With the weather quickly heating up people are avidly looking to make a splash in a pool. This time of year, creates a unique opportunity for real estate. Specifically real estate that encompasses a pool.  

How a pool can affect a property 

When selling a home with a pool in the Pacific Northwest, we know that timing is everything. It’s best to showcase the property when its standout features shine the most. Therefore, listing a home with a pool in late spring or summer when everyone is dreaming of cooling off with a dip in the pool can be ideal. These warmer months make the pool inviting, attracting potential buyers who can envision themselves enjoying it on a hot summer day.  

Similarly, communities with amenities such as pools, gyms, and outdoor recreation areas tend to attract more buyers and renters this time of year. The allure of amenities is heightened often increasing both the demand and value in comparison to seasons with cooler weather. Especially when the pool is in tip top condition. However, a pool that has lacked maintenance can create the opposite effect. 

Cost of a pool  

We all know that pools can come with costs, maintenance, and responsibility year-round. Creating a safe, positive environment to relax and make memories is of the utmost importance and demands detailed planning, routine checks, and ongoing maintenance. While maintaining the pool yourself might save you money in the short term, it often comes at the cost of inadequate safety that could prove costly in the long run. This is precisely why Ben Basch, Business development executive with Ground Support Services in Brooklyn, NY, emphasizes the importance of collaboration with reliable pool professionals…suggesting that communities carefully weigh the financial benefits against the potential risks associated with insufficient expertise.  

Have you ever made plans to accomplish a task, but when the time came to follow through there was so much else going on that you put the task off? You can’t do that with a pool. Ben says, “There’s always something to do every month. You can’t wing it”. Putting tasks off leads to last-minute decisions and cutting corners that ultimately endangers the safety and functionality of the pool.  

Vendors  

Creating clear expectations and interviewing several vendors early on can help ensure optimal enjoyment within your budget. Your chosen vendors should have a clear outline of their responsibilities in conjunction with your financial agreement. Creating mutual accountability while ensuring a positive ongoing relationship. Since maintenance often takes time, it is important to communicate with vendors specific time frames that the pool can be closed for maintenance and times when it must be ready to enjoy. If the vendor arrives during a pool party, everyone will be disappointed, and it could be costly. Effectively communicating and managing your vendor is of the utmost importance. Crystal Gill with Arriel Pool Services in Colleyville Texas says, “Communicate with your members, and communicate with your vendors. Communicate when there are pool closures and when they will tentatively reopen. When everyone is on the same page and everyone knows what to expect, the pool season runs more smoothly.” Consider following up with regular follow-ups to cover what’s going right and areas that might need improvement. Create opportunities for open communication where your vendors can provide insight on potential challenges and improvement.  

Pool Safety 

While pools can be a ton of fun, they can also pose significant risk. One of the utmost important things you can do is implement Pool Safety Rules and Prevention Plans. Start by developing a clear barrier to pool access to prevent any unauthorized access and inspect it regularly. Demonstrate your commitment to safety by developing succinct pool rules and measures of enforcement. Post the rules around the pool where they can be clearly seen and followed.  Develop prevention plans in case of an emergency and review them regularly. Offer ongoing training and education opportunities around pool safety to staff and the community. Understanding pool safety and having clear and concise policies can significantly reduce risk.  

Let’s talk about pool rules 

Lifeguard credentials  

Some pools have lifeguards on duty while others choose a swim-at-your-own-risk approach. If you choose to have lifeguards on duty, it is of the utmost importance to ensure that the lifeguards are certified. Just as important, there needs to be enough certified lifeguards to cover the entire time the pool is open, and enough lifeguards on duty at any given time to cover the size of the pool.  

Swim-at-your-own-risk policies  

Alternatively, if you choose against on duty lifeguards you may go the route of Swim-at-your-own-risk. Taking this approach alleviates liability. Instead, this approach puts responsibility on the individuals choosing to use the pool, reducing the association’s liability. To operate as a swim-at-you-own-risk pool, you must clearly post the policy and ensure that residents and their guests understand the risk they are taking by participating in using the pool.  

Behavior focused rules  

To avoid any fair housing law violations, make sure your rules/policies and developed around behaviors and not personal characteristics. Instead of posing an age requirement for using the pool, focus on crafting rules like no running on the pool deck, no diving, no glass.  

Consider adopting these rules when drafting your own: 

• Must wear proper swim attire. 

• No glass,  alcohol, smoking or vaping.

• Keep electrical devices away from the pool

• No swimming during inclement weather. If lightning is occurring within a 10-mile radius, the pool will be closed.  

• What you bring in, you must take back out. Help keep our pool clean.   

Proactive enforcement mechanisms  

If a rule is broken, how will it be handled? What are the consequences and how will they be enforced? Prepare the answer in advance. Train staff so that it handled quickly and consistently.  

Consider and post pool closures  

It is important to schedule and announce pool closures. Whether it be for regular hours of operation, scheduled maintenance or possibly for budgeting purposes it is important to have closures posted so residence and their guests can plan accordingly and stay on positive terms. Regular operating hours and maintenance can seem straight forwards, but you might be wondering how can closures affect budgeting? Pool maintenance alone can be a significant cost, but keeping a pool warm can be even larger especially during the cooler months. It may behoove you to consider pool usage in comparison to the costs of heating the pool and closing it for a specific period to keep within budget.  

We hope that you have found this information useful. Perhaps having your community managed for you looks a bit more appealing, if this is the case, we have the HOA Community association for you. Maybe your looking to buy or sell a home with a pool? Connect with us here.