Chris Hounchell REALTOR

Welcome Home!

Award-winning Florida real estate Broker PROUDLY SELLING IN PINELLAS, HILLSBOROUGH, PASCO, MANATEE & SARASOTA COUNTIES since 2004.

5 Things Not Included in the Home Inspection

By

There’s so much more to buying a house than touring property after property until you find “The One”. Once you find the house that’s meant to be your home, you’ll need to make an offer, sign an agreement of sale, and go through the mortgage process. While some lenders and certain types of loans require a home inspection and others don’t, we always recommend Buyers to obtain a home inspection prior to closing. Most agreements of sale contain a home inspection contingency clause that allow for the contract to be voided if the inspection reports a serious defect in the property that Seller and Buyer can’t come to an agreement on repairing.

5 Things Not Included In the Home Inspection

(via Google Images under creative commons)

The home inspection is fairly comprehensive. We urge our Buyers to attend the home inspection to learn more about the inner-workings of the property and its systems. For all the thoroughness the inspector puts into each individual property, there are things not included in the home inspection. That doesn’t make these items less important nor should the exclusion of these items mean you should inspect them yourself (or by a trained professional). Below are five things not included in the home inspection that you should inspect yourself.

  1. Appliances. After-market appliances are not included in home inspections but should be tested for their working order by the Buyers. You don’t want to find out that your dryer’s timer no longer works or the refrigerator doesn’t cool as it should. Simple tests such as running the appliances during the home inspection, which can take a few hours, can be the easiest way to check the status of the items in question. Talk with your Realtor before the home inspection and coordinate with the Seller, don’t just show up with a bag of dirty laundry!
  2. Swimming pools and hot tubs. These are two popular items in Florida homes but they’re not included in a standard home inspection. Some home inspectors will offer an add-on inspection for an additional while others will recommend you contact a licensed pool contractor. Which ever avenue you decide to take, be sure that the systems are functioning properly, the concrete in and around the pool or the pool liner and other structures are in good condition. Again, an inspection is a good time to learn home to use the pool or hot tub systems.
  3. Sprinkler systems. Your soon-to-be new home may have beautiful landscaping thanks in part to a sprinkler system. Even if this was installed by the home’s builder, the home inspector still won’t include it in his or her report. Your Realtor can talk with the Seller’s agent about existing servicing agreements for the system that may include a transfer inspection or can help you locate a licensed and experienced landscaper who can inspect the system.
  4. Environmental hazards. The term “environmental hazards” can seem terrifying but the likelihood of Buyers having to combat these issues are low; however that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t investigate a property you intend to live in. The most common concerns are radon, lead, asbestos, and mold. All of the tests for these issues are easy to perform. The inspectors can vary from your home inspector performing them in conjunction with the traditional home inspection to hiring a specialized inspector. If the results don’t meet the threshold of safety as designated by the EPA or local laws, the issue can be mitigated usually at the Seller’s expense.
  5. Electronic systems. Did that full-home stereo system seal the deal for you? Or does the house have a state-of-the-art security system? That’s awesome but your home inspector isn’t going to checking these things. It’s best to hire an electrician, experienced professional, or the servicing company to inspect the system in question.

It may seem like your home inspector is overlooking a large portion of your potential new home, the truth is he or she is concerned with the guts of the house. All of these items are considered the “bells and whistles” and while you don’t need them to make a house, it certainly makes for a more comfortable home. It’s also best to spend a small amount of money for an inspection ahead of time to avoid spending a large amount of money in repairs shortly after buying. You may not need all of these items inspected either, if the Seller has a current servicing contract or warranty, you and your Realtor should investigate if it can be transferred to you as the new home owner.

Treasure Island Old Florida Beach Town

By Leave a Comment

One of our favorite neighborhoods is Treasure Island, it’s a mixture of “old Florida” and contemporary living. It boasts areas steeped in history, miles of white sandy Gulf of Mexico beaches, and access to all of the amenities that make this area part of Florida’s premier west coast.

Sandwiched between Madeira Beach to the north and St. Petersburg Beach to the south, Treasure Island is the epitome of a small Florida beach town that attracts visitors from both the U.S. and abroad. In addition to beaches, Treasure Island has great restaurants and bars, unique shops, and water sports & fishing.  In addition to it’s tourist attractions, it’s also a very desirable town in which to live, retire or lay down roots and raise a family.

