Becks Harvey, a 46-year-old British expat living in Brooklyn, New York, never dreamed of earning six figures a year by renting out her home for filming. She also didn’t expect she’d be hosting a host of celebrities, including Amanda Seyfried, Jennifer Coolidge and The Notorious BIG’s son CJ Wallace
But like hundreds of other homeowners across the country, Harvey and her husband rent out their property for production.
For five years, they have been renting out the building they own, a former auto shop that was converted into three separate apartments (one of which they live in). During that time, they did dozens of photo and film shoots for commercials, documentaries, and magazine covers.
Most of their bookings come from peer spacean online platform where people can find rental properties for various purposes; sprucesimilar markets; or a handful of traditional agencies that work directly with clients.
Hosting can be very profitable. Harvey said they made more than $200,000 from one unit in 2021 and 2022.
While her situation may be unusually lucrative—New York City is ideal for high-profile production projects—it’s common for hosts nationwide to charge $50, $100 or even $250 an hour. Many of the buds last for several days, and the annual income is enough to supplement mortgage.
Of course, these companies charge booking commissions. There are also risks associated with opening your property up for commercial use. The owners talked about dents in the walls, scratches on the floors and a lot of logistics, especially since reservations are usually made less than two weeks in advance.
To protect their homes, homeowners must be prepared to treat their homes the same way they would treat others Business. Still, many think it’s worth it: Peerspace reports that it has more than 40,000 bookable spaces worldwide on its site.
How to Rent House Production
Listing a space on Peerspace or Splacer is free and can be done in under an hour. First, landlords create a profile for their property, including details about square footage, amenities and parking. Hosts can set their own hourly rate, which can be viewed on their profile. Similar to Airbnb, people looking to book a home can filter based on price, location, capacity and other factors.
Previous experience is not necessary. Alexis Hammond, a 42-year-old psychiatrist in Baltimore, came up with the idea in 2020 after joining a financial literacy book club.
Shortly after listing his home for sale on Peerspace, Hammond made enough money to pay his mortgage within a month. Despite her varying incomes, she was eventually able to afford a second home next door, which she bought with the sole purpose of renting it out.
“Financially, it’s definitely beneficial,” she said, adding that she estimates she makes up to $20,000 a year between the properties. “I find it hard to say no to anyone because I’m so excited and a little surprised that it’s been so successful.”
What do people look for when looking for a location? Jessica Yager, a freelance production manager in Seattle, says it depends on the client. The house doesn’t have to be fancy to be appropriate. (In fact, some brands shy away from spaces that look too luxurious to attract their target customers.)
Spaciousness is often important: crews typically consist of 15 to 30 people, and they need space to move and work. Natural light is also a plus.
A typical day starts early for Yager—usually before 7 a.m. Some simply instruct her to type without using a keyboard. Once inside, she and her crew photographed every nook and cranny so they would know how to put the house back together.
They then put down moving blankets and other equipment to help protect the floors and walls. Sometimes they will remove all furniture from the room and replace it.
By morning, the house is packed with photographers, digital technicians, costume designers, hair and makeup artists, and production managers—all with their own assistants. Then there’s the talent (aka models and actors). After the shoot, the homeowner will come over and inspect the property to see if there are any issues.
Tips, tricks and celebrity sightings
It is important for residents to understand the risks involved. Sarah Dupuis, real estate agent She rents out three homes in Seattle, including the one she lives in with her husband and three children. During one booking, the customer took out all the kitchen utensils, leaving a noticeable dent in the floor.
Although this experience did not make her give up hosting work, she later tightened her requirements. For example, she no longer allows rolling equipment or carts because of the greater potential for damage, and she has clients sign special types of contracts for filming on private property.
“We learned some tricks,” she said. “It knows what the purpose of the production is, what company is behind it, whether it’s a video, etc.”
It helps to have another property that allows you to escape when renters are around. Dupuis, 46, rents out her primary residence about six times a year, requiring her family of five to rearrange furniture, lock away valuables and adjust their lives.
They usually go to one of the other houses during filming, but if they have to stay at home, they hide out in the basement.
That said, welfare isn’t just about money. Hammond said she finds hosting a satisfying creative outlet. Her home has been used for commercials and maternity shoots, all of which she diligently tracks on social media.
There have been celebrity sightings, too. Harvey was delighted to know that stars loved her home, even though she was often too shy to approach them.
“I don’t trust myself in front of celebrities,” she said. “I just knew I was going to say something and regret it for the rest of my life.”
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