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.
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.