New site lets home owners charge drivers to park on their property
I never like when writers casually lob mentions of their personal vacations into stories, but here the shoe fits. And I will wear it.
Recently, I got a chance to visit Costa Rica – I know, big whup – and one day decided to explore. We drove off the main road, some seven miles back (do your own conversion!), to suss out a waterfall a local had tipped a member of our party to.
Now here, in the rural sticks along a pockmarked road stuck with rocks the size of volleyballs, was a house, sitting just by a dirt path that led to the tourist attraction du jour.
In the middle of nowhere, where the nearest store is a scooter ride away, what did we see? A sign, in English, directing us to “Pay inside for parking.”
Immediately I thought, “Wait, what?” Moments later, the light bulb went off. That is some business, I said to myself.
*Bing: Where is Canada’s most expensive city to park?
Indeed, if a home owner in the backwoods of a Costa Rican forest can capitalize on a driveway for parking, you wonder why we can’t do it more here. Well, make that why we haven’t done it more in the past.
Just launched in North America is a new site called Park At My House. The forum, originally popular in Europe, connects home owners with drivers looking for an alternative place to park their cars.
The inspiration for the site tells the story here: founder Anthony Eskinazi came up with the idea in 2006 after struggling to find parking near the ballpark of the San Francisco Giants. Noticing an empty driveway near the stadium, he thought it would be great to park there, if only there was a way.
Since, the company has more than 150,000 registered drivers worldwide, who connect with property owners that sign up for the site. If you’re a home owner, you put up a listing for day, week or monthly parking privileges on your property and get cash. If you’re a motorist, you find a cheap listing near work, a concert hall or arena and pay a rate to park about 50 to 70 per cent cheaper than meters or garages, according to Park At My House’s figures.
The site isn’t in Canada just yet, but Eskinazi tells MSN it will be by the end of the month. It won’t be just in big metropolis areas, either, rather any Canadian will be able to sign up and use.
By Jason Buckland, MSN Money
Posted by: B. Landry | Mar 16, 2022 5:56:47 PM
Our daughter was the first to leave home for a job in retail in Ottawa 7 years ago. At $24.00 per hour and 40 hours per week ++ she is happy and decided that she will not come back to SW Ont. to work for $12.00 per hour, no benefits and no chance for future promotion. Our son left for Calgary 6 years ago.. and his only beef is that they want him to work 7 days per week. (+$35.00 per hour plus overtime) great benefits, and great opportunities to advance. As much as he would love to come back to Ontario.. there is no sustainable work with great benefits to lure him back to Ontario. If I was 20 years old and looking at job opportunities in Ontario today, I would find it difficult to stay here as well.
Posted by: must see | Mar 17, 2022 9:07:04 PM
This is just crazy. I have decided that it time to share what the rich are hiding from everyone.
When do we get ours everyone is always asking. My answer...RIGHT NOW!
G00GLE the term " CASH TEACHER " and click the first site. Go right to the 'PENNY STOCK' page to see what the rich don't want you to know.
Take a minute to see this information and how much cash you will be entitled to. Our time for getting our share of the handouts is now.
Posted by: Al | Mar 26, 2021 2:41:44 PM
You'd think this was new! It's been happening around the Stampede and Edmonton Exhibition for years now. Wherever there is a need there is someone to take advantage of it!