share-anything

Share-anything is a free app that lets you share things easily with others nearby.

Things like: tools, sporting goods, pets (Yes, pets!), gardens, storage space, exercise equipment, trailers, help, snow blowers, chain saws, cooking stuff, baby stuff... Anything!

Share an Item
Post something you would consider sharing. Maybe you have a trailer you rarely use, or a chainsaw or a surf board. Maybe you have unused storage area.

Wish List
A costly, but infrequently-used item you need might be sitting in a nearby garage. Use the wish list to let your neighbors know what you're looking for; you never know, they might have it and be happy to share it with you.

Communicate
Reply to a post to send an anonymous email expressing interest.

Good Neighbors

Your choice
The app banner says, "I would consider sharing..." It's not a commitment. You can be selective about whom you will lend to. Feel free to back out at any time.

Getting to know
"Let's meet at the corner of Main and Elm." It's especially easy to walk a dog to a public meeting location. This allows you to talk through options without any commitment. You can leave things open-ended. You might say something like, "Let me think about this" or, "I'll re-connect with you." If you do not re-connect, the other party could assume that any one of many things caused you to change your mind.

Consider Fees, Deposits

Payments
For small things you may want to return a favor with a favor. You might bring a cake or a dinner gift certificate when you return the item.
For more valuable things, a fair share-fee is good.

Deposit
Ask for a deposit — even if you trust the borrower. Cash equal to the item's current value is recommended. You might ask for a driver's license as a symbol of the commitment to return the item in the same or better condition, or pay to restore it.

Buy it together?
Just use common sense to split the cost. Be generous and make a friend.

Etiquette

Be considerate. Borrowing is good once in a while but don't become a nuisance. If it becomes a weekly thing, spread your borrowing around.

If you break it... "You own it." Well, at least make the lender whole, whatever it takes. Don't skimp. The relationship is more important than the cost of fixing something or replacing it once in a while.

Storage area. Don't intrude on someone's privacy too often. Unless the storage area is in a non-private location, it should be for things you might need to access only once, maybe twice, a year or so.

Logistics: If someone is doing you the favor of lending you something, you should make it convenient for them or pay them for their time and inconvenience.

Important note:

Share-anything is a place where you can share anything. Though we have a system in place to delete reported inappropriate content and remove violators of our user agreement, we cannot guarantee that every transaction will go smoothly. Please exercise your own due diligence when sharing.