They say you can’t judge a book by its cover, but in parking, I’m not sure that’s true. More often than not, what you see outside reflects what you’ll find inside. 

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If a garage looks bright and well-maintained as you drive by, it will likely feel clean, safe, and inviting once you pull in. But if it appears dark, run down, and poorly maintained, chances are the experience inside will match. 

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I’ll admit, feelings aren’t everything. But in a parking garage, they matter. If I’m by myself and pull into a garage that feels dark and unkempt, I’m not sticking around. 

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This is something my coworker Krista and I talk about often. We once visited a U.S. city to evaluate a few garages operated by the same company but owned by different property owners. The difference between them was striking. 

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One garage had cracked floors, poor lighting, visible dirt, and graffiti. The other was bright, clean, and well-maintained, to the point where we joked you could eat off the floor. 

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When garages share an operator but show different levels of care, the reasons are usually behind the scenes. On-site leadership, contract requirements, maintenance budgets, and day-to-day involvement from the property manager all play a role. And those behind-the-scenes decisions show up in ways customers immediately notice, like lighting, cleanliness, visibility, and overall upkeep. 

 

That experience reinforced something simple but important: appearance plays a major role in how safe a space feels. If the garage is well kept, it signals oversight and care. If not, it creates uncertainty and that’s when it starts to feel unsafe. 

 

To be fair, it doesn’t always go one way. Sometimes a garage looks great from the outside but tells a different story once you pull in. A fresh coat of paint can only go so far if the interior doesn’t match. 

 

So here’s my message to operators and property managers: if you have a garage in a prime location that’s underperforming, ask a simple question. Does it feel safe? 

 

Do a walkthrough at night with a colleague and pay attention to the moments you feel hesitant. If you were alone, would you feel comfortable parking there and walking to the stairs or elevator? If the answer is no, that’s your sign it’s time to act. 

 

Improving lighting, maintaining cleanliness, and prioritizing the overall feel of the space aren’t just cosmetic upgrades. They directly impact how customers experience your facility and ultimately, your bottom line. 

 

Because in parking, whether we like it or not, people often do judge a book by its cover.