In those areas where humans congregate closely together, parking lots are not just a convenience. They are big business that provides an essential service to millions of people and their vehicles. Many people own and operate parking lots as a sort of an afterthought to their main business. They may be letting a lot of dollars walk out the door by taking such a casual attitude towards a valuable resource.
Parking lot consultants have made a science out of parking lot management. They have a nationwide database of how other lot operators are managing their properties. They know what other lots in the area are charging, and what level of security and service is demanded by their customers.
This data is essential in properly managing a parking lot. As an example, every lot has a sweet spot so far as pricing is concerned. Charge too much and you lose customers to cheaper lots, but you might make enough off of each remaining one to justify the hike. Charge too little and your lot is always packed, but increased usage leads to increased maintenance costs as well. You might be better off driving away some of your patrons with a raise in prices.
The whole idea is to operate your lot so that it benefits you as much as it helps out the average guy looking for a place to leave his car for a while. Somewhere in the middle is a service level that makes everyone happy.
For more information on how you can maximize your parking resources, contact Parking Advisors Inc.
