Living in a city like Pune is not cheap. Every month, the bills seem to go up. Whether it is the grocery bill, the electricity bill, or the school fees for children, expenses are always there. Because of this, many people in Pune are looking for extra ways to earn money. We all wish we had a second income source that didn’t require working a second job.
If you look around your own house, you might find the answer right there. Do you have a spare bedroom that nobody uses? Do you have a store room that is full of junk you don’t need? Or maybe a garage where you don’t park a car?
Most people think that an empty room is just wasted space. But today, that empty space is actually a money-making machine. You can rent it out.
Now, you might be thinking, “I do not want a stranger living in my house.” This is a very normal fear. Having a tenant means noise, cooking smells, water usage, and losing your privacy.
But what if you could rent out the room without having a person live in it? What if you only rented it out for things?
This is called “Peer-to-Peer Storage,” and a platform called PeerVault is making it very easy for people in Pune.
In this article, I will explain to you in very simple language how to list your room on PeerVault. You do not need to be good with computers. You do not need to be a businessman. You just need a room and a desire to earn extra cash every month.
Let us understand this simply.
Imagine your friend is shifting his house from Kothrud to Viman Nagar. He has to leave his old house on the 1st of the month, but his new house won’t be ready until the 15th. Where will he keep his sofa, his fridge, and his boxes of clothes for 15 days? He cannot keep them on the road.
He needs a safe place.
PeerVault is a website that connects people like your friend (who need space) with people like you (who have empty space).
It is very similar to how people book taxis on their phone. But instead of booking a ride, they are booking a corner of your house to store their bags. The person drops their items, locks the room, and pays you rent. They do not sleep there. They do not use your bathroom. They just pay for the space.
Many people in Pune have stopped renting out rooms to students or working professionals because of the hassle. Here is why renting for storage (PeerVault) is much better for a regular family:
1. No Water or Electricity Bill: A box of books does not take a shower. A cupboard does not turn on the fan. When you store things, your utility bills stay the same. You earn money without spending extra.
2. Peace and Quiet: Tenants can be loud. They might watch TV late at night or have friends over. Storage items are silent. Once the door is closed, you won’t even know they are there.
3. Less Damage: A tenant walking around might scratch the floor or break a window handle. Stored items just sit in one place. Your room stays new and clean.
4. Privacy: You don’t have to worry about a stranger walking through your hall in a towel or cooking smelly food in your kitchen.
5. Easy to Stop: If you suddenly need the room back because your relatives are coming to visit, it is easier to ask someone to move their boxes than to evict a family living there.
You might be thinking, “My spare room is not very fancy. The paint is old. Can I still list it?”
The answer is Yes.
People who want to store boxes do not care about fancy curtains or beautiful tiles. They only care about three things:
1. Is it dry? (Items should not get wet).
2. Is it safe? (Items should not get stolen).
3. Is it clean? (Items should not get dusty or eaten by rats).
If you have a dry, safe, and clean space, you are ready. It could be a spare bedroom, a covered balcony that can be locked, a garage, or even a large loft (mala) if it is easy to access.
Here is exactly what you need to do. Follow these steps one by one.
Before you take photos, you must clean the space. Treat this like you are opening a small shop.
You do not need to hire a photographer. Your smartphone is enough. But you must take good photos.
Now, go to the PeerVault website.
1. Click “List Your Space” or “Become a Host.”
2. Create an Account: You will need to put in your name, mobile number, and email.
3. Verify Yourself: PeerVault needs to know you are a real person. They might ask for an ID proof. This keeps everyone safe.
This is where you “sell” your room. Both a title and a description must be written. Write in simple English, just like you are talking to a neighbor.
The Title:
Make it clear.
Notice how the good titles tell the location and the best feature (Ground floor is great because carrying heavy boxes is easy).
The Description:
Write about the good points of your space.
The Size:
You don’t need measuring tape. The floor’s tiles are countable. Most tiles are about 2 feet by 2 feet. If the room is 5 tiles wide and 6 tiles long, it is roughly 10 feet by 12 feet. Write this down.
This is the tricky part. How much should you charge?
If you get greedy and ask for ₹10,000 for a small room, nobody will call you. If you ask for ₹500, you are losing money.
You are the boss. You can decide how the space is used.
Once your listing is online, you will wait for a notification.
A user will send you a message through the app. “Hi, I want to store my household goods for 3 months. Is the room available?”
Reply nicely and quickly. Ask them what they plan to store. Are there any large appliances like refrigerators or washing machines? is a legitimate question. so you can be prepared.
Most people want to see the room before they leave their expensive things. Allow them to visit. Be polite. Show them the room. Show them that you are a decent, trustworthy family. This face-to-face meeting builds trust.
If they like it, tell them to book it on the PeerVault app.
On the day they bring their truck or tempo:
In Pune, word of mouth is very strong. If you are a good host, you will never have an empty room.
1. Be Monsoon Ready: Tell the renter, “I have some wooden planks or plastic sheets. We can put them on the floor under your boxes.” This prevents moisture from touching the boxes. This small help costs you very little but makes the renter very happy.
2. Help with Directions: If the tempo driver is lost, help him with directions on the phone.
3. Cleanliness: Keep the area outside the room clean too.
4. Reviews: After the month is over, ask the person to write a review. “When they are leaving, just ask them nicely, ‘If you were happy with the space, please leave a good rating on the app.’ In the online world, these stars are your reputation. When new people see that you have a high score, they will trust you immediately.”
Safety is the number one worry for any Punekar.
Also, think about this: when you rent to a tenant, they have a key to your main door. When you rent for storage, you keep the key. It is actually safer than a normal rental!
Let’s do the math.
Suppose you have a spare bedroom in an area like Wakad or Wanowrie.
You list it for ₹4,500 per month.
If a family is renovating their house, they might need to store their furniture for 6 months.
₹4,500 x 6 months = ₹27,000.
That is ₹27,000 for doing absolutely nothing. You didn’t have to work. You didn’t have to sell anything. Your empty room just sat there and earned money.
What if you have a larger space, like a big empty shop shutter or a double garage? You could charge ₹8,000 or ₹10,000. That is over ₹1 Lakh a year!
Q: What if the person stores something illegal?
A: PeerVault has strict terms and conditions. You have the right to inspect items. If you are suspicious about a box, ask them to open it. If they refuse, do not let them store it. Trust your gut feeling.
Q: Do I need a business license?
A: Usually, no. If you are just renting a room in your own house, it is considered personal rental income, similar to renting a flat to a tenant. However, check with your society chairman. Just tell the society, “I am keeping some items for a friend.” Since there is no person living there, societies usually don’t mind because there is no noise or nuisance.
Q: What if they damage my walls?
A: This rarely happens because boxes don’t move. But if they damage something while carrying a heavy cupboard in, take photos immediately and report it to PeerVault support.
We are living in a time where we need to be smart with our assets. Your house is your biggest asset. Don’t let a part of it go to waste.
Listing your room on PeerVault in Pune is one of the easiest ways to start a side income. It requires no special skills, very little effort, and it is safe.
Imagine getting a notification on your phone that says “₹4,500 has been credited to your account” just because you let someone keep their winter clothes in your spare room. It feels great.
So, don’t wait. Clean that room today. Click some photos. Create your profile. Your empty room is ready to start working for you. Turn that dust into cash!
Ready to earn from your spare room? Contact us to list your space on PeerVault.
Author : Santosh Avarolli
Title / Role : SEO @ Aalpha Information Systems
Professional Profile / LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/santosh-avarolli-aa3667353/