Los Angeles Real Estate Blog: Is a pool safe for families with children?

Phyllis' LA Real Estate Blog

Is a pool safe for families with children?

When George and I put our pool in, our daughters were about six and seven. And although, they knew how to swim we were still apprehensive. The pool wasn’t gated so we installed door alarms to our exterior doors, but each time anyone forgot and set off the alarm, our female German shepherd would tremble. After the vet put her on a dog’s version of Prozac I decided it was safer to remove the alarms then to have that big (sweet) dog come unglued.

For those concerned about pool safety, there are portable fences, and pool alarms that sound when additional weight is in the pool At our home we decided we would make a few rules:

*No one was allowed to walk near the pool without an adult present
*No one was allowed in the yard without a partner and the portable phone
*We also kept a paddle board near the pool, in the event someone fell in and needed help

I work with a lot of home buyers who are nervous about a pool and I tell them that our family derived so much pleasure out of our pool. We had countless swim parties, slumber parties and summer barbecues. In my experience, children need to be watched non-stop, pool or not. And once they get older pool safety is less of a concern (although we still require a pool buddy).

Pool or not? If you can afford one, I recommend it.