Why install carports? There’s a shortage of RV & Boat Storage Businesses Nationwide

Owning a Solar Covered RV & Boat Storage Facility can be a year-round profitable business

There are two key factors to building a profitable Solar Covered RV & Boat Storage Business…

1. Number one : Partner with an experienced installation contractor who has built hundreds of solar and non-solar Covered RV & Boat Storage Businesses across the United States, and has been in the industry for more than 40 years.

2. Number two : Partner with an actual owner of a Solar Covered RV & Boat Storage Business. The value of choosing a veteran installer who is also an owner is the expertise they will provide during all phases of construction. They will help from preliminary development to the layout of the RV rental parking spaces and canopies to assure orientation of the PV’s [modules] will provide optimal performance and production.

There’s a growing demand for RV & boat storage nationwide and into Canada. With increases in new HOA developments come strict rules in recreational vehicle parking on those properties. New home construction developments have little to no side yard or backyard large enough for a shed, let alone an RV or boat.

Additionally, more towns and cities are discouraging recreational vehicle parking on streets and sides of homes. Some are even restricting parking altogether. As a result, there is a high demand for RV & boat storage businesses and a shortage of businesses supplying recreational vehicle parking. Adding to the demand is that homeowners are increasingly deciding to downsize, whether that is to a smaller house, condo or apartment [according to research from real estate site Trulia]. Theses downsizers are not willing nor wanting to sell or give up their recreational toys. They are keeping their RV’s, boats, jet skis, and toy haulers. Downsizing allows these people to sock money away for trips and storage cost. These people are your new clients.

Low operational cost and little maintenance

RV & boat storage facilities practically run themselves. An office manager and a part-time person, and a go-to-handy-person for minor facility maintenance and clean-up are literary all a storage business needs to run. With a covered solar RV & Boat storage business, there are no moving parts, except for the automated gate and a few rolling doors if the owner chooses to have full enclosure units. The storage business can also be a cashless and paperless business operation. A website can handle online monthly rental payments, round-the-clock access to the renters account balance and encourages paying ahead for those that rent year after year. Offering online tools gives the customer a greater sense of control over their rental experience.

• 24-hour video monitoring is your watchdog. No need for security personnel. Investing in advance security technology and features are worth the extra expense. People like the peace of mind and will pay a premium rate to have it.

• There is no need for a day or night gate attendant; a 24-hour access key fob allows clients to come and go.

The office manager is there mainly for customer convenience [and peace of mind]. Tenants like to interact and see a friendly face at the counter. He or she is there to answer questions, like how to winterize their RV or boat. They are there to give tours of the facility and its amenities and offer other services that the business may have as “extra” services; like motorhome wash, propane refill, and winterizing.

An RV & boat storage business costs less to build

Building a covered RV & boat storage facility costs less than building a self-storage unit facility because it’s built with steel. There are no individual enclosed spaces needing walls, doors, lights, and ventilation. Steel is the least expensive and most durable building material available. It gives design flexibility and is hazard resistant. Baja Construction uses steel for the RV carport structure’s entire mainframe; columns, beams, and purlins. Our pre-fabricated pre-galvanized steel structures reduce construction time, saving our customers money and time. Maintenance is minimal with steel and it can be customized to any color or texture to take on any desired appearance.

One significant, and lesser-known advantage to steel structures (often an afterthought) is the savings on insurance. Most insurance companies offer customers savings and rebates when steel structures are being built or have been built on the property. These structures are less likely to need structural repair; therefore, the lower the insurance rate will be. Steel is also sustainable and 100% recyclable. If you’re looking to attract investors, building with steel, is considered a sustainable construction build. Going “green” will help gain interest in the project and adding solar modules opens up even more dialogue with financial institutions, investors, and city and town building permit departments. 

RV & boat storage customer vs. self-storage customer

Customers of RV & boat storage are much different than self-storage customers. Big toys with big price tags need more than average incomes. These people are more likely to have disposable income. You most likely will never see an RV & Boat Covered Storage Business on TV auctioning off or for that matter battling over a left behind or forgotten RV or Boat. Your customer base has higher expectations. They are not likely going to skip town and leave their luxury motor coaches or cuddy cabin boat behind.

The average “motor coach” price tag is $100,000 [according to the Recreation Vehicle Association], and an average starting cost for a motorboat with outboard motors and no cabin, starts at $20,000. If the tenant doesn’t pay, a lien can be placed on the recreational vehicle and be sold per the state’s requirements. Vehicles must go through a foreclosure or eviction if there is a lease on them. Abandoned vehicles can be towed off the property. Leaving the customer to deal with the towing company to reclaim their vehicle.