Inspired Design Talk

For about 5 years, we hosted guests almost every weekend in a private suite attached to our home with its own entrance and bathroom. The reviews were great, and it brought in roughly $10,000 a year.

What I didn't share in the video is that every year we received a 1099, which meant paying taxes on the income. We also learned that short-term rentals can involve permits, occupancy taxes, zoning requirements, and local regulations that vary depending on where you live.

As the rules became more complicated, we started asking ourselves if it was really worth it.

For us, the answer was no.

Now that space is a guest room for family visits, and honestly, we're happier with it.

This was simply our experience as homeowners on Long Island. Always check your local regulations before considering a short-term rental.

Have you ever hosted on Airbnb or considered it?

One of the most common comments I received after sharing that we made our house too big was:

"Why not just Airbnb the extra space?"

The funny thing is... we actually did.

For about 5 years, we hosted guests almost every weekend and earned around $10,000 a year from a private suite with its own entrance.

For that season of life, it worked really well.

Until it didn't.

Part 4 is where things get interesting. 👀

Did you ever host on Airbnb or consider it?

For anyone curious, here's how I came up with the monthly numbers in this video.

These are monthly averages based on what we actually pay throughout the year:

⚡ Electric: about $160
💧 Water: about $85
🔥 Gas: about $60
🛢️ Oil: averages around $333
🏡 Homeowners Insurance: about $273
📋 Property Taxes: about $1,542

Total: roughly $2,453 per month.

One thing I should mention: our house is paid off, so that total does not include a mortgage payment.

A few notes:

• Homeowners insurance is paid once a year, so I divided it into a monthly average.
• Property taxes are paid quarterly, so I averaged those out monthly as well.
• We typically get 5–6 oil deliveries per year (about 200 gallons each delivery).
• Our stove is gas, but I don't cook a lot.
• We also have a gas fireplace, which helps reduce oil usage during the winter.

And as my father always used to say:

"Do you think we own the electric company?" 😂

So the lights are only on in the rooms we're actually using.

I'm still curious if downsizing saves as much money as people think, especially here on Long Island.

If you live in a smaller house, are your monthly costs dramatically lower?

When you first buy a home, everyone has an opinion.

Family.
Friends.
Neighbors.
Contractors.
Even the person at work who renovated their kitchen once. 😅

And if you're not careful, you can end up designing for everyone else instead of yourself.

After 28 years in the same home, I've learned that it's okay to listen to advice, consider different perspectives, and appreciate the feedback.

But at the end of the day, you have to make the decision that's right for your home.

What one person loves, another person hates.

Have you ever felt overwhelmed by too many opinions during a renovation or decorating project?