Original residents date back to around 300 A.D., when the Timucan Indians called what is now Treasure Island their home. In the 1600s, Europeans started arriving, established a fishing industry and began harvesting turtles. Their influence is still evident. In 1848, what was called the “Great Gale” created John’s Pass on Treasure Island’s north end, creating two smaller islands, the Isle of Palms and Capri Isle, both interesting and attractive beach communities.

Treasure Island Florida

Treasure Island’s White Sandy Beaches

At the beginning of the 20th Century, the St. Petersburg-Tampa area experienced a real estate boom, and new residents and visitors were quickly drawn to our area’s fabulous Gulf beaches. (Eventually, included among them was the legendary Babe Ruth who maintained a beachfront home.) No bridges to Treasure Island existed at the time, so ferry service shuttled visitors back and forth to the mainland until the first bridge was completed in 1939. Following World War II, homes and hotels began springing up, and the City of Treasure Island was incorporated in 1955.

As to the name “Treasure Island,” it was a 1915-marketing ploy created by early property owners seeking to boost sales by burying and then “discovering” a few wooden chests supposedly filled with treasure. It worked.

Sure, the days of buying an acre of land for $1.25, as you could in the early 1900s, are long gone, but home prices remain attractive and value continues to be strong. Many homes dating back to the 1950s have been renovated over the years and blend well with newer construction. If you’re looking for a Florida beach town that combines history, charm, all the necessary conveniences and proximity to best of the St. Petersburg-Tampa area, consider Treasure Island where you can still discover a laid back Florida lifestyle.

Editor’s note: This post was originally published July 2012. It has since been edited for updated information and cohesiveness. 

Fourth of July Safety Tips

By

Fourth of July celebrations feature all the best that summer has to offer: grilling, outdoor activities, and fireworks. With any activity, there are simple and common sense safety tips that will keep you and your family safe and able to enjoy a fun Independence Day.

Grilling

If you’re planning on a simple meal of hamburgers & hot dogs or going all out with smoked rib, you need to keep an eye on your grill at all times. Children and pets should be kept away from a hot grill; keep in mind the grill can be hot for hours after the flame goes out. You should never grill inside a house, camper, or tent and should keep the grill at least ten feet away from your house, trees, and bushes. To prevent burns, you should use long utensils and oven mitts. Finally, use a meat thermometer to make sure your food reaches the correct temperatures before serving.

Outdoor Activities

The sun, the sand, the water…what’s not to love about Tampa Bay in the summertime? No matter what you choose to do outside, you should always practice good skin care and wear a broad-spectrum SPF sunblock. Sunburn isn’t the only thing you need to worry about either; heat injuries such as heat exhaustion and life-threatening heat stroke. Staying hydrated, keeping to the shade, and taking numerous breaks during your activities are good practices to keep you safe in the high humidity and temperatures.

If you’ll be swimming, we recommend you follow our water safety tips. Rip currents are of particular concern for beach swimmers. If you find yourself caught in a rip current, experts say you should not swim against the current to get back to the beach; instead you should swim parallel to the shore until the current weakens and then attempt to swim to the beach.

You should also be mindful of the presence of wildlife and respect their habitats. Always give wildlife a wide berth if you encounter them. Staying to marked trails and away from overgrowth will help prevent any unexpected run-ins with wild animals and keep you from coming into contact with less than desirable plants like poison ivy, sumac, and oak. Using a bug spray with DEET in it will help repel bugs and insects. Once you come inside from a day out, you should always check your body thoroughly for ticks.

Fourth of July Safety Tips

Fireworks

What would the Fourth of July be without any fireworks? While they’re synonymous with the holiday, most fireworks are actually illegal for individuals to own. Fireworks that fall under the “sparkler” category are legal for individual use these include sparklers, fountains, snakes, and glow worms. The Florida Fire Marshal publishes a list of approved fireworks every year. Those retail outlets that do sell fireworks that do not fall under this category will most likely ask you to sign a waiver. If you’re found to be using banned fireworks you could face a $1,000 fine.

When using fireworks be sure that age-appropriate children are thoroughly supervised and small children do not have access to the fireworks, used or unused. A water source should always be nearby to douse used fireworks and help prevent a fire from breaking out. Fireworks should never be pointed or thrown at another person and should be used in an open space.

