How to Use Nearville

How to Rent and Lend: The Complete Guide

Welcome to Nearville — your community-powered marketplace where borrowing and lending everyday items isn’t just easy — it’s smart, sustainable, and rewarding.

Whether you're here to rent what you need or lend what you have, this guide will walk you through how Nearville works, step by step. By the end, you’ll know exactly how to participate in this growing movement of people making better use of the resources around them.

Why Nearville?

In a world full of stuff, we don’t always need to buy more — we just need better ways to share what already exists. Nearville helps you:

• Save money by renting instead of buying

• Earn extra income by lending out items you already own

• Reduce waste and overconsumption

• Support local neighbors and build community connections

For Renters: How to Borrow What You Need

1. Found an item you need? Send a rental request to the owner.

2. When your request is accepted, message the owner to coordinate a pickup date and time.

3. Meet up and exchange codes. It’s our way of keeping rentals safe and secure.

4. Take photos and leave a note on the item's condition. Better safe than sorry!

5. Ready to return? Message the owner to lock in the return time and place.

6. Meet up, inspect the item together, then tap "Confirm Return" to complete the return.

7. Send your request and enjoy your rental! Please take good care of it and treat it with love.

For Owners: How to Lend and Earn

1. Have something to share? Tap the + icon to list an item with  clear photos and detailed descriptions.

2. Set a daily rate. Set a daily value for your item based on its worth. Your final payout will be issued after the service fee is deducted.

3. Receive a request. Go to Request Details to accept the request or propose new dates. Coordinate with the renter to finalize the pickup date and time.

4. Choose a location. Choose a general location for the handoff. The exact address will remain hidden until the booking is confirmed-your privacy comes first!

5. Handoff time. Before meeting, take photos and note the item's condition in the Handoff Task. Then, meet up and exchange codes.

6. Plan the return. Message your renter to confirm the return date, time, and place.



7. Confirm the return. After receiving your item, upload photos and notes about its condition within the hour. Tap 'Confirm Return' to complete the process and initiate your payout.

Ready to get started? 

Create an account, browse items near you, and list your first item. Together, we can reduce waste, save money, and build a stronger local economy — one rental at a time.