Couple transforms treehouses into a unique feature on Airbnb, manages seven accommodations, and plans to expand the business to Belize and African countries.
Patrice Maxam and Darrel Maxam found in unusual architecture a way to differentiate their seasonal lodging business. The couple from Georgia, USA, manages seven properties listed on Airbnb, three of which are treehouses located between Atlanta and New York.
The specialization began after the entrepreneurs identified that elevated accommodations consistently sparked interest among platform users. Instead of expanding the portfolio only with conventional properties, they decided to focus part of their investments on constructions capable of offering a different experience to guests.
The model also opened up prospects outside the United States. Patrice and Darrel acquired land in Belize and are considering building a beachside lodging, in addition to planning future expansion into African countries.
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Treehouses become a unique feature among seven properties
The Maxam’s business did not immediately start with suspended constructions. When they began working with Airbnb in 2015, they offered bungalows and smaller accommodations. The change occurred after analyzing which types of properties attracted the most attention on the platform.
Treehouses appeared as a sought-after category and, at the same time, less likely to lose appeal over the years. “We realized that treehouses were popular on Airbnb and also timeless,” explained Patrice and Darrel to columnist Alyshia Hull, from Insider.
The conclusion led the couple to abandon a strategy based solely on traditional lodgings. To compete in an environment with a large number of listings, it was necessary to offer something that guests couldn’t easily find at any destination.
“If we were going to have a business on the platform, we needed to do something a little more unique and different,” they stated. From this decision, elevated structures became the family’s main niche.
1956 Trailer Became the Most Sought-After Accommodation
The most prominent accommodation in the portfolio was named Young Wild and Tree. The project utilized the structure of a Spartan trailer manufactured in 1956 and transformed it into an elevated rental home.
The property started receiving bookings in 2021. During the renovation, the couple chose to preserve visual references linked to the era of the vehicle, creating a retro atmosphere.
The decor also included stickers related to anti-racist and LGBT causes. These elements gave the property its own identity and helped distinguish it from standardized accommodations.
The success of Young Wild and Tree shows how an old object can be converted into a commercial asset when given a different function. The trailer ceased to be just a 1950s vehicle and became part of the experience offered to guests.
The uniqueness that attracts visitors also makes projects more challenging to execute. According to the owners, the works may take longer than expected and require additional expenses with professionals.
Some obstacles only appear when construction is already underway. This forces the couple to alter decisions, seek new solutions, and absorb costs that were not fully defined in the initial planning.
Among the main challenges faced are:
- adapting plumbing to an elevated structure;
- additional hiring of labor;
- developing access around the trunks;
- extending the construction timeline;
- solving problems identified during the work.
These difficulties mean that a treehouse cannot be treated as a regular residence simply installed at a higher point. The position of the construction affects water entry, guest movement, and the distribution of spaces.
Bathroom Had to Be Below the Main Area
The sanitary installation was one of the issues that most concerned Patrice and Darrel. Bringing water and plumbing to the elevated part required a more complex solution than that used in a property built directly on the ground.
After assessing the problem, the entrepreneurs decided to keep the bathroom in a lower structure. “The bathroom concerned us a lot, for example, due to the plumbing. We wondered how we would get water into our treehouse,” they told Insider.
The choice allowed them to preserve the accommodation’s concept without requiring the couple to run all the plumbing to the highest point.
The solution also exemplifies a characteristic of the business: each project requires its own adaptations. Even if two constructions share the concept of elevated accommodation, the shape of the tree, the terrain, and the distribution of the spaces can create different needs.
Geometry was necessary to build the staircase
Access to the accommodation presented another technical challenge. Since the staircase needed to follow the shape of a tree, it wasn’t enough to use a straight and conventional structure. The couple had to calculate measurements related to the radius and circumference of the trunk to determine how the steps would be distributed.
“We had to wrap our minds around the circumference and radius of the tree and go back to high school geometry class,” they reported.
The situation shows that the creativity of the enterprise also depends on engineering and construction solutions. The different appearance can serve as a selling point, but it needs to be accompanied by a project that allows the use of the space. For the Maxams, these difficulties are part of the cost of operating in a less standardized niche.
Entrepreneurship was born from the search for differentiation
When they started renting in 2015, Patrice and Darrel could have continued increasing the number of bungalows and small properties. However, the research conducted by the couple indicated that differentiation could be more valuable than simply repeating the same accommodation format.
The business decision was to transform a specific category into a brand identity. As a result, the elevated houses stopped being just part of the catalog and began to represent the business’s positioning.
The strategy combines three elements:
- visually recognizable properties;
- experiences different from conventional accommodation;
- projects that remain attractive even after trend changes.
The couple describes the constructions as timeless, an important characteristic for a venture that requires investments in renovation, structure, and maintenance. Instead of relying solely on location, the properties began to attract interest due to their unique format.
Land purchase in Belize prepares new phase
Before the start of the pandemic in 2020, Patrice and Darrel purchased land in Belize. The goal is to develop a rental accommodation in an area close to the beach. The initiative represents a new stage of the business.
In the United States, the entrepreneurs gained experience with properties listed in Atlanta and New York. In Belize, they will need to adapt the model to another country and a different environment. The project expands the logic applied to the treehouses: using the space’s characteristic as a central part of the experience sold to the guest.
In addition to Belize, Patrice and Darrel are considering taking the business to African countries. The expansion is still part of future plans but indicates that the entrepreneurs intend to replicate the experience gained with unique accommodations.
Growth into other territories will require new decisions about construction, labor, and property adaptation. The challenges already faced in the United States, such as unforeseen expenses and technical difficulties, are likely to remain relevant in any new unit.
The trajectory shows that the Maxams’ main asset is not just a specific property. The couple has developed the knowledge to identify spaces, create unusual projects, and transform them into marketable accommodations.
Treehouses support growth strategy
The venture of Patrice and Darrel started with smaller properties, but gained a clearer direction when the two realized the demand for elevated accommodations. The strategy requires more planning, can increase costs, and creates obstacles that do not appear in conventional renovations.
On the other hand, it offers a product capable of standing out among different listings on the platform. Treehouses have ceased to be just an architectural curiosity and have become the foundation of a business that bets on experience, originality, and expansion.
With information from Revista PEGN
