Choosing a mattress for a STR

Choosing a mattress for a STR

Columbus, OH · Member since 2015 · 19 posts · 5 votes

Hey All!


Setting up an Air BNB, looking for a new mattress that provides good value. Looks like many people are going with self expanding mattress's Tuft and Needle, Casper, Nest, etc. The conflicting reviews makes it seem impossible to determine what's actually a solid mattress that will hold up, just when I think I've found the one I find some pretty convincing reviews and pics that make it seem like a bad product.

So, any first hand experiences with a mattress you're really happy with in your STR?

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Investor · Roseville, CA · Member since 2016 · 893 posts · 1k+ votes
8y

Hi @Tucker Long!  I worked for a company called Sleep Train on the west coast for 20 years until we were acquired by Mattress Firm a few years back. The convenience and price of the 'bed in a box' brands is certainly appealing and actually sort of easy to put into your pro forma as you can just assume you will need a new one every 3-5 years probably and just blend it into your op ex budget.  

However, for me and having a mattress background (and availability to discounted high end mattresses) I went with a more resilient innnerspring/memory foam option for the 3 beds in our VR.  Something similar to the Beautyrest Black Hybrids.  They are not cheap but they have 10 year warrantyies and my guests seem to really like the way they feel. (remember you can always make a bed softer but not firmer, so go with a firmer feel and provide some additional padding as needed)  

I would say the most important thing to buy is a mattress protector however.  I use the ones that actually zip up around the bed (Protect A Bed brand) and the box spring to not only protect the warranty and quality of the mattress BUT they also have the added benefit of preventing bed bugs from colonizing in the mattress.  

Good luck on your bed search!  

Cheers!

~Jon

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  • Residential Real Estate Investor and Broker · New Orleans, LA · Member since 2016 · 55 posts · 19 votes
    8y

    I'm considering the same thing. Here's my personal experience with mattresses:

    -I hate memory foam (hurts my back and they are hot, regardless of the claim) so I personally wouldn't rent a house that ONLY had those as an option

    -I've bought expensive/quality beds for me. They all sag in the middle after a couple of years or less. Too much of a hassle to swap out the bed via the warranty. Have done it but...there is sometime a fee, etc. So, I can spend more money for these but still need to replace them (whether it is warranty or not). Warranty may not hold up since it is commercial property.

    -I've bought those mattresses from Craiglist or street signs where it says "new, in plastic". It's very cool thing to do. Show up at a storage unit and they'll put out new mattresses to lay on and try. High quality stuff, really. Comfy. Cheap. Queen box spring and mattress for $200-300. I think I'll go this route, then replace them every 1.5 years or so, depending on how they hold up.

    In all cases, I will go with a high quality topper.

    Also planning to have platforms built so that I just have to get mattresses. The platforms will make it easy to attach any kind of headboard. And, you don't hit your toes on the posts or frames.

  • Michael BaumPro Member
    Olympia, WA · Member since 2016 · 8k+ posts · 7k+ votes
    8y

    Our new lake house is all Zinus Green Tea 12" and they are great. They off gas a bit for about 3 days then good to go.

    I use a 2" gel foam topper and a waterproof, padded cover over that. Very comfortable and when they are on sale you can get a King for 170 bucks. The Queens we bought were 140 each shipped.

  • Investor · Jersey City, NJ · Member since 2013 · 129 posts · 122 votes
    8y
    You should definitely go with memory foam because it does not allow for bedbug infestation. I have a Casper, Tuft and Needle and Tempurpedic and they are all holding up fine. I had the Casper in my Airbnb and had no complaints. But I would say go with the cheapest one that is still made in the USA (other countries allow the use of carcinogens in manufacturing process).
  • Corona, CA · Member since 2017 · 99 posts · 42 votes
    8y

    Mattresses last quite a while.  I wouldn't be too concerned with this portion of your investment.  

    You can find some terrific deals on slightly used or even NEW mattresses on Craigslist.

    Good luck!
    Cameron

  • Investor · Chicago, IL · Member since 2016 · 7 posts · 1 vote
    8y

    I second (or third) the Zinus mattress from Amazon. There was a sale a few days back and a Queen cost me only $179.

  • Wholetailer & Architect · San Francisco, CA · Member since 2015 · 544 posts · 298 votes
    8y
    In my STR I have one I got from o.co that I used to sleep on it was too firm and slept warm so I ordered a cooling foam topper. It is super comfy. Last year I bought a Loom and Leaf bed for personal use. It is super comfortable but sleeps kind of warm and was around $1300 including in home delivery so probably not good for your proforma. I would seriously look at the Purple since it is more breathable you won’t have sweaty guests yellowing your sheets
  • John UnderwoodPro Member
    Investor · Greer, SC · Member since 2014 · 13k+ posts · 17k+ votes
    7y
    Originally posted by @Luke Carl:

    https://www.amazon.com/Zinus-Memory-Foam-Green-Mat...

    i have like 10 of these. Everyone loves them. Don't go used it's gross. With these matresses in my cabins I know that 

    A: if they complain about the mattress they're just d*cks 

    B: if they manage to puke through a matress protector AND a bed bud incasement or pee the bed after cutting holes through my water proof barriers... I'm only out $300 for a king and it only takes me 2 days to get another one. 

    why the hell doesn't this have spell check 

     Lucas what kind of frame, box springs or support do these mattresses require?

  • Luke CarlPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · Tennessee Florida · Member since 2016 · 4k+ posts · 5k+ votes
    7y
    I get a platform bed to eliminate the box spring and actually I love the zinus frames. They’re nothing fancy but I have one in my primary and it looks way nicer than what I paid for it. 

    Originally posted by @John Underwood:
    Originally posted by @Luke Carl:

    https://www.amazon.com/Zinus-Memory-Foam-Green-Mat...

    i have like 10 of these. Everyone loves them. Don't go used it's gross. With these matresses in my cabins I know that 

    A: if they complain about the mattress they're just d*cks 

    B: if they manage to puke through a matress protector AND a bed bud incasement or pee the bed after cutting holes through my water proof barriers... I'm only out $300 for a king and it only takes me 2 days to get another one. 

    why the hell doesn't this have spell check 

     Lucas what kind of frame, box springs or support do these mattresses require?

  • Hatfield, PA · Member since 2012 · 1k+ posts · 629 votes
    7y

    I get some really good deals  from the  Used Furniture section  of an independent  furniture store here.  Recently, I got a king Tempur-Pedic  for 125  and a twin Tempur-Pedic practically brand-new for 185. And I regularly get really high quality mattresses under $300 that have a lot of life left in them. And this includes the box springs.

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