by: Josh Parker
While a majority of your self-storage customer base is hyper-local (3-5 mile radius) to your facility, RV and Boat parking can significantly broaden your reach and attract customers from farther away.
The distance people are willing to drive for RV and boat storage can range from just a few miles to potentially over an hour, or even more, depending on site-specific circumstances. Factors such as cost and availability come into factor, as well as amenities such as security features, and proximity to local maintenance options, bodies of water, or camping.
Demand for RV parking has seen an increase in the last few years thanks to the growing popularity of RV camping. Additionally, many homeowners' associations and local ordinances restrict parking RVs and boats on residential streets, further adding to the higher demand.
Parking spaces are a great way to generate additional rental income on otherwise unused areas of a parcel. They require little groundwork and often do not even have to be paved, so they are relatively inexpensive to develop as part of your site. While they may require a larger lot to accommodate the additional parking areas, they can be an excellent addition to your self-storage development project.
Here in CT, I find that many of our RV customers are not as seasonal as I thought they would be going in. Many customers keep their spaces year-round, even if they take their RV out for a month or more at a time because it is easier to keep it! They get attached to "their" spot! And it helps that our parking areas are extra wide so backing in large 5th wheels and RVs is easy.
Do some competition shopping in your area. What do other facilities offer? One local competitor to me charges a bit less, but you have to make an appointment to get your RV as they are all double or triple-parked in a field. What a hassle! Like any part of your development and site plan, research and planning is key- and we can help with that!
Do you want to have a 15-minute call to learn how Storage Authority helps improve the systems, sales, marketing, and profits at your existing facility? If you are building from the ground up let's also review how we help you find land and get your facility designed, approved, and built. Please send me an email or call me – no appointment is needed.
Josh Parker is VP of Technology and Development at Storage Authority. A tech guru with a background in large facility operations and team leadership, Josh is passionate about helping individuals and teams achieve success! He can be reached at josh@storageauthority.com, by phone at (203) 213-7438, and can also often be seen visiting local coffee shops across Central Connecticut.
If you want to learn more about Storage Authority Franchise Opportunities, you can request a call here www.storageauthorityfranchise.com/opportunity4
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