Article by Gabrielle Bienasz
Sometimes it pays to have a pool.
Battan told CNBC how he brings in the cash as a “pool provider,” from monitoring the chemicals to keeping it clean. He and his wife, Lisa, work on the side hustle.
“Unless you’re retired or don’t have a day job, it takes a lot of time to learn about pool chemistry and management,” he told the outlet. “I look at my pool chemicals probably five to 10 times a day.”
Battan added to CNBC Make It that he spent $110,000 on his pool initially and has spent about $37,000 in upkeep over the last 10 years.
Battan cites his love of luxury resorts for his success in bringing people in: He guessed 65 percent to 70 percent of his customers were repeat customers.
“My wife and I are very used to five-star luxury resorts, so we know what excellent customer service looks like,” Battan told CNBC Make It. “Part of that is ensuring all the needs are anticipated: responding appropriately to queries, greeting [guests] with a smile and making sure that all their needs are satisfied, and then disappearing.”
“This is more than just a pool it is a little retreat!” one Battan pool-renter wrote. “Located in the rolling farmland of West Linn, this pool is located on a large and private property... The hosts are wonderful!”
Still, Swimply CEO and co-founder Bunim Laskin told the outlet revenue from bookings is up 100 percent since last year.
“As the word gets out about Swimply and we add additional hosts to the platform, we are also adding just as many additional users ... Top pools will always be in demand,” he told CNBC Make It.
