Over the past two years, the popularity of unconventional accommodations (tiny houses, treehouses, shipping container homes, etc.) has skyrocketed …
box hop
…a sign travelers are ditching traditional hotels in favor of non-traditional, Instagram-worthy homes that make lodging a part of their vacation.
Shelby Willley
And now, investors, builders, hospitality companies, and scrap startups across the United States are riding this unique short-term rental boom…
Shelby Willley
… Brothers Emily and Gabriel Bloomfield are a brother-sister duo who have built two very popular tiny homes, including one based on a shipping container.
Shelby Willley
Before venturing into the short-term rental industry, the brothers discovered entrepreneurship selling upholstery and face shields on Amazon during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ethan Abitz
In 2020, using profits from its successful face shield business, Broomfields decided to spend three months building a shipping container-based home now known as the Scenic Orchard.
Emily Bloomfield
Shortly after debuting the home on platforms like Airbnb, the tiny home was inundated with bookings.
Shelby Willley
And within four and a half months, the brothers had their money back on the unit.
Shelby Willley
It was this sudden and surprising rise in popularity that made the team realize they had a solid business model.
Shelby Willley
Gabriel Bloomfield told Insider, “The return on investment for small homes and short-term rentals compared to traditional real estate isn’t the same.
Ethan Abitz
Six months later, the brothers team decided to start building a second unit. This is a slightly larger Starlink Internet-enabled Hickory Outlook located about 1,000 feet away from the previous one.
Shelby Willley
But this time, Bloomfields decided not to build another house out of shipping containers.
Ethan Abitz
He says building a tiny house out of shipping containers would have added an additional $20,000 to the construction cost.
Ethan Abitz
Despite these differences in appearance, both units are equally popular with guests, with occupancy rates around 90-95%.
Ethan Abitz
Scenic Orchard starts at $445 per night and Hickory Outlook is $545.
Christopher Funk
However, during peak season, prices can go up to $500 and $570 per night at Scenic Orchard and Hickory Outlook, respectively.
Shelby Willley
sauce: scenic orchard, scenic orchard
Both properties are located on the same 45-acre lot in the Adirondacks, a popular vacation destination for New York City residents.
Ethan Abitz
The main living room is an open concept. Small house with kitchen, king bed, desk and sofa all in one room. The bathroom is in a separate room.
Christopher Funk