A commercial garage can be a valuable asset for businesses, their clients, and the property itself. However, hiring a property management company is essential to ensure a positive user experience for everyone.
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To ensure that parking is orderly, efficient, and fair, it’s important to implement an effective parking control system. In this article, we outline common parking garage solutions along with their pros and cons.
Gated vs. Gateless Parking Garages for Commercial Buildings
Gated garages have a physical gate or barrier that blocks the entrance to the garage, and typically requires a key card, access code, or ticket to open the gate. This can be an effective way to control access and limit the number of vehicles in the garage. On the other hand, gateless garages have no physical barrier at the entrance and can be accessed without any authentication.
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Security
Generally, gated garages offer more security than gateless garages. The gate prevents unauthorized individuals from entering the garage, which can help reduce the risk of theft or vandalism. Gated and gateless garages can also both be equipped with security cameras and alarms to provide additional security measures.
Convenience
Gateless garages are generally more convenient for drivers because they do not require any authentication to enter or exit. Once the driver parks, they will usually need to seat up an account to park in that garage. Drivers can simply drive in and park without stopping to obtain a ticket or access code. In contrast, gated garages require drivers to have an access card or ticket ready to enter and exit the garage, which can be inconvenient for some users.
Cost
The cost is usually about the same between gateless and gated garages. For gated garages, you have to pay the cost of the physical gate, any maintenance associated, and software for access. For a gateless garage, you are also paying for the software required to scan license plates or dispense tickets for parking. Oftentimes, the personnel cost for gateless garages is high because someone has to physically go to the site to verify what cars are parked there.
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Maintenance
Gated garages require slightly more maintenance than gateless garages because the gate and access control system can become damaged or malfunction. But, software issues for gateless garages or internet issues can also create downtime and require expert repairs.
Additional Parking Control Options for Your Commercial Building’s Garage
Generating Revenue with Your Garage
If you have extra spaces that aren’t occupied by tenants, you may have the option to generate revenue from your empty spaces. Many commercial building garages require payment for parking, either through hourly rates or monthly leases. Implementing a payment system, such as a ticket dispenser or pay station, can help ensure that only paying customers or tenants use the garage.
Parking reservation systems
For buildings with limited parking spaces, a reservation system can help ensure that tenants or customers have guaranteed parking spots. This can be done through an online booking system or by assigning designated spaces to specific users.
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Parking management software
Technology can be a powerful tool for managing parking in commercial building garages. Parking management software can help track occupancy rates, monitor payment transactions, and provide data analytics to optimize parking usage.
License plate recognition
A popular option for parking control is license plate recognition technology. This allows vehicles to enter and exit the garage without requiring a ticket or payment, and instead tracks license plates and either grants access or charges the appropriate fees.
Parking attendants
One of the most traditional options for parking control is to have parking attendants on duty to monitor the garage, direct traffic, and ensure that parking rules are followed. While this can be effective, it can also be costly and may not be practical for all buildings. We typically only see this in medical garages or garages being used for special events.
As you can see, there are many parking control options for commercial building garages, each with its own pros and cons. By evaluating the needs of the building and its tenants or customers, building owners and managers can choose the best option to ensure that parking is efficient, organized, and fair.
AQUILA has a robust property management team with experts in various property issues. If you aren’t happy with your current property management firm, schedule a free consultation with our team today.
