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Thinking of Selling…Reduce Your
Liability Now
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. |
