Austin’s soaring summer temperatures have everyone reaching for bathing suits and sunscreen for a refreshing dip in the pool. But in the desire to cool off and get away from Central Texas’s heat and humidity, people often forget about water safety. This puts the pressure on HOA Boards and Community Managers to discourage dangerous behavior, keep residents safe, and make sure the pool continues to be an asset to the community. Luckily, there are some ways you can encourage good behavior and water safety at the community pool.
Create Comprehensive Rules
It’s important to have rules that are thorough and cover everything. Think of what people do around a community pool and what could cause problems for your tenants. It’s recommended to have rules about guests, children, swimwear, diving, smoking, playing music, pool toys, and even food/drinks around the pool. Some smart rules you’ll want to start with include:
- No diving.
- No pushing.
- No swimming while under the influence.
- No glass bottles in the pool area.
- No music played without headphones.
- No swimming during rain or thunderstorms.
Educate Residents on the Rules
There’s no such thing as overeducating your tenants on the rules you’ve created, especially when it comes to water safety. Post them around the pool, send out reminder emails/newsletters, include them on the community website, and brief new residents when signing lease agreements.
Consider Hiring a Pool Monitor
If you’re nervous about opening the pool or have received a spike in complaints, you may want to think about hiring a pool monitor that can make sure residents are following the rules you’ve put in place. If you don’t have a pool monitor or lifeguard, be sure to have signs that say “no lifeguard on duty.”
Enforce the Rules
Without enforcement, the rules hold no value, so you’ll want to have a way to manage how the pool is used. Consider suspending pool access or other amenities if rules have been violated, especially if there’s any behavior going on that could put your tenants and others in danger.
If you need help coming up with comprehensive pool rules or help managing your property, contact Prism Realty Management. Learn about who we are, the services we offer, and our process, then give us a call at 512-676-5842.
