Neighbor is a new site and app which connects owners of extra storage space with renters looking for rental spaces to store their belongings. Our Neighbor.com review looks at whether this site is legit, how it works, and how good of a deal it is for both sides. We also dive into how safe the site is to use and whether it is good to make some extra income.
So, if you have some unused space lying around or are looking to store some extra stuff, why not check out the site and see what it has to offer?
What is Neighbor.com?
Neighbor.com is a self-storage company that is trying to disrupt the industry. They have been called the Airbnb of self-storage.
This makes sense because the concept works just as well for storage as well as living spaces. Individuals rent their space for storage to others instead of a hotel room, but otherwise, it is much the same. Each person can set their own price and listing, advertising it how they see fit.
The CEO has stated that the new company has already seen 500% growth in its first two years, so it’s definitely off to a great start.
The model often works better than using conventional storage spaces, as the cost to rent out an entire space at a storage facility can be much more costly in terms of overhead. The fact that people just have storage spaces lying around with no overhead allows them to undercut the prices of storage facilities by a substantial amount.
What do they offer?
Neighbor.com offers a way to list storage spaces from as small as a closet for a college student to as large as a barn.
The storage space owner is allowed to inspect anything the storage user stores and to reject any offer. There’s also a list of restricted items for everyone, including things like firearms, fireworks, dangerous chemicals, waste, animals, and more.
How does Neighbor work?
It wouldn’t be a Neighbor.com review without seeing how it works.
First, here’s how it works if you are looking to rent out storage space on the site.
Let’s say you need to store some boxes leftover after a move. So, you might look around at listings on the site for storage space in your area.
If you find one within your area and price range, you simply message the individual and set up an agreement with them through the website.
Here’s how it works If you are looking to host a rental space.
First, you take some pictures and put up a listing on the site. You then choose your asking price and write a description of what kind of space is available and restrictions on what can be stored.
Renters can then find your place in a search and might ask you to use it for storage. You start the agreement with them through the site, and you’re all set.
Every step of the way is relatively easy, and all that’s left at that point is providing the renter access to their new storage space.
What are the requirements to list for Neighbor?
There are no requirements beyond having a space you’d like to put up for rent and listing it.
There are some restrictions on what can be stored in these spaces, so you cannot offer to house these items, including firearms, toxins, drugs, explosives, pesticides, waste, ammunition, and perishable food.
Renters must disclose the types of items they will be storing, and as the host, you can inspect the items as well.
How much can I earn with Neighbor.com?
How much you can earn is down to the amount you charge and the size and convenience of the storage space you have. Of course, if you live in a more popular area, you may be able to earn even more that way.
One of the most important uses of the site is renting out parking space, whether that’s in a garage, driveway, or other building. You can also do an attic or spare bedroom as unused space.
For example, a basement or garage in Los Angeles will get you about $150 a month.
How do I get started with Neighbor.com?
We’ve created a walkthrough near the end of this Neighbor.com review to help get you started with hosting.
Once you’ve set up an account, you’ll want to get at least six high-quality photos of the listing as recommended by the site. After that, you’ll just have to wait for orders to come in.
How can I earn money from Neighbor?
You earn money by listing your space and attracting renters.
It’s essential to have an attractive profile to get renters and charge a reasonable price for the space. Here are some tips to help you out:
- Use high-quality photos and make an effort to show a clean, spacious interior and that the space is accessible.
- Share the listing with friends, family, and your social media to increase the net of potential renters.
- Boost your listing rank on the site by writing a well-crafted personal bio that gets people to trust you. You should be friendly, approachable, and it should be easy to work with you. Your description should similarly be trustworthy and informative.
Are there fees?
There’s no initial service fee for making a listing. However, a payment processing fee is taken out for each reservation place.
Currently, the service fee is 4.9% + $0.30 per month. This covers the cost of the payment process, using the site, direct deposits, and the hosting guarantee.
Cancellations & refunds
Cancellations and refunds can happen for both parties in the arrangement and work a bit differently depending on the scenario.
If you are the space owner and need to cancel the reservation before the renter has stored their belongings, the renter will receive a full refund.
Alternatively, if you have to cancel after they have already stored their belongings, you must give your renters at least 30 days’ notice before removing their stuff. If the situation arises where you must give less than 30 days’ notice, you’ll be charged a fee for the inconvenience, and the renter will receive a full refund for their latest month.
On the flip side, here’s how cancellations work if you are a renter:
- If you cancel 4+ days before the start date or within 24 hours after your reservation is approved, you’ll receive a 100% refund.
- If you cancel within three days before the start date, you’ll receive an 80% refund.
- Finally, if you cancel after the start date, you’ll receive no refund and pay the whole month’s cost.
Renter Guarantee
Neighbor.com prioritizes the safety and security of its renters. They provide up to $25,000 of renter’s insurance against theft of your property at no additional cost. You just need to register your property on the site to qualify for the protection.
How do I stay safe with Neighbor.com?
One important priority is the restricted items list. As a host, you can always inspect your renter’s storage items for anything dangerous. As an additional precaution, you may ask for other items to be restricted on your listing as well.
When renters and hosts meeting to access the storage area, take all the usual precautions you would with a stranger.
