Spoilt for choice, travellers reveal where they like to stay.
Brisbane homeowners are building self-contained units on their properties in an attempt to cash in on the growing Airbnb craze.
Camp Hill resident Paul Phillips spent almost four years renovating his home to fit his growing family. He decided to try to take advantage of Airbnb, so built a standalone, single bedroom flat.
“It’s got every aspect of a one bedroom house,” he said. “It was designed with Airbnb in mind.”
Looking from the deck of the standalone pool house or ‘Airbnb’ flat 9 Cyril Street, Camp Hill. Photo: Stuart James Murray
“The reason why we built it was it to have that extra income to help with our mortgage.”
Graya Construction owner Rob Gray said an “Airbnb flat” should be a must in everyone’s renovation checklists.
“It’s only going to get bigger,” he said. “Airbnb is the way every thing’s going.”
Looking from where the pool house now stands at 9 Cyril Street. Photo: Supplied
“It’s a good way to get a bit of extra income for your family or mortgage, why wouldn’t you do it?”
Mr Gray said he has been including separate living areas into his newly built homes in Brisbane. “Going forward I’m going to use it more and more in my own houses,” he said.
Mr Phillips’ pool house styled flat is ideal, but a bedroom and living area with a separate entrance built into an already standing home could do the trick, Mr Gray said.
9 Cyril Street before renovations. Photo: Supplied
“It doesn’t have to be detached, it can be connected to your house as long as there’s separate access,” he said.
Mr Phillips said homeowners thinking of building a space for Airbnb guests to stay should consider building a standalone flat if they have the space. “It’s a lot cheaper to build something new than try to tie it into a house,” he said.
The Phillips family is selling so they can move back to New Zealand; selling agent Darcy Lord said the “Airbnb flat” was drawing unprecedented attention to the sale.
9 Cyril Street after renovations. Photo: Stuart James Murray
“To give an example, we’ve been on the market 22 days and we’ve had about 97 groups through already,” he said. “That’s the most I’ve ever had.”
Interested parties tended to be small families or young couples who plan to use the flat as another source of income, Mr Lord said.
Mr Lord expected the “Airbnb flat” would grow in popularity in Brisbane.
“This will become more and more popular as land becomes more expensive near the city,” he said.
Mr Gray agreed. “There’s no way it’s ever going to disappear,” he said. “There’s only going to be more opportunities.”
“It’s not a must, but if you’re not really close to the city you’ll need it.”