Yesterday we mentioned a new website for comparing how much you can earn from selling your old mobile phone.
Today we have a new website which allows you to earn some money renting out your belongings, or save some money by renting out something you might otherwise buy.
Zilok is an online rental marketplace that allows anyone to rent anything to or from anyone in a few clicks! It is your online rental community in the UK.
For example, you might have some tools that you rarely use that may be of use to others for a weekend’s DIY, or you may wish to borrow a hedge trimmer for a couple of days to clear up a garden, but don’t want to pay as much as you would from a normal hire shop.
Rent Out Your Stuff
If you want to earn some money renting out your stuff, then you can register on Zilok for free, but listing your items will cost a fee (thanks to Jo at Zilok who got in touch to correct me – Zilok does not currently charge a listing fee). Zilok also take a proportion of the fee you charge the renter as their commission, although this is taken upfront as a deposit for the item. You get to choose the cost and the duration of the hire.
Renting Stuff From Other People
To find items to rent, you can enter your postcode and get shown a list of those in the local area, or search for a specific item and see where it could be rented from. This could be anything from tools for DIY or gardening, sports and leisure equipment or even electronics, such as video cameras or games consoles. You’ll pay the fee set by the item’s owner, which will also include Zilok’s retainer (where they make their money).
Find out more about how Zilok works for both “owners” and renters.
In both cases, you will need to agree to a contract that will hopefully ensure the safety of your items and your transaction. Following the transaction, you will be able to evaluate either the owner or renter, which will build up their reputation and help them in future transactions, much like eBay seller and buyer reputations work.
At the moment, there seems to be little coverage for items outside of the UK’s major cities, but given time this should improve if people find it a useful service.
As well as the UK, Zilok is also available in the United States, France, Belgium and the Netherlands (and from some of the wording used on the site, it looks as if it’s run from abroad).
I’d be interested in hearing the thoughts of any Zilok users – what have your experiences been? Let us know in the comments below.