As a renter, look through each host’s profile and gauge how trustworthy the listing is. If the deal looks too good to be true, be extra careful that there’s nothing sketchy going on, and they seem to have a good reputation on the site.
The renter guarantee will help in cases of monetary theft, but not as much in cases of the loss of things of sentimental value. Therefore, be sure you want to store ideas with a lot of sentimental value.
Neighbor storage pros and cons
Pros
- Renter damage and theft protection
- Host protection
- Free listings
- Hosts are verified
- Better deals than self-storage places
Cons
- Service fees for each monthly payment
- Less convenience of access compared with a facility
Neighbor Storage vs. Airbnb
We’ve compared Neighbor.com to Airbnb several times, and the comparison is apt. You might think it would be easy to simply make an Airbnb listing with the cost and accessibility of a storage unit, but that’s not the case.
The big difference, then, is that Neighbor is tailor-made to set up its listing as storage units. So everyone goes in expecting only to access the space irregularly and use it only for storage. One nice thing compared to Airbnb is that you don’t have to deal with untidy house guests, although renters might store their items in quite a messy way.
Their listing procedure and questions are also made to answer all the pertinent questions regarding the storage space.
Is my money safe?
Yes. Neighbor.com makes sure all direct deposits are made safely and securely, directly transferring the renter’s money into the bank account of the listing provider. In addition, it uses Stripe to handle all its payment processing.
The Neighbor Storage Host’s Experience
The host experience is centered around clearing out a space, creating the listing, setting the price, and taking some photos. After that, it’s essentially down to the renters to decide whether they want to take the space.
Once a host has a renter, they’ll set up a date and time to show the renter the space and get all of their stuff into storage. Then, they can inspect the items when they are coming in or afterward.
After that, the host will have set a frequency allowance for the renter to visit the private storage unit, decided upon in advance. Then, the renter can come only that frequently to check on or take out the items or to put more things into storage.
Neighbor Storage Renter’s Experience
The renter’s experience centers on searching through the listings, which is relatively easy and convenient to do. Each listing will have price, location, description, and pictures. The renter can look through this and the host’s profile before deciding whether the space is a good fit for them.
Once they’ve made a selection, they’ll get into contact with the host and might exchange a few messages before committing to the space. Then, they schedule a date and time to move their stuff into the space.
Payments are made monthly on the storage space. As a renter, you can visit the space as frequently as the host allowed on their profile.
Neighbor Host Safety & Protection:
Safety and protection are paramount for Neighbor on both the host and renter sides.
What security features does Neighbor offer for hosts?
Before even beginning to host to a renter, the host can view the renter’s profile, read through what they want to store, and message them on the site to get to know the person to which they are renting.
Once they’ve given the ok, the host can also inspect the items being stored in their extra space. They also have up to $1,000,000 in liability protection for damages from Neighbor.
How do I open an account?
1. First, go to Neighbor.com and hit the “Become a host” button in the top right.
2. Then, you’ll need to put in your sign-up information and create your account.
3. You’ll be led to the following screen. Hit “Start” to get started on the process.
4. You’ll be asked a series of questions about the space, including its address and size.
5. You’ll also be asked how often renters will be able to access their storage facility.
6. You should also be prepared to answer whether your space has any of the following features.
7. You’ll be given a recommended price for the size of storage area and location and asked if you want to offer a discount on the first month. Again, this is a helpful strategy to get first-time renters.
8. Finally, you’ll be asked to verify your identity and asked for your payment details. Then, you’re all set to get started on your listing!
Neighbor Storage FAQ
Is neighbor a legit website?
Yes, neighbor.com is a legitimate website that has been running for over two years. The services provided are all verified and work as given.
How much can you make on the neighbor app?
You can make as much as $200 / month for a garage or basement, $100 / month for a shed or room in a big city. But, of course, prices can vary a lot depending on the area you live in, so it depends entirely on your situation.
Is the neighbor app good?
Yes, it can help you save money as a storage space renter by finding good deals on storage space with an Airbnb-style business model. In addition, as a host, you can make good passive income by renting out unused storage space you own to renters.
How does the neighbor app work?
It’s relatively simple. The host puts up a listing with pictures and a description of a storage area they’d like to rent out, such as a garage, basement, or shed. Then, renters search the website listings for storage units in their area and price range and make a storage arrangement through the site to store their stuff with the host.
Is it cheaper than traditional storage?
Generally speaking, yes. One of the big advantages of using individuals’ unused storage space is that they are mainly willing to undercut the cost of traditional storage space to make some passive income with space they wouldn’t have been using otherwise.
Final Neighbor.com Review
Neighbor.com is an excellent app for self-storage. In our Neighbor.com review, we have found that anyone with extra space can turn that into a private storage unit to use their unused space for a little extra income.
From the renter’s perspective, it is also a great deal, as you can usually save a good amount of money storing your stuff in this way and possibly even find a storage unit much closer to home.
Overall, it’s surprising that it took this long for the idea to take off. Self-storage is a tens of billions of dollars industry in America. There’s no reason why all of us shouldn’t be able to get in on the action and even connect a little more with our communities.
The service fee is one of the only gripes we have the site, but it does have to make money somehow. Otherwise, it’s a great deal for both parties.