First House Hack — Struggling to Fill Rooms, Need Advice

[Kegan Scholl]

Hey everyone,

I just bought a house in Carrollwood (Tampa area) and have been house hacking. It’s been 14 days since I listed the rooms and private studio, and I could use some feedback.

The studio at $1300/month has been getting a little interest.

The 3 rooms in the main house ($800 for the smaller -100 sq ft one, $850 for the 2 larger -120 sq ft one) haven’t attracted the right tenants. Most of the people reaching out either weren’t serious, weren’t a good fit, or had something change last minute. The few decent ones didn’t pan out.

Here’s what I’m wondering:

1. Is 14 days a long time for this market (Carrollwood, Tampa) to sit vacant?

2. Are my room prices too high?

3. Could my listing be too “professional”? Should I make it more authentic?

4. Do my listing photos need work?

For context:

• The rooms are unfurnished.

• I’ve listed on Facebook Marketplace, Zillow, Roomies.com, and Apartments.com.

• Targeting students, remote workers, or working professionals.

• House is ~15 minutes from downtown Tampa, 10 from USF, in a quiet neighborhood.

Any feedback on wording, pricing, or presentation would be super helpful.

Thanks in advance!

Rooms: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2315-Carroll-Pl-Tampa-FL-...

Studio: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2315-Carroll-Pl-2-Tampa-F...

[Jorge Vazquez]

Hey Kegan, big congrats on your first house hack—Carrollwood is a solid area, and just getting in the game already puts you ahead. Fourteen days isn’t too crazy, but if you're not seeing the right people bite, it's probably a mix of pricing, presentation, and tone. The studio at $1300 unfurnished might feel steep to some renters who expect turnkey at that level. For the rooms, $800+ unfurnished is a stretch for students and remote workers unless there's something extra that stands out (like a private bath or killer amenities). Also, listings that sound too polished can feel stiff—try reworking it like you're talking to a friend, more relaxed and welcoming. And yeah, photos really do matter—clean, bright, staged shots can double your leads.

One more thing—if you’re serious about getting this filled fast, talk to @Jay Michalec. He’s helped tons of investors in Tampa fill properties quickly and can even help you tweak pricing, listings, and more. Worth the call.