How Your House Can Make You Money

If you’re lucky enough to have a spare room, you might be able to rent it out to make some more money. There are alternatives for those without this option and it’s more concerned with being in the limelight. About 60% of household sets usually seen on the TV within the UK are filmed in normal homes. For magazine shoots, films, TV shows or otherwise, you could rent your home out, make between £500–£2,500 a day, and may even receive a renovation for your trouble. This is far more than what you'd get on a daily basis from rent, so could be more worth your while.

The more disruption, the more you can expect to receive for hiring out your home to these film or camera crews. You normally need to sign up to an agency in order to be discovered, and they take around 10–25% in commission, but the rest is yours to do with as you please. It doesn't take long to sign up to these agencies, and the more exposure you have, the more likely you are to be picked. Additionally, some shoots are more invasive and require touches of paint, redecoration, catering tents and extensive furniture rearrangement, which they will all do for you.

You have to factor in the sort of disruption you can expect. If it’s easy for you and your family to be out for most of the day for a larger shoot, this could work really well for you. Fresh coats of paint can always be welcome, especially with children involved. And the more regular these jobs are, the newer your home can look on a recurring basis. Likewise, with any furniture and objects that are moved around, everything will be returned exactly as it was before the crew leaves, so you won’t have to put your house back yourself.

Naturally, accidents do happen. Walls can be scuffed and items can be damaged in the process of moving furniture and kit around. However, these companies are required to make things right before they leave, so most people say that any issues are resolved before they leave for the day. They won't leave your home in a bad state and they certainly don't want their shoot to look untidy, so any damaged will be remedied as soon as possible.

If you don’t think your home would be good enough, think again. Most of the time, crews are on the lookout for a place that looks like a home, whether family or otherwise. If you keep a clutter-free environment, that could work more in your favour for some companies. If your home is noise central, this would be fine for photography shoots, but would not be acceptable for any filming. Arranging to be out of the house can help get around this, especially if children refuse to understand the rules of quiet play.

All types of property and sets are needed for these kinds of shoots on a daily basis, so getting your home listed with an agency could be all you need to start earning more money. From stately homes to run of the mill residences, any home is a candidate. Despite being impressive, central and easy to access, not all shoots happen in London. Idyllic countryside locations are also prized, and the more character a property has, the better chance you might have of appearing on TV.

Before you jump straight into hiring out your home, it’s important to understand the logistics of it. Bigger fees can be charged for the size of the crew and how much of your home they will be taking over. Stylists can also appear out of the blue to make sure everything looks tidy, and bigger shoots may require the entire contents of your home to be packed up and transported away. If you’re on holiday during this time, it could save a massive headache on your part. Sometimes caterers will need their own space as well, which is where a garden comes in handy.