1 minute read
Test the Water
by Local.
By Renée Stewart-Hester
swimming pools in the United States (about 10.4 million of the pools are residential and 309,000 are public), according to the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance. While those figures might appear to be high, note that they equate to about one pool for every 31 people in the U.S. What is everyone else doing when they want to take a dip in a pool or host a pool party or need some quality float time?
Swimply, best described as the Airbnb or VRBO of the pool set, offers an option for those willing to pay the price for pool time privacy. For an average of $45 an hour (costs vary), renters can secure the use of a pool in over 125 markets across the U.S., Canada and Australia.
At press time, home pools available for rent around the Metro include sites in Woodbury. For those willing to drive a bit further, there are spots in Eagan, Edina, Lake Elmo, Lakeville, the Lake Minnetonka area, Osseo, Prior Lake, Stillwater and more. (Availability fluctuates, so check the website before making plans.) Take note: One of top 10 rented indoor pools on the platform is in Minneapolis, according to Asher Weinberger, Swimply co-founder and COO.
Similar to booking short-term homestays, interested parties search the website for indoor and outdoor pools in their desired locations. Sites include amenity information and stipulations. In this pandemic-influenced world, Swimply mandates open time between bookings, so hosts are able to sanitize the pool and adjacent areas before the next renters arrive.
Once renters arrive to a pool, does the homeowner stick around? “Each host is different,” Weinberger says. “We find that some hosts choose to be home during rentals and others don’t. This is completely up to the host as they are not forced to leave their home.”
Psst. One more thing. What about, you know, where to go to the bathroom? Swimply hosts aren’t required to provide a bathroom and/or changing area, but the company notes that more than 80 percent of the sites do offer them. swimply.com Swimply @swimply
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