I was once asked: Are automatic gates an investment? My answer was very simple: The right gate with the correct automation adds greater value to a property every time!

Why? was the reply. Well it has been proven that properties sell for between 5 and 15% more, subject to location, when they are protected by a reliable and attractive automatic gate system.

Obvious examples are apparent with developers and more and more homeowners choosing to add automatic gates to their properties. Buyers want the benefits gate automation has to offer and are willing to pay.

So why do automatic gates become an investment? The job they do has an important role to play in the lives of people today. With safety paramount, having control of access into or out of one’s property, together with many other benefits, has become a very attractive feature when selling your home. Like for like properties in the same road will attract a greater difference in ‘sale value’ than the original gate system investment.

How then do they become an investment? A correctly designed and installed system will: Stop children running out into the road, keep pets from causing accidents or running off, provide traffic calming and pest control. They will make the property look smarter, provide security and act as a deterrent. They could save money on insurance, prevent vandalism and unwanted visitors. The list goes on and the main reason for purchase has to be considered and catered for within the original systems design and build.

Automatic gate installations and their design have to be unique to each property, so that it fulfils the requirements of both the customer and users as best it can, within its location and environment. Only accurate experienced advice on the design and build will fully maximise the return on the investment made and shortfalls will cost dearly in the long run.

Maintenance and service is equally as important and on going system support essential to maintain the correct level of reliability, function and safe use of every installation. With this in mind all the foundations and services as well as the gate, support and automatic control system, need to be serviced and maintainable with access to spare parts assured.

Every day someone makes money from a good investment!