Vintage Camper Short Term Rental

[Sarah Wilson]

Investment Info:

Other other investment.

Purchase price: $4,200
Cash invested: $11,000

Bought this 1984 vintage holiday rambler travel trailer and spent around $11k renovating and outfitting it as a short term rental. It's currently making a small profit on Airbnb in the off season while at a rv park, and I plan to purchase land and move it to a permanent glamping location as soon as I can.

What made you interested in investing in this type of deal?

I love small and unique spaces and short term rentals. Being able to get into STR at such a low cost of entry and with minimal risk was very appealing.

How did you find this deal and how did you negotiate it?

I found the camper on FB marketplace.

How did you finance this deal?

I paid $4,200 cash for the camper and cash flowed the renovations over the next four months until it was completed with my savings.

How did you add value to the deal?

Using my DIY skills I was able to save a lot of money on painting, decorating and fixing up the camper. I also thrifted and bought most of the stuff secondhand.

What was the outcome?

I have a lovely additional property that I own outright and can move it as needed. I could also sell it for probably about $20k as a business in a box as its already proven to be an excellent AirBnB.

Lessons learned? Challenges?

When hiring contractors, go with your gut and fire when necessary. My first electrician was terrible.

Did you work with any real estate professionals (agents, lenders, etc.) that you'd recommend to others?

This one was all me.