Imagine purchasing your dream home, a charming 1956 bungalow, only to be left with a mere $1,000 after the down payment. This was the reality for Darrel and Patrice Maxam, who moved states and bought their house for $249,400, leaving them with a daunting $1,400 mortgage and just $1,000 in savings, making immediate financial solutions essential for their bills and future security.
So their start to short-term renting commenced from need, using popular platforms like Airbnb. A key move in 2015 was listing one extra room in their home. This first try offered more than just a little extra money. It tested a new perspective, seeing home not only as a dwelling but also as an asset.
Listing just one spare room proved to be a pivotal decision, generating around $1,000 in monthly profit and significantly easing their payment burdens. This initial success demonstrated the potential income their property could yield, igniting an entrepreneurial spark that led them to consider renting out the entire house to guests.
1.This choice doubled the money they made hosting, to about $2,000 a month. Renting their own home meant leaving when visitors arrived and staying. While seemingly hard, they used cleverness and rules, exploring cheap places. Darrel Maxam talked about their special way of doing things. Each summer weekend, home booked, they did pack up everything neatly. The cost of their own stay and trips needed a smart system of money.
Ten percent of Darrel’s pay, ten percent of Patrice’s pay, plus ten percent of Airbnb earnings went into the fund. This is the total money paid for their journeys and hotels under 300 miles. Using about $400, they explored many areas around Georgia. Travels went south, like to Destin, Florida, or east into Mississippi. Their trips reached north toward the Carolinas and even Tennessee areas.
This time taught them much about handling guests plus house upkeep. They stayed positive, making leaving home cheap vacation times. It was hard work but showed results, fueling larger dreams. Darrel Maxam saw clearly more space meant more income potential.
He knew creating new places on their Atlanta land made sense. This changed focus from renting what they had to building new spots. It was a smart choice building for a large future business they wanted. Their first big step came from working with another group they did.
2.Maxams partnered with the HGTV show “Tiny House, Big Living” to add a tiny home on the land. This project made a special rental and also brought people looking. Darrel Maxam said that one tiny home earned them an extra $2,500 monthly profit. He was hooked at that point, he did explain later on. Making money from building a rental felt like great, strong motivation.
The tiny house’s success encouraged them to look for more underused spaces. A barn sat in the backyard just waiting for fixing up. Darrel Maxam converted barn space into another place for guests to live. They added another special spot to their increasing rental options, they did. Money made from rentals already running helped fund new projects coming.
This showed a good reinvestment plan keeping things moving forward. Things got faster, expanding from that point forward. Only one year after the barn was done, they built three more units. Adding units one by one and funding new ones worked very well. This natural way lets businesses grow large without taking on lots of debt. Cash made from Airbnb paid for everything needed at the time.
3.Atlanta property turned into, like, a small village of rentals with these. They had their main house and the tiny house with HGTV done. Also, there was the barn unit, a triplex plus three treehouses hidden on land. Total units reached nine different places on only 2 ½ acres, they say. Lots of different choices attract various kinds of travelers looking for special stays.
This quick success changed their finances very much and jobs too. Having nine units pushed monthly income from the place way up. Darrel Maxam mentioned a big point at the fifth unit built. Around $15,000 every month came in, then he reported back then. Earning that much money from rentals let them make a big change.
Darrel Maxam stopped working full-time at the Department of Aviation place. Renting became his main job, not just extra money needed for time. It showed how big and profitable their created business grew. Leaving work for full-time ownership shows the potential to make it. Using Airbnb platforms smartly and creatively led to this big change they saw.
After experiencing success with rentals in their initial property, the Maxams set their sights on a grander vision, embarking on a major project in 2022: Finger Lakes Treehouses in Sodus, New York. This location offered a distinct setting compared to the bustling city life of Atlanta they were accustomed to, presenting a new and exciting challenge.
This ambitious new venture involved constructing an entire village of cabins, rather than simply adding a few units, and for their New York project, they partnered with Red Falls Timber, a New York-based company. To ensure high-quality construction and unique designs, Red Falls Timber sourced the necessary wood all the way from Finland, highlighting their commitment to excellence.
They built five special A-frame cabins in the first stage of building. These cabins look nice and also quick to put together easily. Finger Lakes A-frames offer a mix of old-style charm and new comfort for guests. Inside each had a kitchenette, a bathroom, and air conditioning; everything was there.
The best part was likely the private wood-fired hot tub they always mentioned. These things pull travelers seeking rest and nature to nice amenities around them. Premium nightly prices were justified by these special features they had put in. The Maxam Hotels website says rates are around $250 per night. Money made from new cabins was really very impressive and quickly done.
4.Since the beginning of 2023, five units have consistently generated between $30,000 and $60,000 monthly, a range reflecting both strong earnings and seasonal market fluctuations, particularly evident in the upstate New York region. Even the lower end of this income range from just five cabins represents substantial earnings, with Darrel Maxam noting that each A-frame structure costs approximately $65,000 to build, translating to a potential $6k-$12k monthly income per unit.
