Thinking of Selling…Reduce Your Liability Now

By Dianne Conway

If your family has had the good fortunate of enjoying the hot summer months around a backyard pool, you’ll soon be making plans to winterize it. And if you’re thinking about selling your home in the spring before the pool is opened, this is not the time to make pool closing a do-it-yourself job — even if you’ve closed it successfully over the years. Consider this additional expense as a form of insurance.

By getting a third party to winterize the pool, you can potentially reduce your liability risks. This procedure, if not done correctly, could initiate an unwanted costly repair next spring. And with the proper paperwork on hand, you can alleviate additional costs down the road.

Before hiring a third party to close your pool, ensure they understand that you are planning on selling and get the details in writing when the work is done.

You’ll need:

• A receipt for the winterization service.
• Details of exactly what was done to complete the pool closure.
• Remarks on the condition of the pool at the time of the closure.
• All of the above written on company letterhead.
  

Store these papers in a safe place so you have them available when you’re ready to list your property. This will go a long way in making buyers feel more comfortable about purchasing your property with a swimming pool that they have not seen in operation.

Getting the paperwork complete at the time of the work is paramount. Potential buyers will want to see what was done. Recently, one family went to the expense of having their pool closed but neglected to get the necessary paperwork. When they went back to the pool company later, they were advised they would be charged to come out again, re-open the pool, and then to close it again properly — a costly proposition.

So, if you’re considering a move next year, be prepared. Have your pool closed professionally now — and get it in writing.

Dianne Conway is a Sales Representative with Sutton Group – Preferred Realty Inc., 181 Commissioners Road, West, London, Ontario. Phone: (519) 438-2222 Email: homes@dianneconway.com www.dianneconway.com