There you have it! Some easy and common sense Fourth of July safety tips that will let you and your family enjoy the holiday and avoid any major mishaps.

Three Things You Should Do Before You Move

By

Congratulations! You’ve found your next home and you’re just waiting for the closing date to arrive but what do you do in the meantime. In the past, we’ve talked you through the moving timeline and given you suggestions on what to do along the way. Today, we have three things you should do before you move that don’t necessarily fall along the timeline. Do one or all three before you sign the deed to the next owners and thank us later.

Keep, Sell, Donate

It sounds like a cheesy game show doesn’t it? As soon as you find that next house, or maybe even before, you should start doing an inventory of your belongings and decide which you will keep, which you will sell, and which you will donate. It can be difficult to part with things but if you haven’t used it in more than six months and it doesn’t hold significant sentimental value you should consider getting rid of it. Items like clothing that are still in good condition can be tedious to sell so consider donating it to a local charity; most will schedule a pickup right at your home and provide you with a receipt to use for a tax write-off at the end of the year. If you’re making a large move, consider donating your canned and boxed goods to a food pantry to save on your weight charges with the moving company. Larger items like exercise equipment, televisions, stereo systems, and larger children’s toys all have good resale value. You can find local resale groups on Facebook or list online, through your local newspaper, or host a yard sale. Not only will you not bring dust collecting junk to your new home but you can also make a few dollars to help off-set moving costs.

Say “Good-Bye” to the Neighbors

If you’ve developed any kind of relationship with your neighbors you should make an effort to say “good-bye” to them before the moving truck backs into your driveway. It can be as simple as a quick handshake and a “thanks for being a good neighbor” to a beers & barbecue in the backyard. If you’re good friends, take some pictures, give them your new address, and try to keep in touch. If you have kids, encourage them to do the same to help lessen any upset they may be experiencing from the move.

Three Things You Should Do Before You Move

Take Nostalgia With You

Are you one of those families that has tick marks on the door frame for each kid through the years? It can be difficult to part with a solid piece of memorabilia. But maybe you don’t have to. If you’re handy enough, remove the the piece of molding with the tick marks and take it with you. Obviously be sure to replace it with a matching, painted piece before you move out. If you have a favorite tree or rose bush, consider taking a few small cuttings and transplanting them to your new home. If that’s not an option, taking a picture will always help preserve the memories.

 

6 Campgrounds in Tampa Bay

By

Summer is here, folks, and with it all the joys that season has to offer. Many families plan to take at least one small vacation during the next three months. Florida gets a lot of hype about it’s beaches and amusement parks but there’s a simple and fun family vacation hiding out here. Campgrounds! Camping is the quintessential summer activity. Whether you want to go hardcore camping with nothing but your tent, a fire, and the stars or something more along the lines of “glamping”, there are campgrounds in Tampa Bay for you.

J.B. Starkey Wilderness Park Campground. 10500 Wilderness Park Blvd. New Port Richey, FL (727) 834-3247 | This is a tent-only campground part of a 18,000 acre water-management preserve. There are hiking and bike trails connected to the Suncoast Trail. Rates are $10 per night. Reservations are tricking as you need to make them in person but it allows local residents a better opportunity to enjoy the grounds.

E.G. Simmons Park. 2401 19th Ave NW Ruskin, FL (813) 671-7655 | The campground is located directly on Tampa Bay. Each of the 88 campsites is equipped with a fire ring, picnic table, and hookups. You can launch small boats from the canal that backs up to each site or access the public beach and boat launch. There is also fishing piers and shore fishing area. Rates are $24 per night with a discounted rate of $18 per night for senior citizens. No reservations are accepted, it’s first come, first serve and cash only.

Edward Medard Park. 6140 Turkey Creek Rd. Plant City, FL (813) 757-3802 | A smaller campground, there are only 44 campsites on this 1,284 acre park. Each site features hookups, picnic tables, and grills. The park has fishing, a boat launch, picnic areas, horse trails, a boardwalk connected to a small island with an observation tower. Rates are $24 per night with a discounted rate of $18 per night for senior citizens. No reservations are accepted and cash only.

