What is HouseholdNetwork.com?
What HouseholdNetwork.com is NOT?
How does the system work?
How do I let others know that I've joined HouseholdNetwork.com and that they should join and connect to my Household Network?
What is a 'Household Network' ?
What's the difference between an Open and Secure Network?
Who is the Secure Network Administrator?
How many 'Household Networks' can I connect to ?
How does it REALLY work?
Is This all Legal?
Why would I want to join HouseholdNetwork.com and borrow or lend something?
Is it hard to add items?
What can I borrow?
What if I need a very specific item and I don't see it listed?
What does in COST to borrow an item from my network of households?
How do I know I will get my item back in good condition?
Disputes – What if my property is returned broken or ruined?
Can I get an item right away or do I have to wait for them to reply to the e-mail notification?
How much does it cost to join HouseholdNetwork.com?
Your Privacy!
Who can see my e-mail address, my street address, or other personal information I listed?
How do I report any problems?
How do I discontinue my membership and remove my profile and items?
What if I split my time between two households? Can I still join?
Why do I have to stay connected to each Household Network for a minimum of 30 days?
What is HouseholdNetwork.com?
HouseholdNetwork.com brings households together to offer items for loan to others. Members connect to networks of neighbors, friends or groups of similar interest. Have you ever asked yourself "who has an extension ladder I could borrow", "does anyone have a card table and chairs I could borrow for our gathering this weekend" or "who might have a little black purse I could borrow for the wedding were attending ?
On HouseholdNetwork.com you can also list areas of expertise or significant experience you are willing to share. Such as 'ceramic tile installation', 'building a deck', or maybe you can offer advice on adding an addition or remodeling a kitchen. You can also search for other's who are willing to share their knowledge and contact them through the system.
Another feature is the ability to list and recommend a service provider. Wouldn't you feel more comfortable contacting that plumber, carpenter, roofer or landscaper knowing that someone in one of your Networks has recommended them? That would be much better than simply selecting someone from the phone book!
We want to bring neighbors, friends and groups closer together.
What HouseholdNetwork.com is NOT ?
We are not intended as a place to list every little item in your house that people could borrow. There are plenty of places on the web to list every book, CD or video you might share. We want to make sharing between local friends, neighbors and groups EASIER and bring people closer together.
How does the system work ?
1) Register your household by providing some basic information, choosing your personal user-name and password.
2) List the items you are willing to lend on a short term basis.
3) Connect to up to four (4) existing 'household networks' or start a new network.
Once you're connected you can search for something you need for a household project, home event, party, or other short term need. You can contact the household whose item you'd like to borrow right through the system. If you've loaned an item, you're able to manage your personal items and note which items you've loaned, to whom. You are also able to have the system automatically send reminder notices to the borrower to return your item (no more feeling awkward about asking for your item or forgetting that your loaned it).
How do I let others know that I've joined HouseholdNetwork.com and that they should join and connect to my Household Network?
There are two primary ways to let others know about HouseholdNetwork.com.
1) From the Logged-in area you can click on the Tell Others button. A templated e-mail will open allowing you to add as many e-mail addresses as you'd like. The note provides a link to the site and a very brief overview of the great things about HouseholdNetwork.com. (in this same area you will find documents to print describing HouseholdNetwork.com which are designed to be passed out to neighbors, given to co-workers, or posted in your apartment building, school or place of worship.
2) From the Logged-in area, click on the Networks Tab, then click Invite Others. You will be able to pick one of your current Networks allowing you to invite someone specifically to join that network.
What is a 'Household Network' ?
A 'Household Network' is a group of households. You can search to find a list of all of the 'household networks' near your local zip code. You can join an existing 'household network' or start a new one.
You can locate networks by searching for a network name that you might already know or by a certain radius near your zip code. If you find the 'household network' you are looking for, simply double-click on it to join.
What's the difference between an Open and Closed Network ?
There are two kinds of 'household networks', Open and Closed.
Open networks can be joined by anyone at anytime.
Closed networks require permission to join. When you attempt to join a closed network, a notice is sent to the Closed Network's administrator requesting that you be allowed to join. That person will respond either accepting or denying your request.
(remember, once you've joined a network, you cannot leave that network for 30 days – security reasons).
Who is the Closed Network Administrator ?
The member who starts a new Closed Network becomes the Administrator by default. Their identity is hidden unless they reveal themselves.
How many 'Household Networks' can I connect to ?
Members can join up to four (4) 'Household Networks'. We don't want members connecting to random 'household networks' just to snoop around. That's why you must stay connected to a 'household network' for a minimum of 30 days. Once the 30 days expires, you can move to another network.
How does it REALLY work ?
HouseholdNetwork.com provides a searchable database of items, services or personal expertise posted by households. You can only see the items within the network of households that you have elected to join.
Join an existing 'household network' of neighbors on the street where you live, your sub-division, your town, your friends, your condominium building, apartment building, social group, club, or religious group.
If there isn't anyone in your area yet or a group that you know.....start a 'household network' of your own. Spread the word that you've joined so other can join as well.
Once you've joined one (1) 'household network (you can connect to up to four (4) 'household networks') you'll be able to browse the items listed. If you find something you need, simply click on it and send a note to the owner.
Borrow the item, use it, and return it.
Is This all Legal ?
Sure it is. You own the items you are willing to lend or rent don't you ?
Why would I want to join HouseholdNetwork.com and borrow or lend something?
