Higher temperatures have driven more people to seek relief at the pool in recent weeks. But instead of turning to the public city pools, some swimmers in the know are turning to the “Swimply” app to book a private pool experience.
The Swimply app allows people to rent a private pool by the hour. The pool owners determine the parameters – how many guests are allowed to use the pool at the same time, whether guests can bring food or drink, and any other rules.
Guests can use the mobile app or website to reserve one or more hours at a pool.
The app works similarly to Airbnb, but instead of renting out houses, the site rents out pool spaces across the United States, Canada, and Australia.
Users enter their destination city, and then the app populates a list of private pools available for rent in the area. Each pool has its own profile with photos and information about amenities, prices, and availability.
Homeowners set the hourly rates they will charge, and Swimply receives 15% of the rental price.
All pools in the Swimply program must be safety inspected before they can be listed, and the company offers liability insurance and property damage insurance to cover any unexpected issues that might arise.
The company was co-founded by entrepreneurs Bunim Laskin and Asher Weinberger in 2018, who saw the idea as a win-win situation for both the homeowner and the renters.
Renters get some much-needed relief from the summer heat without going to a crowded public pool, and homeowners get cash in their pockets.
Renters can enjoy a private pool experience without the hassle and expense of pool maintenance, while owners can use their earnings to cover their maintenance costs and help pay their mortgage or other expenses.
As costs continue to rise, many pool hosts are happy for a chance for the added income.
Swimply user Toby Ramey says he can make about a thousand dollars a month simply from renting out his pool. He said, “Any kind of supplemental income is fantastic.”
In addition to making money, he also enjoys providing a hospitable environment for visitors to enjoy themselves.
Kathy Schneider stated, “The supplemental income goes directly into the checking account, and it’s nice we can buy our groceries with that and pay for pool maintenance with that, and it works.”
A search for Dallas on the website reveals that pools in the area vary in price from about $25 to $85 per hour.
Currently, hundreds of people in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex are utilizing the app.
It is helping many users to stay afloat financially amid the current economic downturn while providing an opportunity for a refreshing private respite for those who do not have their own pools.