6 Campgrounds in Tampa Bay

Alafia River State Park. County Road 39 S., Lithia, FL | Off-roader bicyclists will want to visit this park. It boasts 17 miles of bike trails varying in elevations. Hikers and equestrians will enjoy the 20 miles of trails available to them as well. The park features lakes and access to the river for kayaking and canoeing. Thirty campsites are available with hookups, picnic tables, and fire rings. Rates are $22 per night. Reservations are accepted by phone or online through ReserveAmerica.com

Myakka River State Park. 13208 State Road 72 Sarasota, FL 34241. (800) 326-3521 | This is one of Florida’s oldest and largest state parks. It features not one but two campgrounds, each with 76 campsites equipped with fire rings, hookups, and picnic tables. There are paved park roads and backwoods dirt roads for biking. Canoes and kayaks can be launched into a large lake or into the Myakka River. Reservations are accepted by phone or online through ReserveAmerica.com.

MacDill FamCamp. 10303 Marina Bay Dr. MacDill AFB, FL. (813) 840-6919/6920 | Located on MacDill AFB, this campground is open to both tents and RVs/Campers. The campground is open year round with 366 full service sites equipped with hookups, waste disposal, cable TV, and phone serve. There are also 14 partial hookup sites and 60 dry-camp sites. Visitors are able to enjoy the base beach, vollyball courts, picnic areas, horseshoe pits, pet friendly areas, and boat launch into the Tampa Bay. Reservations are required and rates vary. Use of the facilities is limited to active duty military members, retireed military members, Reserves members, National Guard members, 100% DAV military members, and DoD civilians.

 

Summer Events for Kids in Tampa Bay

By

The school year is quickly coming to a close and that may leave many parents scratching their heads for ideas to keep their kids engaged and entertained throughout the summer. Sure there are days that will be spent at the beach or the park or a national park but there are other days where weather may keep you indoors or you and the kids will want a change of pace. We have a list of summer events for kids in Tampa Bay that we’re sure your whole family will enjoy being a part of.

Summer Events For Kids in Tampa Bay

Library Programs

The Hillsborough County Public Library system and Pinellas Public Library Cooperative hosts an array of classes and events for kids as young as newborns all the way through their teen years. Events for the younger crowd include story time, baby and toddler yoga, Paws to Read, crafts, and science classes. For teens there are opportunities to learn to paint, play classic board games, computer classes, and even movies at the library. You can learn more by visiting the Hillsborough events calendar and the Pinellas events calendar.

Summer Movie Express

Regal Cinemas is hosting a summer movie experience for nine weeks throughout the summer. Each movie is only $1 per ticket and a portion of the proceeds goes towards the Will Rogers Institute. Movies are all kid-friendly and include Despicable Me 2, The Peanuts Movie, and Shaun the Sheep. You can find more information about movie offerings and theater locations here.

Glazer Museum

Rotating on a regular basis, the museum staff host daily experiences related to a science, math, literacy, or art topic. Programs range in age for toddlers to teens. You can find more information on the museum’s website.

College For Kids

Organized in conjunction with the Pinellas County School District, this program is a flexible summer camp style program. It’s open for children in kindergarten through eighth grade and features instruction on topics such as art, STEM, and literacy. Lunch is provided daily and the program also has the option of before and after care. Additional information can be found through the program’s website.

Family Fun Days with the Tampa Bay Rays

Every Sunday is Family Fun Day at Tropicana Field. Each game features a free parking for cars with four or more occupants, giveaways for fans under 14 years old, pregame entertainers, concourse activities during the games, and kids can run the bases after each game. For a current schedule of Family Fun Days visit the Tampa Bay Rays website.

Do you have a favorite activity or event to keep the kids busy? Let us know is comments!

5 Best Beaches in Tampa Bay

By

Nothing is more quintessential than hitting the sand and surf when you’re in Tampa Bay. Millions of people flock to Florida every year to enjoy the white sands and clear blue water and there are so many to choose from in the area. So how do you choose which one to visit? We’ve rounded up the five best beaches in Tampa Bay that offer something for everyone.

Clearwater Beach

If you’re looking for a lively, younger crowd with plenty of amenities and nearby attractions Clearwater Beach is for you. The beaches are meticulously cleaned and groomed and was voted “Best Florida Beach” by USA Today readers in 2013. Visitors can enjoy dolphin watching, charter activities, and fishing. Restaurants, night-clubs, and hotels are all conveniently located nearby. Pier 60 is home to the daily sunset celebration.

