Open the cellar, the garage or the hallway cupboard and you'll find the usual suspects. The pushchair you no longer need, the drill you've used twice, the camping tent, the guitar you meant to learn. On Lendmates each of these things gives you two options, sell it or rent it out, and the same account lets you do both. So the question becomes simple, and a bit less obvious than it looks, which one makes sense for that particular item. In this article we'll give you a way to decide, with some concrete examples.
When selling makes sense
Selling is the right choice almost every time an item has finished its job with you. The pushchair once your child has been walking for a while, the old smartphone after you got a new one, clothes that no longer fit, the exercise bike used for three weeks in January. You won't use these things again, and keeping them has a cost, because they take up space and lose value every month.
Selling has a practical advantage too. You do it once and you're done. You take a few photos, the listing more or less fills itself in, you check it, set the price and publish. The buyer can be anywhere in Italy, because selling has no distance limit and the item travels by courier. The buyer pays in the app and you get the money once the purchase goes through.
It pays to sell things that lose value fast, like electronics. A smartphone or a console is worth more today than it will be in six months, and waiting almost always means getting less.
When renting out makes sense
Renting works for a different kind of item, one you still need now and then but that sits unused most of the time. The hammer drill, the four-person tent, the gazebo, the pressure washer, the good camera. You don't want to sell them, because sooner or later they'll come in handy, but someone else could use them in the weeks you don't.
Renting also makes sense for things lots of people only use a few times, like moving gear or party equipment. Someone putting up a bookcase doesn't want to buy a drill, and someone throwing a garden birthday party doesn't want to buy a gazebo. On Lendmates rentals happen between people who live nearby, with pickup in person. You choose the free dates on the calendar, the renter leaves a deposit that comes back on return, and a QR code in the app confirms both handover and return.
One question settles it almost every time. Will you use this item in the next twelve months? If not, sell it. If yes, but only now and then, try renting it out.
Questions to ask about each item
Beyond how often you'll use it, a few other questions help. The first is about space. A tent or a gazebo takes up little room in the cellar and can stay, while a treadmill in the bedroom weighs on your mood too, and is often better sold.
The second is about wear. Some things barely suffer from use, like sturdy tools, camping gear and camera lenses, and they suit renting well. Others, like everyday clothes or very delicate objects, cope less well with many handovers and are usually better sold.
The third is about demand. If lots of people need something for a few days, like a car seat for a holiday or a roof box for the summer, a rental easily finds someone nearby who's looking for it. If it's something people want to keep, like a smartphone or a sofa, they'll be looking to buy.
The last one is more personal, how much time you want to put in. A sale is done in one go. Renting means a few meetings for handover and return, although with the app's calendar and chat it takes minutes to arrange.
Some practical examples
Here's how we'd think about a few typical items. The pushchair used until your child turned three, if you're not planning another, you sell. The DSLR you no longer use because you shoot everything on your phone, you sell while it's still worth something. The drill you use twice a year, you keep and rent out, because you still need it but the rest of the time it can earn its keep. The camping tent you use in August, you rent out on weekends in June and July.
Then there are the in-between cases. A road bike you rarely ride but are fond of can be rented out for a summer, and if by September you realise you didn't miss it, you can always sell it. The two options don't rule each other out, and you can change your mind whenever you like.
If in doubt, start by selling what you haven't used in over a year and renting out what you've used at least once in the last six months. Then adjust based on what happens.
Selling and renting with the same account
On Lendmates you don't have to decide once and for all what kind of user you are. With the same verified profile you can sell the pushchair, buy a second hand bike for your kid, rent out the drill and rent a projector for the night of the final. The reviews you get count across everything, and the more you collect, the more people trust you.
If you want to explore either option further, we have a guide on how to price items for rent and an article on items you can rent out right away. For selling, the same photo tips apply that you'll find in our guide on how to photograph an item well.
Frequently asked questions
Should I sell or rent out something I don't use?
If you don't expect to use it in the next twelve months, sell it. If you still need it now and then, you can rent it out while it's sitting idle.
Can I rent an item out and then sell it later?
Yes. You can rent it out for a while and then decide to sell it, or vice versa, whenever you like.
Does renting work at a distance?
No, renting is designed for people who live near each other, with pickup and return in person. Selling has no distance limit and works with shipping all over Italy.
Which items rent out best?
Things lots of people need for a few days that stand up well to use, like tools, camping gear, gazebos, roof boxes and camera equipment.
Lendmates is coming soon
Soon you'll be able to sell, buy, rent and rent out with the same account, picking the right option for every item.
Meet Lendmates