When it comes to towing in multifamily communities, nobody wins — except the tow companies. For everyone else, there's zero upside. Residents are aggravated waiting for cars to be towed from their designated spots. Drivers who are towed are obviously upset. Management teams face anger and pressure from both sides. So, how do owners and operators change the game? By fixing parking and managing expectations, and ultimately improving the resident experience and net operating income.

Communities that implement an automated parking solution see an approximate 31% drop in average incidences year-over-year, according to data analyzed by Zark Parking Solutions. When tows are significantly reduced, the wins go to the other side of the equation. The goal is to establish a structure with parking and make residents acutely aware of expectations. With a clear understanding of how parking functions in a community, residents will become more respectful and incidences drop off. Less conflict provides property managers to shift their focus on opportunities that are more accretive to the property. 

Two out of the 10 top amenities that are important to residents are parking-related, according to the 2024 Renter Preferences Survey by NMHC & Grace Hill. Given its importance among residents, parking is an area that can be fixed without a large expense. Working incrementally over time to solve parking problems via an automated parking solution will increase satisfaction across the board and lower marketing spend.

With more supply coming through the multifamily pipeline, renewals are more important than ever. An automated parking solution comes with very little investment for owners and subsequently leads to greater net operating income. An automated parking solution takes all of these issues off the plates of teams and the minds of residents.

A 2023 report from Zark Parking Solutions, which was conducted on their clients' properties across the United States, revealed that a significantly small number of individuals who repeatedly break the rules are actually responsible for the majority of towing incidents. The data suggests that the root of the problem is not due to innocent mistakes, but rather the disregard of rules by individuals. 

This seems to indicate that parking issues might not be a property-wide issue as some think, and reasonable adjustments can be made easily and affordably. Without action, however, these violations can produce a trickle-down effect. While a property only has parking problems, this can lead to reputation damage and frustration among onsite teams, ultimately costing a company more money. By managing those few individuals, we can make the living experience better for the majority.

Owners and operators can throw this problem in reverse by implementing a parking management solution and setting clear expectations. Address that problem and the result is a lot more happy people. Except for the tow companies, of course.