If you're a homeowner looking to rake in some extra money, whether to fund a much-needed renovation or to afford a much-needed dream vacation, don't dismiss using your house as a means to generate additional income. We're not talking about the typical work-from-home business opportunities that were commonplace years ago, either. No hours spent stuffing envelopes on your couch here.

Our round-up of money-generating opportunities for homeowners range from the off the beaten path (renting out your home for a film shoot) to the tried and true (tapping into your home's equity). Check out all of them and decide for yourself which ideas are right for you.

Rent Out Your Home While Away

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Why pay for a house sitter when someone will pay to stay in your home while you're away on vacation. Renting out your home through sites such as , and is a relatively easy and reliable way to earn some additional income. For each site, you'll need to register to create a free listing that travelers in search of a place to stay in your area can view. You set the rental amount, dates of availability, as well as establish a refund policy in the event a renter decides to cancel the reservation. Airbnb and FlipKey charge