Units give a great return on money invested into their place. Aimed to be cash positive in 18 months, a goal they met successfully there. Quick money return is an important fact for those thinking of similar work. Using pre-built parts made New York building a very fast and effective process. Both A-frame and future non-A-frame cabins are built ahead of time in the factory.
Pieces built somewhere else were then put together right at the property they did. Saves lots of time and money compared to building things the traditional way. Darrel Maxam emphasized how quickly buildings went up there. It only took about three days to put them together easily, he said. Quick building lets them list units faster, making money sooner, which they like. He said putting them together was simple, simple like child’s toy building.
Plans are easy to follow, like Lego pieces; you can do it now. Easy assembly means adding many more units is possible for their plans. Maxam is planning for more buildings to grow at the Sodus property next. Three Airstream trailers are on land now, offering a unique stay type. By next season’s start, they will have a total of 13 units ready.
Their current portfolio includes the initial five A-frames, three Airstreams, and five newly constructed cabins, with Red Falls Timber once again assisting in building the latest additions. Looking ahead, phase three plans are already underway, and next year will see the introduction of luxury safari tents on the Sodus property, diversifying their offerings to appeal to a wider range of guests.
Guests wanting unique glamping stays will like these tents, they think. They need a bathhouse built too, supporting the tents they plan for in total. Goal: reach 19 units total at Sodus Place by this time next year. Shows a steady, step-by-step way of growing their big business. Their business mind isn’t only focused on upstate New York places. Maxams bought land in Belize too, looking at a future beach plan.
Aiming for a 2026 or 2027 launch of this international project. Going international shows how far one room’s success has grown their business idea. Now they have many kinds of rental places in various locations built. Looking back on their path from a hard start to big business success. Maxims stress patience and slow planning to build things right.
5.Believe growing slow is the very best way to build a lasting business. Their own story, using money one unit made to fund the next unit. This was the strong idea their whole approach was always built on. Darrel Maxam gave good advice for others doing rentals too now. They said, Don’t rush into really big plans at the very beginning. Everyone wants to rush to do the largest thing quickly, he pointed out.
They might not know what they are truly doing with it. Shows learning on a small scale first is truly very important for work. His main advice was simple but very powerful, guiding all the success they saw. Stay small enough, long enough, because soon enough you’ll be big enough.
This strategy underscores the importance of mastering the fundamentals, validating concepts, and prioritizing profitability before aggressively scaling. They advocate for sustainable growth fueled by reinvested earnings, cautioning against hasty, large-scale investments at the outset. The Maxams’ journey serves as a compelling testament to the transformative power of Airbnb, demonstrating how individuals can achieve significant financial and career shifts.
Started from just one spare room, humble beginnings it was then. Grew by reinvesting money building unique places on their Atlanta land. The Atlanta house sold later for much more gain compared to the price they bought it for. Now turned into a large business, many places have future plans happening. Their journey gives ideas for new hosts building businesses from scratch. Their style fits with many creative rental places found on Airbnb.
Like those changing places to stay in Puerto Rico seen lately too. Examples include the Treehouse of Life high up in the jungle area there. Had bamboo stairs in the outdoor living space part of this amazing place. Other examples include a vintage Airstream on a rooftop near the Ponce area.
Guests can now experience unique stays like the Rattan Boquerón Dome, offering a sleep-in-a-bubble experience, or the modern La Botánica treehouse in San Juan for those with a refined aesthetic sense. Additionally, the Hacienda Paraíso provides a rustic cabin escape surrounded by bamboo near Las Piedras, and Rincón offers a suite with a romantic ocean-view tub for two and a small plunge pool.
Tiny A-frame cabin Casa Alpina sat tucked among trees near the Sabana Grande area. These unique rentals are not only places to stay at for trips. They are destinations giving experiences that make people look and pay more. Maxam’s places, like Atlanta Treehouse Barn Tiny Home, match this style. New York Airstreams plus cabins also follow the unique experiential stay trend.
Building these creative, nice rentals let Maxams find a market segment quickly. Travelers pay more for stays they remember very well later. This plan plus steady reinvestment and slow growth helped them change in big ways. Went from owning a home with one room to a big business making lots of money.
6.This inspiring story proves that realizing one’s potential is achievable through creativity, diligent effort, and strategic planning. The Maxams built far more than just accommodations; they forged a thriving new business and fundamentally reshaped their own lives, achieving their remarkable success one unique stay at a time.
The Maxams changed their lives completely using Airbnb. They went from having money troubles to running hospitality places full-time. This platform is more than just where people list properties. It’s a big tech place that changed travel lodging. Lots of folks can find chances if they are smart and use good ideas. Make It is possible for many using this tool.
The global impact of Airbnb extends far beyond individual success stories, significantly boosting local economies, as seen in Puerto Rico, where the platform has provided crucial income streams and aided in recovery efforts following major challenges. This demonstrates the platform’s profound ability to empower individuals and stimulate economic growth in local communities worldwide.
