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A Brisbane family is one of many who have found a comfortable spot in the sharing economy trend, offering their pool for hourly rentals. This decision isn’t solely motivated by financial gain.
Marleen and Dan Galligan, a couple from Grange, are part of the group of Australians who have listed their pool for rent on Swimply, a platform similar to Airbnb but designed for backyard swimming. They make $40 per hour for each booking.
Marleen shared, “I saw an advertisement suggesting that we could rent out our pool by the hour and earn extra money. While our family enjoys using the pool, we’re not in it all the time. By nature, I’m Dutch, and I’m always looking for opportunities to make some additional income while also helping people who may not have access to a pool.”
Yona, Harriet and Jim enjoy the pool with mum Marleen Galligan when it is not being rented out by the hour. Picture: Liam Kidston
For the Galligan family, this isn’t just about money. Their perspective is influenced by their own experience of being unable to use public pools during their child’s chemotherapy treatment six years ago. They see Swimply as a way to provide a private outdoor space for others as well.
Marleen continued, “It’s not just about the money. About six years ago, our son couldn’t swim in public pools during his chemotherapy. So, when the Swimply opportunity came along, we thought it was a great way to offer our pool to those who might not have access to public pools.”
Their 5m by 7m mineral pool, equipped with UV lighting, is heated to a comfortable 24-27 degrees Celsius in spring, with minimal chemical maintenance. Guests have consistently given them five-star ratings on the Swimply platform.
Mr. Galligan describes preparing the pool for guests as “similar to preparing for a party, except you’re not invited, and you get paid for it.”
This isn’t the family’s first venture into the sharing economy; they also rent out their granny flat on Airbnb. They find that the Swimply rental complements their existing sharing economy activities.
“The platform is user-friendly, allowing us to select the days our swimming pool is available. We temporarily remove the Airbnb listing when we have Swimply bookings and vice versa. The best part is that it has allowed us to hire someone to handle monthly maintenance, which used to be a complex and chemical-intensive task,” Mr. Galligan humorously remarked.
They limit the number of visitors to a maximum of ten per booking, with safety rules in place for guests to follow.
“We currently have bookings for a couple of hours once a week,” Marleen added.
Her advice to anyone considering pool sharing is simple: “Just go for it. It’s really easy. Treat your pool as if you were a guest. Walk through it from the entrance, and make sure it feels clean and inviting. I often leave out towels and blankets if the weather is a bit cooler.