it and it will go up but you would be covered. I hope that helps.
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John UnderwoodPro Member
Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
3y
Get a small inground fiberglass pool.
No above ground pool unless you have a mobile home.
3 Reply
Lucie Tighe
Property Manager · Tampa, FL · Member since 2022 · 147 posts · 66 votes
3y
@Scott Goulet I agree with Andrew. Properties with no pool definitely suffer through the hot summer months. It is a great amenity to have. If pool in ground is not an option or not in your budget, a quality above ground one could be a good route to go.
I would definitely make sure you have an appropriate coverage. If you need an insurance agent who can look into it for you and provide you with some quotes, reach out.
We go above and beyond when it comes to protection.. starting with insurance coverage, sings in the listing and in the property that there is no guard on duty (as silly as that sounds), putting extra locking device high enough so youngsters can't reach, an alarm/beep system to alert them that door opens for those with small children (or elderly) so they cannot wander out in the backyard with no one noticing and risk drowning. I would look into any regulations that might require you to have a fence around the pool as well :)
Hope that helps.
2 Reply
Sarah KensingerPro Member
Real Estate Consultant · OH · Member since 2023 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
I would definitely invest in the inground pool over the above ground option.
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Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
3y
I agree with @John Underwood and @Sarah Kensinger. If you can do it, in ground all the way.
Nothing screams cheap like an above ground pool. Even a good one that costs thousands with the surrounding deck.
My 2 cents.
1 Reply
Jill F.
Investor · Akron, OH · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 4k+ votes
3y
Our season is too short to justify a pool but if I owned property in the south I look into these partial inground pools: https://www.poolandspadepot.co...
0 Reply
Mark Fein
Member since 2022 · 91 posts · 38 votes
3y
Is the AirBnB market rental market slowing down in general in your area? There are reports that this is happening. The slowdown may not be due to the lack of a pool.
1 Reply
Jon Martin
Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
Do an enemy analysis. Check "flexible" dates for a house with a pool to weed out the condos with shared pools. This should bring up all of the homes in your area with pools. Exclude any units that are out of your league and focus on similar comps.
What are they charging per night? How full is their calendar? Should give you an idea as to whether it's worth it or not.
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Ray Hage
Investor · Fort Lauderdale, FL · Member since 2020 · 1k+ posts · 755 votes
3y
Generally speaking, you're really going to want to have an inviting in ground pool. It will be expensive to build. I would avoid an above ground pool.
There are some exceptions to having a pool like if the house is a block from the beach or it's in a downtown area.
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Scott Goulet
OP
Rental Property Investor · Port Saint Lucie, FL · Member since 2015 · 107 posts · 44 votes
3y
Quote from @Mark Fein:

Is the AirBnB market rental market slowing down in general in your area? There are reports that this is happening. The slowdown may not be due to the lack of a pool.

Mark, yes as soon as April came, i noticed a 20-25% drop in bookings. We have had to reduce nightly rates 30% just to get bookings in my area which is Port Saint Lucie, Fl.
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Scott Goulet
OP
Rental Property Investor · Port Saint Lucie, FL · Member since 2015 · 107 posts · 44 votes
3y
Quote from @Jon Martin:

Do an enemy analysis. Check "flexible" dates for a house with a pool to weed out the condos with shared pools. This should bring up all of the homes in your area with pools. Exclude any units that are out of your league and focus on similar comps.
What are they charging per night? How full is their calendar? Should give you an idea as to whether it's worth it or not.

Jon, I have done this and honestly their nightly rates in most cases are within $20 per night of my place which doesnt have a pool. Maybe I could convert my garage to a movie theater or something? Though, that would probably be a similar cost to the above ground pool.
1 Reply
Jon Martin
Member since 2022 · 1k+ posts · 1k+ votes
3y
@Scott Goulet if that's the case and there is no significant difference in occupancy, then my gut tells me that it is not a major factor that guests consider and are willing to pay a premium for. Or, there are so pools already that it is no longer a unique differentiator.
I would do a game room over a movie theatre. I think most people are content with a decent tv in a comfy living room.
3 Reply
Jonathan CronkitePro Member
Melbourne, FL · Member since 2017 · 45 posts · 11 votes
3y
Ok...I was searching here b/c I have the same question. We are in FL and I know if we had a pool, it would a deal changer. As cheap as a $400 pool may seem, I would think a cheap pool is better than no pool. There isn't a 10 year old that cares about that...and parents would be happy that they are happy. ON THE OTHER SIDE, the liability and cost of fencing it in, as I would need to do, is a huge factor... My wife thinks we should invest in a swim spa, but they are $25k.
0 Reply
Joseph Lalia
Investor · Palm Beach · Member since 2018 · 35 posts · 7 votes
3y
Airbnb without a pool or waterfront prop is going to struggle anywhere in Florida
0 Reply
January Johnson
Real Estate Agent · Emerald Coast, FL · Member since 2016 · 820 posts · 486 votes
3y
At the risk of taking flak here, I'm going to say I've seen a lot of super cute stock tank pools that are low-cost options. You can build a deck around them as well - or not. Some Instagrammable indoor-outdoor carpet, chairs, and umbrellas, and you can take it up a notch for less money.
1 Reply
Michael BaumPro Member
Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
3y
This ain't bad lookin'!
0 Reply
Colton Johnson
Real Estate Agent · Wauwatosa, WI · Member since 2023 · 3 posts · 1 vote
3y
Hi Scott,
I would go with the Inground pool with a finished area around it. It would make a great area for hosting, and I think it would add a significant value to the Airbnb clients.
0 Reply
Pete AppezzatoPro Member
Real Estate Agent · Destin, FL · Member since 2019 · 49 posts · 18 votes
3y
In beach markets, in ground pools tend to increase revenue 20% or so. Not sure about an above ground pool however. If it's just slapped in the backyard, i'd imagine it may not make a big difference but if you create an environment around it, it could be different.
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Lola Jon
Member since 2023 · 1 post · 0 votes
1y
@Scott Goulet, curious to hear what you ended up doing. We are in a similar boat, however I have not yet found a solution for less than $5K even for above the ground. Would love to hear more.
0 Reply
Jonathan Soto
Lender · Newark, NJ · Member since 2016 · 695 posts · 252 votes
1y
pool and theme based will help to differentiate your listing
0 Reply

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