Becks Harvey, a 46-year-old British expat living in Brooklyn, New York, never dreamed he could earn six figures a year by renting out his home for photography. And he did not think that he would manage many celebrities – among them, Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Coolidge and CJ Wallace, the son of the Notorious BIG.
But like hundreds of other homeowners across the country, Harvey and her husband lease their properties to produce.
For five years, they have been renting the building they own, which was a car shop that was renovated into three different apartments (one of which they live in). During that time, they have handled a number of photo and video shoots for advertisements, documentaries and magazine covers.
Most of their bookings come from Peerspace, an online platform where people can find properties to rent for various purposes; Splacer, same market; or a number of traditional agencies that work directly with clients.
Hosting can be very beneficial. Harvey says they’ve earned more than $200,000 per unit in 2021 and again in 2022. At this point, managing reservations serves as almost his full-time job.
While his situation may be unusually lucrative — New York City is uniquely suited to high-end production projects — it’s common for hosts around the country to charge $50, $100 or even $250 an hour. Most shoots last for several days, making the annual income sufficient to cover the mortgage.
Of course, companies take a booking commission. And there are risks to opening your site for commercial use. Hosts talk about cracks in the wall, scratches on the floor, and a fair amount of handling, especially since reservations are usually made two weeks in advance.
To protect their home, owners must be prepared to manage their home like a business. Still, many people find it worth it: Peerspace reports that there are more than 40,000 bookable spaces on its site worldwide.
How to rent your home to produce
Listing a space on Peerspace or Splacer is free and can be done in less than an hour. To get started, hosts create a profile of their home, including details about size, amenities and parking. Hosts set their own hourly rates, which are visible on their profile. Similar to Airbnb, those looking to book a place can filter by price, location, capacity and other factors.
Previous experience is not necessary. Alexis Hammond, a 42-year-old psychiatrist in Baltimore, got the idea in 2020 after joining a book club for financial literacy.
Soon after listing her house on Peerspace, Hammond had earned enough in one month to pay off her mortgage. Although the income varies, he was able to buy a second house next door, which he bought for the sole purpose of renting it out.
“Financially, it’s been really profitable,” he said, adding that he estimates he earns up to $20,000 a year between properties. “I found it difficult to say no to someone else because I was so happy and surprised that it was so successful.”
What do people look for when checking out places? Jessica Yager, an independent production manager in Seattle, says it depends on the client. A house doesn’t have to be fancy to fit well. (In fact, some brands shy away from places that look too fancy to be accessible to their target customer.)
Size often matters: It’s common for a workforce to have 15 to 30 people who need space to move and work. Natural light is a plus, too.
A typical day for a Yager starts early – usually before 7 a.m. The homeowner may or may not be there; others just told him not to enter without using the keypad. Once inside, he and the crew photographed the entire area to figure out how to put the house together.
Then they put down moving blankets and other things that help protect the floor and walls. Sometimes, they remove all the furniture from the room and replace it.
By mid-morning, the house is filled with photographers, digital specialists, stylists, hair and makeup artists, and production managers – all with their assistants. Then there is the talent (models and actors). When the bud curls up, the owner of the house goes in to see if anything is wrong.
Tips, tricks and celebrity sightings
It is important that citizens understand the risks involved. Sarah Dupuis, a real estate agent in Seattle who rents out three homes, including the one she lives in with her husband and three children, says she’s learned a hard lesson after nearly 10 years in the business. During one reservation, the client removed all the kitchen appliances, leaving the visible walls on the floor.
Although the experience did not stop him from participating, he has strengthened his needs. For example, he no longer allows rolling equipment or dollies due to the high potential for damage, and he is asking customers to sign a special type of contract for recording in private buildings.
He says: “We learned tricks. “Knowing what production is being done, what company is behind it, if it’s going to be a video and so on.”
Having another place to run to when tenants are around is helpful. Dupuis, 46, rents out her primary residence about six times a year, requiring her family of five to rearrange furniture, lock up their valuables and organize their lives.
They usually go to one of their other houses during the breeding season, but if they have to stay at home, they retreat to the basement.
That said, benefits have nothing to do with money. Hammond says he feels hosting has been a creative success. Her homes have been used for everything from commercials to maternity photoshoots, all of which she actively follows on social media.
There are celebrity sightings, too. Harvey gets a kick out of knowing the stars enjoy his homes, even though he’s usually too shy to approach them.
He says: “I don’t trust famous people. “I just know I’m going to say something and regret it forever.”
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