I recently finished documenting my build and design process for the Geodome I launched last year on AirBnb and wanted to share with the host community - I tried to build one of the most luxury Geodomes on the market, and it wasn't easy! I couldn't find any quality guides on how to put it all together before I started, so I decided to make this so the next person trying wouldn't also underestimate by 100% :) Building a geodome as an Airbnb rental can be a fantastic investment, boosting property value and attracting adventurous guests. Its also harder and more expensive than you probably would guess, unless you can do a lot of the work yourself. The total cost for my 27' luxury geodome was around $88,800 (excluding land) and consists of the following step and costs: • Zoning considerations • Geodome structure and accessories - $8,500 • Site preparation - $3,000 • Backfilling - $600 • Foundation - $3,000 • Decking material - $12,000 • Decking labor - $8,000 • Geodome construction labor - $4,200 • Flooring - $5,000 • Electrical wiring and labor - $5,000 • Interior wood divider - $2,500 • Hot tub - $13,000 • Furnishings - $10,000 • Miscellaneous costs and outdoor shower - $4,000 The total costs for a geodome will range from a bare min of $25k to a max of $100k, depending on size, amenities and other factors like labor and material costs. Financing options include all cash, incorporating into a new house construction loan, SBA loans, or private money. A well-constructed geodome can rent for $150-$200+/night. I build mine alongside a cabin, so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage. I'd love to answer any questions or help in any way if anyone else is interested in building something similar!

What a beautiful property! Have you tried using your photo 18 as your main picture? Your house is beautiful but 18 is an eye catcher! Super cute! Thank you for sharing

0 Reply

Daniel Bourdeau

OP

Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2020 · 48 posts · 43 votes

2y

Quote from @Joel Oh:

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

Quote from @Joel Oh:

Can I see the final picture of the product?! This is so exciting

You can find the Airbnb link and all the pictures here.

What a beautiful property! Have you tried using your photo 18 as your main picture? Your house is beautiful but 18 is an eye catcher! Super cute! Thank you for sharing

Yeah I actually was using #18 for the longest time as my hero photo. I should probably go back to it, but I've been exploring a new collage

0 Reply

Joel Oh

Member since 2023 · 188 posts · 111 votes

2y

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

Quote from @Joel Oh:

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

Quote from @Joel Oh:

Can I see the final picture of the product?! This is so exciting

You can find the Airbnb link and all the pictures here.

What a beautiful property! Have you tried using your photo 18 as your main picture? Your house is beautiful but 18 is an eye catcher! Super cute! Thank you for sharing

Yeah I actually was using #18 for the longest time as my hero photo. I should probably go back to it, but I've been exploring a new collage

Amazing! Sounds like you are having a lot of fun! That is the best!

0 Reply

John UnderwoodPro Member

Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes

2y

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

I recently finished documenting my build and design process for the Geodome I launched last year on AirBnb and wanted to share with the host community - I tried to build one of the most luxury Geodomes on the market, and it wasn't easy!

I couldn't find any quality guides on how to put it all together before I started, so I decided to make this so the next person trying wouldn't also underestimate by 100% :)

Building a geodome as an Airbnb rental can be a fantastic investment, boosting property value and attracting adventurous guests. Its also harder and more expensive than you probably would guess, unless you can do a lot of the work yourself. The total cost for my 27' luxury geodome was around $88,800 (excluding land) and consists of the following step and costs:

Zoning considerations
Geodome structure and accessories - $8,500
Site preparation - $3,000
Backfilling - $600
Foundation - $3,000
Decking material - $12,000
Decking labor - $8,000
Geodome construction labor - $4,200
Flooring - $5,000
Electrical wiring and labor - $5,000
Interior wood divider - $2,500
Hot tub - $13,000
Furnishings - $10,000
Miscellaneous costs and outdoor shower - $4,000

The total costs for a geodome will range from a bare min of $25k to a max of $100k, depending on size, amenities and other factors like labor and material costs.

Financing options include all cash, incorporating into a new house construction loan, SBA loans, or private money. A well-constructed geodome can rent for $150-$200+/night. I build mine alongside a cabin, so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage.

I'd love to answer any questions or help in any way if anyone else is interested in building something similar!

Like to see a picture of what this looks like.

0 Reply

Alex F.

Investor · Plymouth, MN · Member since 2020 · 157 posts · 102 votes

2y

@Daniel Bourdeau. Thanks a bunch for sharing!! Really neat!!

0 Reply

Daniel Bourdeau

OP

Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2020 · 48 posts · 43 votes

2y

Quote from @John Underwood:

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

I recently finished documenting my build and design process for the Geodome I launched last year on AirBnb and wanted to share with the host community - I tried to build one of the most luxury Geodomes on the market, and it wasn't easy!