St. Pete Beach

This beach was voted “One of America’s Top 10 Best Beach Towns” in 2013 by Parents magazine. The beach features the white sands you’d expect at a Gulf Coast beach but it also has a myriad of amenities including restaurants, cabana rentals, and jet ski rentals. There is also nearby Corby Avenue which is home to many historic attractions.

Treasure Island

Want a quieter beach day? Treasure Island is your beach. Want a busy day of shopping and sunning? Treasure Island is your beach. The beach is wide and offers something for everyone. The Sunshine Beach and Sunset Beach areas are more secluded and quieter than other areas of the island. St. John’s Pass offers a variety of shopping and eatery options. Alcohol is also allowed on some parts of the beach but be sure to check which areas before you pack up your cooler.

Fort DeSoto Park

If you’re an outdoor enthusiast Fort DeSoto is for you. Not only is it a beach but you can also camp within the park. The beach is protected by a lagoon and sandbars which makes for calm waters, perfect for families with younger children. There are also biking and walking trails and fishing piers.

Caladesi Island Park

There is no other beach as postcard perfect as the beaches at Caladesi Island Park. The sand is powdery white and the water is that aquamarine color that people expect when visiting Florida beaches. There are few amenities here since the beach’s main purpose is as a nature sanctuary. The downside to this beach is that it is only accessible by boat but to bask in the beauty of the island, it’s a minor inconvenience.

What are your favorite Tampa Bay beaches? Tell us in comments.

Protect Your Home While on Vacation

By Leave a Comment

Memorial Day is less than a week away and the sizzling summer’s heat and humidity is closely lurking here on the west coast of Florida. If you’re like many of us, you’re planning a vacation, a much-needed break from the norm complete with a full-body and mind attitude adjustment.

Once you’ve set your budget, destination, time away and how to get there and back, take some time to protect what you’re leaving behind. Sure, vacation will be sensational, and you probably won’t want to come home. Yet, eventually you will, and you’re going to want to find your house and belongings intact or in at least the same condition as when you left. Anything less can really kill the great vacation buzz you’ll still be floating on.

Take time to protect your home and all the things in it that you hold dear. Whether you’ll be gone for a week or a month, the most important thing you can do while you’re gone is to make your house look lived in and active.

Protect Your Home While on Vacation

Consider taking care of some of the following to tighten your security and protect your home while on vacation:

  1. Schedule improvements. Vacation is a great time to have work, especially exterior work, done on your house, and the constant activity is a bonus. If you’re designing a new patio, maybe installing a pool, even redoing your landscape and irrigation plan, schedule it for while you’re away. It’s so much easier to come home to completed work, and not be under foot while everything is topsy-turvy. Plus, the activity discourages the bad guys.
  2. Exterior lights on motion sensors. Most people have at least one or two exterior lights around their homes. Motion sensors to turn lights on when someone, or thing, comes too close for comfort are likely to discourage intruders and are simple to install.
  3. Interior timers. These are great because you can place them throughout the house to turn lights on and off at specific times during the day and night. The only drawback is that if a savvy thief watches your house for a day or two, the schedule becomes obvious. If you have someone checking on the house, say, two or three times each week (make sure you trust this certain someone), ask them to move the timers around so there’s no clear pattern. Or, now available are apps for Smart Phones and tablets that you can use to turn lights on remotely, or even create a changing lighting schedule for the time you’re gone.
  4. Trusted friends. Ask a trusted friend or nearby family member to periodically check on your home while you’re on vacation. Their activity will deter anyone nefarious. A friend can also take in your mail and any deliveries you may receive.
  5. Hold your mail. Cascading mail out of your mailbox can be an “I’m out of town and the house is ripe for a rip-off” tip-off. If you don’t have a friend to help manage your house while you’re away, the easiest solution is to have your mail held. Check with the USPS to see how long they will hold mail. You can do the same with any newspapers you may receive. Be sure to have the publication credit your account for the copies you don’t receive.
  6. Security Systems. Security systems can be as simple or as complex as you liked; some systems even let you watch a live feed of your home from your cell phone. Having one installed can have multiple benefits including peace of mind on vacation and a discount on your home owner’s insurance.
  7. Say “no” to Facebook and Twitter. As much as you may want to tell the masses about all the fascinating events of your life, don’t broadcast to the world that your home will be empty or you may come home to a, well, empty home. Avoid “checking-in”, posting your travel dates and time, and upload photos once you return from vacation
  8. Hire a sitter. A house sitter is someone who will live in your home while you’re on vacation. Obviously, you’ll want to be extremely selective when it comes to turning your keys, your house and your belongings over to someone else, so take every precaution before making this decision. Whomever you choose to live in your house, be very clear about how you expect your home to be treated while you’re away and what responsibilities they are to handle (pet care, lawn maintenance, etc.). It’s best to lock up anything of high or irreplaceable value.

