How To Make Money Renting Out Things You Already Own
By: Anthony Vion
edited by: Doug Garfinkel
My brother-in-law Dave has a steam cleaner that he uses about two-three times a year. Everyone in the family, me too, is always borrowing it, so it’s in demand for sure.
The other day I asked him if he ever thought about renting it out to other people. He didn’t. But when I told him he could probably get $30-$40 a pop doing it, he’s thinking about it now.
This is the way I look at it. There are people out there who need things like Dave’s steam cleaner but don’t want to invest in one because they won’t use it often.
That’s why this could be the perfect new side hustle for you. And side hustles can bring you in $500 a month or more.
Take a look around your house, garage or even your driveway. Do you have a power washer you use once every two years or so? That’s a big one.
I got a quote from a local company to power wash my house for $450. I said, “No, thank you.” I do not want to spend hundreds of dollars to buy one either. But just my luck, Dave has one of those as well.
But not everyone has a Dave.
There are probably five or six things you can spot almost immediately that someone will gladly pay you to rent for the day, the weekend or even longer.
What do you have that’s useful, a little expensive and barely used? That’s what a lot of folks would rather rent from you than buy.
And, of course, how much can you put in your pocket for renting it out?
What’s In That Garage Or Basement
Power tools are always, always in demand. I’m always borrowing Dave’s Sawzall. I think I need to take Dave out for lunch one day soon.
Drills, saws or sanders. These are the kind of things people may need for one single DIY project but don’t want to go out and spend hundreds of dollars on.
We’ve covered steam cleaners already, but worth mentioning again here.
Come Springtime, lawn mowers, hedge trimmers and leaf blowers become hot items you can rent out. My nephew Tristan is always borrowing my backpack leaf blower to do lawn cleanups. And on Long Island these days, those last well into December.
And if you have folding tables, chairs and coolers, that’s like gold when people are having parties. I am the go-to in the family here since I have all of these and they really do get a lot of use.
The Fun Stuff
My wife and I go to the beach every weekend in the Summer and the water is filled with kayaks, paddleboards and similar. Too much work for me, I just like to sit in the beach chair next to my cooler, but there is interest for sure.
If you have items like that and are close to a beach or tourist area, start thinking about what your daily rate will be for them. Bikes are pretty popular, too.
I don’t have any of this, but camping equipment is a great idea. People who have never done it before probably don’t want to break the bank buying all new gear only to find out they hate it.
And don’t forget about those fishing poles and tackle boxes. Might as well list them too and see if you get any bites.
Vehicles and Transportation
This is where the prices start getting higher.
If you have a second car you don’t use a lot, bring in some extra cash with it to help pay the ever-increasing insurance bill.
Also, when I had my pickup truck, everyone was always asking me to borrow it to move furniture. I never made any money off it, but you sure can. Just make sure they clean the bed out good when done.
And if you have a trailer, people will be all over it. They’re perfect for hauling and almost no one actually owns one. I know I wish I had one from time to time, and unfortunately Dave doesn’t, either.
RVs and campers are in high demand during travel seasons. So, if yours is just sitting there…
Cameras and Gadgets
With a digital camera in every phone, no one is going out and buying an old school camera anymore unless they’re professional photographers.
But if you have a camera and lenses, I’ve seen friends searching around for these. Beginners and people who like to dabble in the hobby don’t want to spend thousands of dollars buying the equipment. Picture this, they will gladly rent yours for a nice fee.
I hate these, too, but drones seem pretty popular. Even projectors and speakers that people may need for outside parties can work.
Special Occasion Items
So maybe not your wife’s wedding dress, but we all have those things that were one-offs or if we were lucky, used twice.
Costumes are fun and most people don’t want to wear the same one year after year. At one point I must have had seven or eight pretty cool Halloween costumes in the basement before I tossed them.
I should have waited. Somebody would have paid good money to rent out that Gandalf.
Fancy dresses and tuxedos can be rented out for weddings, parties and events. The downside is not everyone is the same size, but you never know. Don’t forget the accessories like handbags and jewelry.
Event and Party Equipment
If you have a bounce house, not only are you the hero of your child’s party but you are also in line to make some nice money renting it out.
Photo booths, decorations and event props are nice ideas for birthday parties and gatherings as well.
Don’t Forget The Space
This can be an absolute fortune-maker if you live in the city, beach community or tourist area. Your parking spot or driveway if you’re not using it.
Finding parking in New York City is impossible unless you want to pay for an expensive garage.
And when we go to the Jersey Shore or Ocean City for our summer trips with the 2 kids, we end up having to lug 4 beach chairs, the cooler, snacks, boogie boards and God knows what else five or six blocks from the Airbnb we’re staying at.
The people who own houses close to the water can clean up here in season.
Even if you’re not in a city, local areas have parades and festivals that people have to park half a mile away. Keep an eye out for these. Just an idea.
Even unused space in your basement can be rented out for storage, especially to people with small apartments.
How To Do It
Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist are good places to start for local rentals and quick turnaround. My cousin Danny sells a lot on these, but he also rents out his two quads on the weekends that he’s not using them with his son, Mikey. He gets $120 for the day, plus the tanks have to be full when he gets them back.
They’re easy to use and don’t require much setup.
There are also peer-to-peer rental platforms like Fat Llama and Yoodlize where you can list almost anything and then others that break down deeper into specific categories.
Be sure to take clear, honest pictures and write a clear description with availability dates. You don’t want to get a “not as advertised” reputation. Even one bad review could sink your side hustle before it even really gets started.
Set a reasonable price and then wait for the messages to start pouring in.
Final Thoughts
Start small. Find that one thing you think will be a homerun and list it. It may take a few weeks to get a reply, but it could be just hours as well.
While you’re waiting, find something else that may fall into that sweet spot of being on the expensive side and also rarely used. Then list that as well.
Do this maybe every couple of weeks. Or just on the weekends instead of or along with other weekend gigs that pay well. You don’t want it to become overwhelming.
Then the more things you have out there for rent, the better chances of success will be.
Good luck!
Anthony Vion is a side-hustle fanatic from Long Island, NY who thrives on helping people find new and different ways to make some extra cash, without making it feel like another full-time job. He’s also a huge savings nut who gives practical advice on cutting everyday expenses and helping people avoid wasting money.
(Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and reflects general ideas, not financial advice. Results will vary based on your effort, location, and market demand. There are risks involved with renting out personal property, including damage or liability, so be sure to do your own research and take appropriate precautions.)