I couldn't find any quality guides on how to put it all together before I started, so I decided to make this so the next person trying wouldn't also underestimate by 100% :)

Building a geodome as an Airbnb rental can be a fantastic investment, boosting property value and attracting adventurous guests. Its also harder and more expensive than you probably would guess, unless you can do a lot of the work yourself. The total cost for my 27' luxury geodome was around $88,800 (excluding land) and consists of the following step and costs:

Zoning considerations
Geodome structure and accessories - $8,500
Site preparation - $3,000
Backfilling - $600
Foundation - $3,000
Decking material - $12,000
Decking labor - $8,000
Geodome construction labor - $4,200
Flooring - $5,000
Electrical wiring and labor - $5,000
Interior wood divider - $2,500
Hot tub - $13,000
Furnishings - $10,000
Miscellaneous costs and outdoor shower - $4,000

The total costs for a geodome will range from a bare min of $25k to a max of $100k, depending on size, amenities and other factors like labor and material costs.

Financing options include all cash, incorporating into a new house construction loan, SBA loans, or private money. A well-constructed geodome can rent for $150-$200+/night. I build mine alongside a cabin, so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage.

I'd love to answer any questions or help in any way if anyone else is interested in building something similar!

Like to see a picture of what this looks like.

There are a bunch of pics in the Airbnb listing that I linked!

0 Reply

Sarah KensingerPro Member

Real Estate Consultant · OH · Member since 2023 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

2y

Exactly what the current STR guest wants....an experience! Congrats on the success!

[email protected]330-557-3021

1 Reply

Matt Mertz

Leander TX · Member since 2020 · 179 posts · 150 votes

2y

Thanks for sharing!

Just curious, do you ever get single couples (or smaller groups) that just want to stay at the dome? Was wondering about your thought process of adding the geodome alongside an already very nice cabin.

0 Reply

Daniel Bourdeau

OP

Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2020 · 48 posts · 43 votes

2y

Quote from @Matt Mertz:

Thanks for sharing!

Just curious, do you ever get single couples (or smaller groups) that just want to stay at the dome? Was wondering about your thought process of adding the geodome alongside an already very nice cabin.

Definitely. I get tons of inquiries from couples that just want the dome. During the low season and especially mid week, I lower the price that I get lots of 2 person groups.

The main reason why it's not just a geodome, is permitting. I built this in a residential sub-development, and a permanent structure is required in order to put up a temporary structure. Most non-commercial, residential plots will have a similar zoning restriction. So funny enough, I set out to build a geodome and ended up having to build a house AND a geodome

1 Reply

Zachary Cain Humphrey

Investor · KY · Member since 2022 · 204 posts · 77 votes

2y

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

I recently finished documenting my build and design process for the Geodome I launched last year on AirBnb and wanted to share with the host community - I tried to build one of the most luxury Geodomes on the market, and it wasn't easy!

I couldn't find any quality guides on how to put it all together before I started, so I decided to make this so the next person trying wouldn't also underestimate by 100% :)

Building a geodome as an Airbnb rental can be a fantastic investment, boosting property value and attracting adventurous guests. Its also harder and more expensive than you probably would guess, unless you can do a lot of the work yourself. The total cost for my 27' luxury geodome was around $88,800 (excluding land) and consists of the following step and costs:

Zoning considerations
Geodome structure and accessories - $8,500
Site preparation - $3,000
Backfilling - $600
Foundation - $3,000
Decking material - $12,000
Decking labor - $8,000
Geodome construction labor - $4,200
Flooring - $5,000
Electrical wiring and labor - $5,000
Interior wood divider - $2,500
Hot tub - $13,000
Furnishings - $10,000
Miscellaneous costs and outdoor shower - $4,000

The total costs for a geodome will range from a bare min of $25k to a max of $100k, depending on size, amenities and other factors like labor and material costs.

Financing options include all cash, incorporating into a new house construction loan, SBA loans, or private money. A well-constructed geodome can rent for $150-$200+/night. I build mine alongside a cabin, so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage.

I'd love to answer any questions or help in any way if anyone else is interested in building something similar!

When you said, "so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage", what do you mean that you "wrapped" it in? Do you mean you paid for it with a cash refi once you converted from a construction loan to a 30 year?

0 Reply

Daniel Bourdeau

OP

Real Estate Agent · Chicago, IL · Member since 2020 · 48 posts · 43 votes

2y

Quote from @Zachary Cain Humphrey:

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

I recently finished documenting my build and design process for the Geodome I launched last year on AirBnb and wanted to share with the host community - I tried to build one of the most luxury Geodomes on the market, and it wasn't easy!

I couldn't find any quality guides on how to put it all together before I started, so I decided to make this so the next person trying wouldn't also underestimate by 100% :)

Building a geodome as an Airbnb rental can be a fantastic investment, boosting property value and attracting adventurous guests. Its also harder and more expensive than you probably would guess, unless you can do a lot of the work yourself. The total cost for my 27' luxury geodome was around $88,800 (excluding land) and consists of the following step and costs:

Zoning considerations
Geodome structure and accessories - $8,500
Site preparation - $3,000
Backfilling - $600
Foundation - $3,000
Decking material - $12,000
Decking labor - $8,000
Geodome construction labor - $4,200
Flooring - $5,000
Electrical wiring and labor - $5,000
Interior wood divider - $2,500
Hot tub - $13,000
Furnishings - $10,000
Miscellaneous costs and outdoor shower - $4,000

The total costs for a geodome will range from a bare min of $25k to a max of $100k, depending on size, amenities and other factors like labor and material costs.

