Rules for renting out your items: 10 points that prevent problems

Rules for renting out your items: why write them first

Setting out your conditions before the first request avoids misunderstandings and protects both the owner and the renter. In peer-to-peer rentals, written rules turn an informal agreement into a registered commitment. On Alugoae, the rules field appears to the renter before they confirm the booking, and the acceptance logs the date, time, and the text 'I have read and agree' from both sides.

The ten rules in this list apply to any category — tools, party supplies, electronics, or sports gear. Adapt them to your item, write in short phrases, and put one rule per line: easier to read and harder to overlook. The field is visible on the listing and the renter confirms they have read it before the booking is sent.

Pick-up and return times: be specific

The most common source of trouble is a pick-up time that was never properly agreed. State the exact window: 'Pick-up between 8 am and 12 pm; return by 6 pm on the last reserved day.' This prevents someone showing up at 10 pm or returning the item the next day thinking they are still within the deadline. If you work outside the home, set a fixed time and keep it.

Allow at least 30 minutes at pick-up to walk the renter through how the item works and to take delivery photos with a visible date and time. That record is worth more than any written rule if a damage dispute comes up later.

Fuel, cleaning, and condition at return

Petrol-powered tools — grass trimmers, generators, petrol-driven rotary hammers — must come back at the same fuel level they left on. A rule with a stated amount prevents negotiation at the door: 'Item returns with the same fuel level. If low, I charge R$ 20 for refuelling.' Owners listing a generator in Navegantes know that finding a fuel stop on location is not always straightforward.

Cleaning works the same way: concrete mixer without dried mortar, barbecue grill without grease, pressure washer with a clean nozzle. Write the cost if it comes back dirty: 'Item returned dirty loses R$ 30 from the deposit for cleaning.' Being specific prevents the requirement from seeming arbitrary.

Included accessories and city-only use

Listing what comes with the item prevents 'I assumed that was included'. Use the description field for accessories and repeat in the rules field who is responsible for what. For a power drill: 'Set of 5 masonry bits included. Bit broken through misuse is charged at replacement price.'

An area limit protects expensive or fragile items. 'Use within Itajaí and Balneário Camboriú only. Transport to other cities requires prior written agreement in the chat.' Whoever accepts the booking accepts that limit, and the chat log serves as evidence if needed.

Delivery photos: make it an official rule

The photo rule is the most important and the least used. Write it plainly: 'Photos of all sides at both delivery and return, from both parties, with the date visible. No photos, no return confirmation.' The Alugoae chat stores images with a date and time stamp, which makes any review straightforward.

For electronics — projector, JBL speaker, camera — ask for a short 30-second video showing the item working at the time of handover. That habit resolves almost every dispute about 'it was already broken when I got it'.

How to write your listing rules: ready-made examples

Copy the templates below, adapt them to your item, and paste them into the rules field on your Alugoae listing. Each one covers the key points in four lines or fewer and reads well on a phone screen.

Well-written rules also help the renter arrive prepared: with the right size vehicle, with fuel to top up, or with the supplies that are not included in the rental.

• Tools: Pick-up between 8 am and 5 pm (Mon–Sat). Return clean and with the same fuel level. Bit broken through misuse charged at replacement price.
• Party supplies: Tableware comes back washed. Tent set up and taken down by the renter. Damage or breakage deducted from the deposit at replacement price. Return by 10 am the day after the event.
• Electronics: Do not take to the beach without a protective cover. Cable included; damaged cable charged at replacement price. Photos at delivery and return required from both parties.