The difficulty of finding a private place to cool off for Bardon residents and visitors is now a thing of the past, as the world’s first online marketplace for pool sharing has finally splashed its way to Australia.
Touted as the “Airbnb for pools,” Swimply is an online platform for pool sharing, providing a convenient way for private pool owners wanting to earn extra cash and people looking for an affordable pool to hire, to connect.
Swimply app was launched in the U.S. back in 2017. Owner Bunim Laskin came up with the idea at the height of summer in 2016 when they asked their next-door neighbour to let him and his siblings use the under utilised pool at certain days; in return, they will pay for a portion of the pool costs. The idea spawned this “Airbnb for pools” concept.
Swimply app works by providing a way for user to rent pools by the hour; rates range from $20 to $50 an hour. Through the app, users can check the pool’s description, amenities, host rules, and the number of guests it can accommodate. Prior to listing, pools are vetted to ensure that they meet health and safety standards
Swimply operates in the United States and Canada and has now expanded to Australia — NSW, Queensland, and Victoria — just in time for summer. Mr Laskin said Australian’s enjoy long summers and that Swimply’s entry will help democratise the pool experience and make access to pools more affordable.
Australia will be Swimply’s first international expansion and for all the right reasons. Roy Morgan’s latest research shows that almost 2.7 million Australians live in a house with a swimming pool as of September 2018. Swimming pool owners make up 13 percent of the country’s population, with 18 percent of Brisbane residents owning a pool, Perth 19 percent, and Sydney 15 percent.
The platform, no doubt is a success in the U.S. with some pool owners earning by the thousands every month. Considering Swimply’s fast rise to success and Australia’s love of the outdoors, it may not be long before this pool-sharing concept catches on.
