Pull Out Couch Good or Bad??

Question

Jon Crosby · Answer

Hi @Lucas Carl!  The sleeper in my cabin adds 2 extra sleeping spots to our rental so it's definitely worth it for us!  We just purchased a new sofa actually with this great contraption that I'm excited about, which turns the sleeper into an actual air bed with built in pump!  I will have to see how much abuse it takes this summer but it's SO much better to lay on then the normal 'bar in the back' flimsy mattress they normally come with!

A guest can easily pack a portable air bed if they wanted, so I wouldn't worry about the sleeper sofa causing people to lie about occupancy numbers, they will do that either way if they are going to so you may as well increase your sleeping spots and revenues.  ;)

https://www.airdream.net/

Good luck sofa shopping!

Cheers!

~Jon

Stefanie K. · Answer

I use airbeds.  Sleeper sofa's tend to be uncomfortable and they are annoying if you want to use the couch during your stay since you are constantly putting it up and down each night.  They are also pricier.  Air beds are cheap, can be easily replaced, moved out of the way easily.  They even have "never flat" models that have an auxillary pump so they don't deflate at night.  You can also fit more airbeds in a house..

I charge $20/night afterX number of guests so the "luxury" airbeds pay for themselves in no time! AIR BEDS ALL THE WAY :)

Michael Greenberg · Answer

It allows me to advertise sleeping 10 in 6 beds for one of my properties.  I rarely have 10 stay, but I do think it provides a perception that my place is quite large, and bang for the buck a good deal.  I did purchase a good quality sectional looking sleeper that is quite a comfortable couch with a gel foam mattress (yes they do exist).   I also take the time to really make sure the guest understands the beds and sleeping arrangements.  As for charging more, it varies seasonally but I do charge more for # of guests above a certain number.

Hope that helps!

Mike

Luke Carl · Answer

@Jon Crosby great point about the air mattress jon!

Jon Latorre · Answer

As long as the pull out couch doesn't take away from the perceived "luxury class" of your property, it's probably a good idea. Anything that is going to increase the maximum occupancy of your home is going to add value because it allows for larger groups to book your home (increased demand).

Kerry Baird · Answer

@Luke Carl, with some time passed from this question, what is your current recommendation for this?  I have a bigger beach house under contract and know we will have sunscreen and sand.  You folks have moved into beachy areas since this long ago post.

I'm getting ready to shop for a 5 bed 5 bath house, close to the beach.

My other beachside STRs: one sunbrella couch and one leather couch.  Neither are holding up well.  I may go check out La-z-boy.

Folks near beaches, please chime in:  Couch materials?  Sleepers?  Airbeds?

Aaron T. · Answer

We use one, because it gives us the ability to stay on the map if someone needs to sleep more than 4 people. we have not had any complaints about comfort. I believe we got a nice unit from havertys.

Paul Sandhu · Answer

I do short term furnished rentals to refinery contractors.  22 houses total, 82 beds. I charge $175 per week for each bedroom in a house.  A 2 bedroom house is $350/week.  A 3 bedroom is $525.  All the houses have either an extra bed  or a sofa bed in the living room. 4 bedroom houses have 6 beds.  I don't charge extra for the extra beds.  My renters are trying to save money by packing in more people.  Their word of mouth is my best advertising.  Also, when they leave, they don't all leave at the same time.  1 or 2 may be layed off while 1 or 2 may still work a few more weeks.  I still make money the last few weeks.  When they do finally leave, sometimes they tell their friends that are coming here for the next phase of the project about the houses and I end up renting to them.  I also put extra mattresses in some places, they can put it on the mattress on the sofa bed, or another person can sleep on it.

Not to toot my own horn, but I'm doing pretty good with this strategy.  Every evening I drive by all the local motels and count the vehicles that look like contractor vehicles.  I can tell a vehicle that looks like traveling families and don't include those.  I have more contractors every night than any particular motel.  But all 4 of the motels added up have more contractors than me.  I listen to the horror stories of people that stay in the local motels and learn from them.  The motels basically try any way possible to screw the contractors out of money.  I give them a house to stay in at the same price as a cheap motel, but they can cook, do their laundry, sleep in their own room, and put extra people in their to bring the individual cost down.

They also get an exit interview when they leave.  It involves a bottle of tequila or whisky or beer.  The interview gives me ideas on how to promote my places and make them better for the next group of people that stay there.

I buy sofa beds from garage sales and estate auctions.  The most I ever paid was $50.  The least I paid was $10.  It doesn't have to be brand new.  The contractors I rent to usually have a high tolerance for misery.

Pull Out Couch Good or Bad??

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