WHY? Most everyone is good at heart and willing to help a friend or neighbor in need. If you knew that someone on your street or in your building needed a punch bowl set for their party, and you had one sitting in storage, wouldn't you let them borrow it? If you needed a posthole digger to install that new mailbox, wouldn't it be convenient to be able to borrow it for a short time from a neighbor, local friend or group member instead of buying or renting one?
How many times have you used the wrong tool for a job or wished you had known that Bob had an extra card table and chairs that you could have borrowed for your party last weekend? How else are you going to know that Mary has a little black purse that you could borrow for the holiday party and now you don't have to buy one or go without?
HouseholdNetwork.com let's you have access to more household items, special event accessories, tools and expertise than could ever fit into any single household.
Is it hard to add items ?
It is SO easy. Just select the category (i.e. Entertaining, Tools, Clothing), list the type of item, and a brief description. If you'd like, you can take the little bit of extra effort and add a picture of the item.
What can I borrow ?
It's hard to say exactly, but the intent of HouseholdNetwork.com is to provide a forum for households to share specialty items, recommendations or experiences in support of each other. Major categories include Home Entertaining (punch bowl, extra wine glasses, cooler, ice bucket, folding table / chairs, serving platter, hor'derve plates, grill, 30 cup coffee maker etc....), Tools (wet saw, sledge hammer, lawn mower, pipe cutter, post hole digger, fertilizer spreader, hedge trimmer etc...), Clothing (little black purse for the party, adult sized gorilla costume, etc.....), Experience (building a deck, kitchen remodel, replacing a toilet, installing a ceiling fan, plumbing etc.....)
What if I need a very specific item and I don't see it listed ?
You have the ability to send a note to a specific member of one of your Networks, AND you can send a broadcast note to everyone in a network. This will allow you to ask for a very specific item that a household might be willing to lend but may not have taken the time to list (soldering torch, copper pipe cutter, 7/8" wood drill bit, baking pan, costume, etc.....).
What does in COST to borrow an item from my network of households ?
In short, there aren't any fees dictated by HouseholdNetwork.com. Some items are borrowed only briefly while others involve some wear and tear to the item or equipment. Any gestures of appreciation are encouraged but the details are left to the members.
Note that some items may in fact be listed as a Rental. These are intended to be items of significant value or may be costly to use or replace. We encourage members to list mainly items to be borrowed.
How do I know I will get my item back in good condition ?
We have provided some general reminders; such as, clean items before returning them, replace a worn blade, dry-clean as necessary etc.... You will have joined a network of households of friends, neighbors or groups of similar interest who we hope will respect your property.
Disputes – What if my property is returned broken or ruined ?
HouseholdNetwork.com will not get involved in disputes.
We hope that joining a Household Network of friends, neighbors or groups of similar interest will provide some level of confidence in the lender. Accidents do happen and we are hopeful that the borrowers show respect for your item and that underlying common good will prevail in those instances.
Can I get an item right away or do I have to wait for them to reply to the e-mail notification?
If the person who owns the item has allowed their personal contact information to be viewed, you will be able to see the information when you select the item you wish to borrow. Feel free to contact them by phone, in person or through the system.
If the only option is to send a notification through the system, you will have to wait for them to contact you.
How much does it cost to join HouseholdNetwork.com?
Access is FREE. There may come a time where we will charge a small yearly fee. But, not for now.
If we do have to institute an annual membership in the future, we estimate the cost would be between $10 and $20 per year. We hope we never will have to institute a fee, but IF it becomes necessary, we will give our members plenty of notice.
PRIVACY:
Your Privacy !
Your privacy is one of our top priorities. We have instituted many levels of safeguards to ensure your privacy.
We allow you to control the visibility of your personal / family information. To access these controls, click on the Profile tab, then Edit Profile. You will then be able to choose which networks can view your more personal information.
Since you are joining Household Networks of friends, neighbors and groups of similar interest, we do allow the name and e-mail address you registered with to be visible to other members. You can view the members of a Network by clicking on the Network name after logging in.
Who can see my e-mail address, my street address, or other personal information I listed?
Since the Networks are primarily people you have some connection to, your e-mail address is visible. You can, however, use an e-mail address that doesn't include your name.
Other personal information in your profile can be seen only by those Networks as You decide. For example, you might be in a 'closed' household network of close neighbors and don't mind if they see your address, phone numbers, kids names and pets names. Similarly, you might have connected to a large household network of members with a common interest and may decide not to reveal that information.
How do I report any problems ?
To report any issues with the website, please click on the CONTACT button on the website.
If you have a question or need help, contact us by email at: help@HouseholdNetwork.com
If you notice any abuse, please report it at: abuse@HouseholdNetwork.com
How do I discontinue my membership and remove my profile and items ?
We'd hate to see you go, but if you must...simply send an email to: help@HouseholdNetwork.com or via the CONTACT button on the website.
Please explain your reason for leaving. We value your input.
What if I split my time between two households? Can I still join ?
Sure you can still join....and should. Who else might need to borrow something more than you. You can't possibly have duplicates of everything at both households.
We recommend that you simply connect to Household Networks in the area where you currently are living and remove yourself from the others.
We understand that you may not have the same items to offer at both homes and recommend that you edit the items in your inventory by listing the items not available as "Inventory Only". These would be the items that you don't have at that home so they will not appear as available. All items will remain listed on your members page so you won't have to re-list them when you go back to your other home.
Why do I have to stay connected to each Household Network for a minimum of 30 days ?
We want households to join only those networks where they truly want to have a meaningful connection. We don't want snooping. Once you connect to a 'Household Network', the system will not allow you to disconnect from that group for 30 days.