Online marketplace Spacer aims to solve storage problems of ranks of people living in smaller homes
A NEW share craze is connecting people in search of space to stash their stuff with homeowners hoping to make up to $3000 a year.
RESIDENTS with free space in their homes are hoarding strangers’ junk for cash in a share craze that’s sweeping Sydney.
Dubbed the “Airbnb for storage”, online marketplace Spacer connects people seeking a place to stash their furniture, boxes or vehicles with homeowners offering to store their items for a fee.
The concept is filling a gap created by Sydney’s soaring house prices, which have driven swarms of people to live in increasingly smaller homes to save on living costs, leaving them with little room for their personal items.
Launched only a month ago, Spacer has already attracted over a thousand users.
Homeowners are being lured by the chance to score roughly $100 to $300 a month renting out their sheds, garages and other space in their homes, while storage hunters are looking to save on commercial storage bills, which can cost up to $800 a month.
Mum Ari Mottek is storing a stranger’s boxes in her Marrickville attic and said the $250 a month she is making is “money for nothing”.
“We’re not even aware the stuff is there half the time,” Ms Mottek said.
“The whole idea made sense to us because we weren’t using the attic, but renting it out means we can put extra money towards our bills.”
Ms Mottek added that storage space has a high value in the inner west, where homes often lack garages, driveways or sizeable wardrobes.
“We got a lot of inquiries,” Ms Mottek said.
Spacer is following in the footsteps of storage share concepts that have proved a hit overseas such as the UK’s Storemates and France’s Costockage, which have tens of thousands of users.
Founder Michael Rosenbaum said he began tailoring the concept to Australian needs six months ago after being inspired by the runaway success of Uber and other businesses in the so-called share economy.
“We’re surprised how quickly our idea took off,” Mr Rosenbaum said.
“We thought only people living in the inner city would use it, but it’s become popular across Sydney and I think it’s because so many people are moving into smaller homes.”
Parties wanting to store items through Spacer are obliged to provide details on what they’re storing and space providers are free to reject their request on whatever grounds they like.
Spacer also provides insurance for both parties entering a storage arrangement, but Mr Rosenbaum admitted the service also operates under the assumption “everyone is good” and that users won’t try exploit other people’s houses or possessions.