I rent out my backyard pickleball court to strangers. I’ve brought in $1,600 this year and even hosted a proposal.

We finished the court in 2023 and welcomed our first group that June.

I can’t recall how I first heard of Swimply, whether it was through an email or an ad. But I knew we wanted to rent the court out somehow, so I decided to give the app a shot.

We connected with all our neighbors beforehand because the sport is known for being somewhat loud. We really only have two neighbors close to us, and we have a canyon on the other side of the house.

The house and the canyon absorb much of the noise, so we’ve never had complaints. I also don’t rent the court until 10 a.m. and have a hard stop at 7 p.m. I have to respect my neighbors or else it won’t work.

The first group we hosted was fun. Apparently, one of the guys was on “Bachelor in Paradise,” but I don’t keep up with that show. They came and shot a TikTok video because they thought the court was so cool; it’s really colorful and eye-popping.

When the group came, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I met them in front of the gate and spent a little bit of time conversing, talking about the court and the surface. I hung out for a few minutes to ensure they didn’t need anything, but I strongly believe it’s their time. So, I just kind of went into the house and went about my day.

One issue is using the bathroom because folks are here for an hour or two.

The first time, I was surprised because I didn’t expect people to have to use the bathroom while playing. But it’s not a big deal. We just opened our house to guests.

I love hearing people have fun in my backyard

My court has also created some other personal development opportunities for me.

Since I started renting the court, I thought this could be a little business for me. I got my pickleball teacher certification and started giving lessons on the court. If I wasn’t renting it out, I wouldn’t have thought of it.

I focus on teaching lessons to seniors aged 50+. I have been a teacher all my life and this has filled a gap for me in retirement. Now, I can continue doing what I love.