Financing options include all cash, incorporating into a new house construction loan, SBA loans, or private money. A well-constructed geodome can rent for $150-$200+/night. I build mine alongside a cabin, so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage.

I'd love to answer any questions or help in any way if anyone else is interested in building something similar!

When you said, "so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage", what do you mean that you "wrapped" it in? Do you mean you paid for it with a cash refi once you converted from a construction loan to a 30 year?

My built cost on the whole project was $450k, and $50k of that construction budget for the house was earmarked for the Geodome. So i financed the geodome by building a house and calling the geodome a 'art studio'

1 Reply

Zachary Cain Humphrey

Investor · KY · Member since 2022 · 204 posts · 77 votes

2y

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

Quote from @Zachary Cain Humphrey:

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

I recently finished documenting my build and design process for the Geodome I launched last year on AirBnb and wanted to share with the host community - I tried to build one of the most luxury Geodomes on the market, and it wasn't easy!

I couldn't find any quality guides on how to put it all together before I started, so I decided to make this so the next person trying wouldn't also underestimate by 100% :)

Building a geodome as an Airbnb rental can be a fantastic investment, boosting property value and attracting adventurous guests. Its also harder and more expensive than you probably would guess, unless you can do a lot of the work yourself. The total cost for my 27' luxury geodome was around $88,800 (excluding land) and consists of the following step and costs:

Zoning considerations
Geodome structure and accessories - $8,500
Site preparation - $3,000
Backfilling - $600
Foundation - $3,000
Decking material - $12,000
Decking labor - $8,000
Geodome construction labor - $4,200
Flooring - $5,000
Electrical wiring and labor - $5,000
Interior wood divider - $2,500
Hot tub - $13,000
Furnishings - $10,000
Miscellaneous costs and outdoor shower - $4,000

The total costs for a geodome will range from a bare min of $25k to a max of $100k, depending on size, amenities and other factors like labor and material costs.

Financing options include all cash, incorporating into a new house construction loan, SBA loans, or private money. A well-constructed geodome can rent for $150-$200+/night. I build mine alongside a cabin, so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage.

I'd love to answer any questions or help in any way if anyone else is interested in building something similar!

When you said, "so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage", what do you mean that you "wrapped" it in? Do you mean you paid for it with a cash refi once you converted from a construction loan to a 30 year?

My built cost on the whole project was $450k, and $50k of that construction budget for the house was earmarked for the Geodome. So i financed the geodome by building a house and calling the geodome a 'art studio'

Awesome! love how you worked that in

0 Reply

Zachary Cain Humphrey

Investor · KY · Member since 2022 · 204 posts · 77 votes

2y

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

Quote from @Zachary Cain Humphrey:

Quote from @Daniel Bourdeau:

I recently finished documenting my build and design process for the Geodome I launched last year on AirBnb and wanted to share with the host community - I tried to build one of the most luxury Geodomes on the market, and it wasn't easy!

I couldn't find any quality guides on how to put it all together before I started, so I decided to make this so the next person trying wouldn't also underestimate by 100% :)

Building a geodome as an Airbnb rental can be a fantastic investment, boosting property value and attracting adventurous guests. Its also harder and more expensive than you probably would guess, unless you can do a lot of the work yourself. The total cost for my 27' luxury geodome was around $88,800 (excluding land) and consists of the following step and costs:

Zoning considerations
Geodome structure and accessories - $8,500
Site preparation - $3,000
Backfilling - $600
Foundation - $3,000
Decking material - $12,000
Decking labor - $8,000
Geodome construction labor - $4,200
Flooring - $5,000
Electrical wiring and labor - $5,000
Interior wood divider - $2,500
Hot tub - $13,000
Furnishings - $10,000
Miscellaneous costs and outdoor shower - $4,000

The total costs for a geodome will range from a bare min of $25k to a max of $100k, depending on size, amenities and other factors like labor and material costs.

Financing options include all cash, incorporating into a new house construction loan, SBA loans, or private money. A well-constructed geodome can rent for $150-$200+/night. I build mine alongside a cabin, so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage.

I'd love to answer any questions or help in any way if anyone else is interested in building something similar!

When you said, "so I was able to wrap the cost into the construction loan which converted into a 30 year mortgage", what do you mean that you "wrapped" it in? Do you mean you paid for it with a cash refi once you converted from a construction loan to a 30 year?

My built cost on the whole project was $450k, and $50k of that construction budget for the house was earmarked for the Geodome. So i financed the geodome by building a house and calling the geodome a 'art studio'

Awesome idea!

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How to Build a Geodome for AirBnB

How to Build a Geodome for AirBnB

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