When COVID shut down public spaces in 2020, Crail and Joey did just the opposite: they opened their backyard. Using a shared Google Calendar, neighbors could reserve time in their pool — just to get a break from lockdown life.
💰 Revenue: $100,000+ total earnings
🗓️ Started: 2020
Featured Quote:
“We created this space because we wanted to feel like we were on vacation at home — and now we get to offer that to others, too.”
They had no idea it would turn into a side hustle that would eventually bring in $100,000.
After stumbling across Swimply — a platform that lets people rent private pools by the hour — they listed their space and woke up to five bookings.
Since then, their Palm Springs-inspired backyard in Austin has hosted everything from birthday parties to fashion shoots.
And they’ve done it all while sticking to a seasonal schedule and keeping most weekends for themselves.
From Neighbor Favors to a $100K Side Hustle
Crail and Joey didn’t set out to build a business — they just wanted to give their neighbors a break. With public spaces shut down during the early days of COVID, they set up a shared Google Calendar so families on their street could reserve swim time in their backyard. One family at a time, just a few hours in the sun. It wasn’t a side hustle. It was a community.
“We were basically swimpling before we even knew what Swimply was,” they said.
Then one night in August 2020, a friend texted them about a new app that let people rent out their pools by the hour. Curious, they threw together a listing, uploaded a few photos, and went to bed.
They didn’t expect much. By the next morning, they had five bookings.
That two-month trial run earned them $3,500 — just enough to install a gas pool heater and extend the season. The following year, they brought in nearly $30,000. In 2022, they earned around $25K, and in 2023, they brought in $24K. While their 2024 earnings dipped to around $13K, that was by design: fewer bookings, higher quality, and more time for themselves.
Swimply by the Numbers
- Most active season:
96 bookings in 2021 - Top earnings year:
$29,000 (2021) - Typical weekend earnings:
$1,000–$2,000 - Minimum stay:
3 hours ($300+ per booking) - Estimated hourly rate:
~$100/hr
What It’s Paid For
- Gas pool heater (added after first season)
- Cabanas, shimmer wall, lounge seating
- Annual professional photography
- Ongoing pool maintenance + guest supplies
All of it funded by Swimply — and they still profit thousands each summer.
“We didn’t want to feel overbooked,” they said. “Now we’re making exactly what we want to make, with way less stress.”
Most of their upgrades, from the poolside bar to lounge seating, were paid for with Swimply income. “We decided early on that every dollar would go back into improving the guest experience,” they said. “That’s what created the wow factor.”
Crail works in executive administration for a global tech company. Joey’s been a real estate broker since 2008. Neither had a background in hospitality — but they’d always been the go-to hosts for neighborhood get-togethers. “We’re entertainers at heart,” they said. “We love seeing people have a good time in our space.”
By year two, they realized Swimply wasn’t just a way to cover pool maintenance — it was something they could build around their lifestyle. “We were making as much as we wanted,” they said, “with a lot less of the work.”
All told, they’ve earned six figures — on a schedule that fits their life, not the other way around. “We’re intentional about it,” they said. “We created this space to enjoy ourselves, too.”
Related: 8 Tips for Balancing a Side Hustle and Your Full-Time Job
How Their Pool Became One of the Top 10 in the Country
From the start, Crail and Joey weren’t just creating a place to swim – they were designing a feeling. “We always said it should feel like you’re on vacation the second you step outside,” they told us.
They leaned into a Palm Springs-inspired aesthetic: shaded cabanas, cocktail tables, pink shimmer walls, and lounge areas built for socializing and selfies. Even the practical touches — like a charging station and tripod selfie stick — were added with the guest experience in mind.
Their attention to detail paid off. Their listing, known as The 6612, now has nearly 200 five-star reviews and was voted one of the top 10 Swimply pools in the U.S. They get booked for everything from bachelorette weekends to product shoots, and more than a few of their guests are referrals from people who’ve attended events there.
“We hear all the time, ‘I saw this on my friend’s story and had to book it,’” they said. And it’s no coincidence — their setup is designed to be shareable. “The shimmer wall, the pinks, the cabanas — it all photographs well. We leaned into that.”
The guest cap is 20, and they require a three-hour minimum, which allows them to focus on fewer, more meaningful bookings. “That’s the sweet spot,” they said. “It keeps it special — and manageable.”
One reviewer said it best: spending time at The 6612 feels “like being in a Katy Perry music video.” That kind of built-in shareability, paired with thoughtful hospitality, has made their backyard one of the most sought-after Swimply spots in the country.
Related: 17 Realistic Ways to Make $1,000 Fast
How They Run It — and What They’d Tell New Hosts
Even at their busiest, Crail and Joey run their side hustle like a well-oiled machine. They only open their calendar from May through September — and even then, only for bookings that work with their lives. “We make time for ourselves first and always will,” they said.
At the start of each year, they block off birthdays, holidays, and most weekends for personal use. If the right kind of event pops up, they might open a slot — but they never feel pressured to say yes.
When they do host, it’s a coordinated system. Crail handles the signage, playlist, and bar setup. Joey takes care of the deck layout, water testing, and furniture. The entire prep process takes less than an hour.
“We’ve got it down to muscle memory,” they said. “It doesn’t feel like work — it’s just part of the rhythm now.”
While great design gets attention, it’s Crail and Joey’s event-first approach that keeps their calendar full. They intentionally designed their listing to appeal to mid-sized group celebrations — think bachelorettes, birthdays, influencer shoots — and that focus has created a powerful referral loop.
“Most of our new guests come from someone who attended a party and wanted to re-create it,” they said. “We hear it all the time — ‘I saw this on my friend’s story and had to book it.’”
They also make it a point to greet every guest in person, ask how they found the listing, and encourage reviews. Combined with the visual branding of their space (like the now-iconic shimmer wall), it’s helped them stand out and drive repeat bookings without ever needing to run promotions.
They’ve also learned what makes a listing stand out, and what small changes can make a big difference. Here’s their advice for new Swimply hosts:
💡 Pro Tips: Crail & Joey’s Advice for New Swimply Hosts
- Start with structure. Block off your own time first. Set a guest cap and booking minimum that feels realistic and sustainable.
- Study your local listings. Look at what top hosts are doing — pricing, descriptions, photos — and position your space accordingly.
- Invest in the visuals. Guests book with their eyes. Crail and Joey update their professional photos every year to reflect seasonal changes and upgrades.
- Create moments. From ice water and shade to music and photo ops, little details make the experience feel thoughtful and premium.
- Encourage feedback + reviews. They ask every guest for honest input and a 5-star review — it’s helped them build trust and stay fully booked.
- One regret? “We would’ve added an outdoor bathroom from the start,” they said. “It would’ve saved us a lot of running back and forth.”
What It’s Meant to Them
For Crail and Joey, Swimply started as a side hustle — but it’s grown into something deeper. It’s not just about the income or even the pool itself. It’s about sharing a space they love with people who want to celebrate, connect, and create memories.
“We’ve had people cry here — happy tears,” they said. “Surprise parties, reunions, proposals. You realize you’re not just renting out a pool. You’re giving people a setting for real moments.”
They’ve found their rhythm now: a seasonal schedule, a curated experience, and a space that feels as good to give as it does to enjoy themselves. But the fun’s not over.
“We’re both visual people,” they said. “We’re always dreaming up the next thing — different lighting, new furniture layouts, more photo-friendly touches. It’s always evolving.”
The best part? They still use it just as much themselves.
“We created this space because we wanted to feel like we were on vacation at home,” they said. “Now we get to offer that to other people, too.”
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