Made for active guests
Recreation upgrades, funded by cost seg
Active guests stay longer and rebook more.
Bola Akinsanya · Founder, Unlevered · September 18, 2026
When a study frees up first-year cash, recreation is where a lot of hosts put it. These are the features that turn a nice house into a place people plan a trip around.
- 1
A playset
Opens up the family segment: longer stays, quieter guests.
- 2
A zipline
The backyard feature kids talk about all year and ask to come back for.
- 3
A pickleball court
The amenity everyone is searching for right now.
- 4
A pool
Doubles the summer rate in a lot of markets. The biggest single draw a listing can carry.
- 5
A home gym
Long-stay and remote-work guests screen for one.
A note on the tax
A pool, a court, or a permanent play structure is a land improvement: new basis you can depreciate again, often with bonus in year one. Smaller, movable pieces you can usually just expense.
Reinvestment ideas, not tax advice. Loop in your CPA.
The first-year cash comes from the study. If you have not run one yet, that is where this starts: estimate your deductions.