Backyard ideas for STR?

Question

I have a STR w/ a pool and want to make it nice for guests. I'm thinking replace the grass with pavers and covering up the fences with bamboo cover up fencing.

Has anyone else cleaned up a backyard pool area to make it attractive to STR guests?

Mark Miles · Answer

When I typically do something like this, I find an offshore designer to mock up a few designs. Typically costs me about $100 for an offshore designer - WELL worth it!

https://www.biggerpockets.com/...

Cody Barna · Answer

@Bryan Senker personally I wouldn't go to overboard with improvements. In my opinion, that money spent won't make a significant difference in the rental income. When I'm searching for an airbnb while traveling the biggest factors are the location and the cleanliness of the interior, I'm less concerned about the backyard amenities. At the end of the day I don't see any major downsides to making cosmetic changes, considering there's already a pool.

Reese Newell · Answer

+1 w/ @Mark Miles, I took his advice for my first one and got a great designer to outfit most of it.  Also, @Bryan Senker I would do some small trees blocking the linked fence and then string some lights.

Paul Sandhu · Answer

I've fabricated 3 fire pits for my STRs, and I stock them with firewood.  Here is a wood fired heat exchanger that I made for my outdoor hot tub.  You could build a larger one to heat your pool.  I was at a hunting resort in Argentina and they had an in-ground pool that was heated by a similar looking heat exchanger.  You just need a mig, pipe, chop saw and an angle grinder.  I used a shielding gas, but FCAW would also work.

Thomas Weidner · Answer

@Bryan Senker I guess depends on what kind of STR you have. Is this a vacation area where people are staying several days or just passing through on business. If vacation I would make a fire pit and outdoor sitting area. Either way I would probably put some type of privacy fence along the back fence.

Mark Futalan · Answer

@Bryan Senker

Depending on you location and proximity to neighbors, privacy is super important so if you can put up screens or landscaping that would be ideal. Also do you have a place for pool loungers, outdoor patio seating? Guest appreciate those details. Also inexpensive things you can do is get an LED pool light and provide various pool floats.

Marcello Di Gerlando · Answer

@Mark Miles

what exactly is an an off-shore designer? do you have recommendations or examples?

John Underwood · Answer

Add a fire pit area.

Michael Baum · Answer

Hey @Bryan Senker, I can see doing pavers and it would lower the maintenance costs maybe? I would leave the fence as is. It is pretty unobtrusive but I would maybe do some maintenance on the wood fence.

Is the whole pool fenced around with a gate to get access? Hard to tell from the pic. If not I would do that to lower liability.

Backyard ideas for STR?

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