Surprising Stuff You Can Rent Out for Extra Money — 4 Easy Ways to Cash In!

If you're anything like us, you've got tons of unused goods and space — but did you know there's a way for you to earn money on your unused things by renting out your stuff? You could earn a bundle by renting out items (or even space) you’re not using to folks who are willing to pay you for them right now. Here, take a look at our tips and tricks for raking in dollars on everything from driveway space to a spot in your garden.

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1. Rake in cash with a rental garden

Lots of folks would love to grow their own spring vegetables, herbs and flowers, if only they had access to a yard. So, if you’ve got space in yours that you’re not using, you could rent it to these gardeners in exchange for money, a portion of their crops or both. And finding these renters is as easy.

Just open an account on YardYum, which is a free platform specifically designed to connect gardeners with people renting out their yard. Post a description of the land you have available, add photos, then name your price. Some homeowners charge between $30 to $100 per year for each 20-foot by 20-foot plot, but you could charge more depending on your soil, sun and ease of access.

Tip: Using your yard to grow your own greenery? You can earn extra cash by renting your plants, flowers and small trees to folks who need them, such as real estate agents who are staging homes and companies hosting events in your area. To get started, post photos of what you’ve got available for rent on social media platforms, such as Instagram, Facebook Marketplace and Nextdoor.

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2. Earn a bundle with your closet

Spring is the start of moving season in the US, which means lots of folks need extra storage space while preparing to leave their current home or while looking for a new one. This is great news if you’ve got a spare room, closet or secure garage since you can earn between $50 to $600 a month from folks who are eager to rent it from you.

To connect with them, create a post describing the storage space you have available on Neighbor (which charges a processing fee that’s 4.9% of the total monthly reservation plus 30 cents) or Store At My House (which is free). Once someone lets you know they want to rent your space, confirm the details (like how many months the rental will last) and schedule a date for them to move in their belongings. Then you just collect the payments.

Tip: To help determine how much to charge, check out prices of nearby commercial storage spaces for similarly sized units in your area, then try to beat them.

3. Turn your driveway into dollars

Have an empty driveway, garage or parking space you’re not using? Whether you’re in the country or the city, it can earn you over $1,000 a year. That’s because there are folks who need your spot for their vehicle, RV, camper or boat. That could be because they don’t have the room, they’re trying to avoid expensive parking garage fees or they can’t find a place to park on the street near their job or apartment.

As a result, they’re willing to spend $50 to $300 a month to park in your space, and even more in high-traffic areas where parking is scarce. To find renters, post your parking spot on Neighbor (which charges a processing fee that’s 4.9% of the total monthly reservation plus 30 cents), Parking For Me (free) or Spacer (free).

Pick your rate, then wait for a renter to contact you. You can rent by the day, week or month. Or opt to charge by the hour if you have an event happening near you like a parade or you live near a popular destination such as a stadium.

4. Fill your piggybank with your backyard

Pride yourself on your beautiful backyard? You could share it with others who are looking for an attractive space to host birthday parties, baby showers, prom photos, film shoots and other activities by renting it on Peerspace. The site charges 15% to 20% of your booking fee and comes with $1 million liability insurance. To get started, create a free host account and describe your backyard. After your submission is reviewed and accepted, you can start renting. Be sure to include special amenities like a fire pit and pool to entice more renters.

Love dogs and have a secure fence? You can rent your backyard to fellow dog lovers who don’t have a yard of their own to play with their pooches by signing up at Sniffspot. It charges 24.9% commission plus 30 cents per booking and includes up to $2 million liability insurance. Describe your yard such as its location and size and dog-friendly amenities like drinking water and toys, then pick your price, which usually ranges from $5 to $25 per dog for each hour.

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Bonus: Photo trick to attract more renters

For an easy and free way to boost your odds of getting more renters, tweak the photos you include in your post. Research from Hong Kong shows that including just one large key object in each picture (like an empty garden), using a filter that makes colors warm and contrast high, and keeping focus sharp leads to greater sales.

These photo qualities share more details about what you’re renting, plus they make viewers feel good, so they’re more likely to do business with you.

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