I thought I would take a little time to introduce my readers to the growing trend of car sharing. Quite simply, car sharing is buying in to an annual membership with a service such as zip car or WeCar for a small annual fee and then having access to a car for a period of hours to one day. You locate the car you want on line, reserve it, and pick it up from whence it’s parked. The cost ranges from $7 an hour up to $4o a day. Insurance and gas are included and from what I can see the first 180 miles are included in the cost.
Why would this be appealing?
Frankly, for Realtors it’s probably not a huge tool as we, at least in the South, have fairly large geographic areas we work and need a vehicle on a moments notice. However, as regional public transportation continues to be a major investment for many cities, folks living with one or no cars is becoming more and more feasible. These services are designed to assist you if need to run to the dentist or run an errand during your lunch break and need a vehicle for a bit. Some of them offer access to cars nationally which means you you reserve cars when you travel. Studies have shown that folks who utilize ride share programs drive an average of 5500 miles less a year which obviously has environmental and financial benefits.
I plan to feature these services on my site and will certainly be making my client base aware of what is available in our area. It could also be a factor in helping your clients evaluate a neighborhood should they be interested in features such as walkability and easy access to public transit. You can now expand your community awareness to understanding viable ride share options that would be complimentary of a less vehiclecentric lifestyle.
