parking how important is it to have parking in a garage ?

Question

I am in the process of selling what was a monthly rental and doing a 1031 into a new build which of course has attached garage etc. How important is it to have parking in the garage compared to just keeping the garage locked off and they park in the drive way or on the street. there is no HOA and street is super wide driveway will hold 3 to 4 cars no problem as there is really wide side yard that will have compacted gravel.. this area gets some snow.. but it is at 6k feet so its cold in the winter and like the mountain west can be 90 to 95 in summer .. I think about the STR I have rented.. For me I cant think of one of them that had garage parking .. And my kids have a townhouse at the Brian head they just bought 7 figure and there is no indoor parking there as well and its at 10k feet and will be snow bound all winter..

@johnunderwood

Lauren Kormylo · Answer

As others say, not important. I wouldn't allow STR guests to park in a garage anyway, too much risk that they bump the wall or damage the garage door, vehicle wouldn't fit, etc. Only for a long-term tenant would I allow them to use a garage.

Michael Baum · Answer

I would agree that it isn't as important as other amenities.

But, I do get asked a few times a year about putting bikes in the garage and parking as well. I tell them it is full of stuff for the house and that is the end of it. Never had a complaint or bad review.

We sit on the Trail of the Coeur d'Alene's bike trail. Runs right along the lake in front of our beach. It is 72 miles end to end. We get a lot of folks who come to bike (and rollerskate) the trail and they often ask about the safekeeping of their bikes.

I am looking for a commercial grade bike rack so folks can lock them up even though there is zero chance of anyone grabbing one.

Matthew Tregoning · Answer

The driveway sounds sufficient, but I would photograph the exact parking layout and explain the winter plan. At 6,000 feet, guests will care more about whether the drive is plowed, where snow gets piled, and whether they can turn around without backing into the road than whether the car sits indoors. If the garage stays locked, make that clear before booking so nobody arrives expecting access.

Mike Grudzien · Answer

Not important. My STR garage is storage. Plenty of drive and driveway parking.

Collin Hays · Answer

Not important.

JD Martin · Answer

Not important at all; in fact we reserved the garage for our own use. Guests damage the doors, lose the openers, leak oil on the floor, forget to close the door, etc.

Lotably Team · Answer

For most rentals I'd say the garage matters less than a big driveway, and yours already fits 3 to 4 cars. A few practical tips. Put the gravel pad on a proper base with edging so it doesn't turn to mud or spread into the yard, and think about where plowed snow will pile up, since it can eat two spots. If you keep the garage locked, use it for owner storage, a snow blower and the bins, which also protects you from guests bumping a wall or leaving things behind. Write the parking rule in the house manual: how many vehicles, where they go, nothing blocking the road or neighbors, and no trailers or RVs unless you approve them. For a monthly rental, a garage can justify some extra rent in a cold climate, so before deciding, look at nearby listings and compare what they charge with and without a garage.

Matthew Tregoning · Answer

Michael, those bike-storage questions are useful listing feedback. Once you settle on a setup, show it in the photos and explain whether it’s covered, shared and somewhere guests can attach their own locks. With that trail next door, it deserves more than a line in the house manual. Part of managing a listing is turning the questions you keep answering into information guests can find before booking.

Akash Kakumani · Answer

I would just check your comparables! Most markets I've seen don't care about garages - but it really depends on what your competitors are doing.

Do the ones with garage parking do better than the ones without?

But yeah I'd be VERY surprised if garage access is correlated positively with income - especially when you're saying street parking is already available.

Bradley Buxton · Answer

@Jay Hinrichs What are the rental rates and vacancy for homes with garages. Where I live here in Tahoe a garage is a premium. Not just to park out of the snow in the winter so you can just drive to get somewhere and second to store outdoor gear (skis, bikes, sleds, workshop). For an STR in Tahoe the garage does add value especially for guests that drive up and have never had to clean snow off the car. What is the trade off of giving access vs what value you get from keeping it locked off?

parking how important is it to have parking in a garage ?

parking how important is it to have parking in a garage ?

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