Above all, once you’ve buttoned up your home, start your vacation knowing you’ve done all you can to keep your home and belongings safe – so go have a great, memorable time. Summer is just around the corner!

Editor’s note: This post was originally published in May 2013. It has since been updated and edited for clarity and cohesiveness. 

 

 

How Long Should You Stay In Your First Home?

By

If you’re considering buying your first home, you’ve probably been advised to weigh the benefits of buying v. renting and evaluate your financial health before you start looking. There’s something else you should consider as a first time home buyer and that’s how long you should stay in your first home.

The Five Year Rule

The traditional advice for first time home buyers is to be prepared to stay in your first home for at least five years. The thought behind this advice is that it will take at least that long for your home to appreciate enough to recoup the money you put out for closing costs, both buying and then selling the home. The length of time for this rule may be extended depending on how much money you paid for a down payment and how much you’re paying towards your mortgage principal. The longer you stick with a mortgage, the more money your monthly payment will be applied to the actual principal instead of interest, which decreases your debt and increases the amount of profit you could gain.

Market Trends

If there’s something to be learned from the housing crisis that began in late 2008, it’s that the signs are there and market players need to pay attention to them. This is where having an experienced Realtor on your team benefits you. A Realtor can analyze the current market and help determine if there is room for appreciation or if the market has reached its peak. Obviously buying in a market that has a good chance of appreciation over the next few years makes for a better opportunity for a first time home buyer to see a return on their investment if they choose to sell in the future. It also may allow the first time buyer to move on from their first home faster if the value appreciates quickly.

How Long Should You Stay In Your First Home | HounchellRealEstate.com

First Time or Forever

Over the last two decades the thinking has been that first time home buyers purchase a “starter” home and graduate to a larger home as their salary increases, their families grow, and the value of their starter home appreciates. In our parents’ and grandparents’ generations, their first home purchase was often their forever home for several reasons. The first reason is one income was usually enough to afford a reasonable home for a young family to grow into. They also weren’t swamped in debt from student loans and credit cards freeing up more money for a down payment. The second reason is they didn’t buy the maximum amount of house they could afford. There is also the idea that bigger is better but that’s not always the case. Larger homes require more time and money to maintain; if the space is unused this is simply wasted money. First time home buyers may want to consider buying a home that will meet but not exceed their needs for years to come or consider holding off on a purchase until they are better able to afford a home that meets their forever home requirements.

First Time to Investment

Another option a first time buyer may want to consider is not parting ways with their first home purchase and instead turning it into a rental property. There are separate things to consider when deciding to become a landlord but if this scenario works well for your situation you could help recoup closing costs faster or actually see a profit each month from obtaining a tenant.

As you can see, there’s no set time frame for how long you should stay in your first home and it’s possible you may never part with your first home. We recommend that you consider your current needs, your anticipated future needs, and market trends to help decide your plan before ever making an offer on your first home.

Practice Water Safety

By

As temperatures heat up and summer quickly approaches, many people in the Tampa Bay area will be jumping into pools or taking a dip in the ocean. We’ve previously discussed how homeowners can develop good practices to keep their personal swimming pools safe but we’re going to expand on that topic and talk about staying safe in any body of water. May is National Water Safety Month. It should be everyone’s responsibility to practice water safety no matter their age or their location to the water.

Educate Yourself and Your Family

The American Red Cross recommends that all family members take the age appropriate swim lessons. Your family should have set rules and every family member should abide by them at all times. Swimmers should be aware of the location of safety devices and how to use them. Swimmers should also be aware of the general mechanics of the pool (drains, filters, water intake valves, electricity, etc.) and avoid swimming too close to anything that may entrap or otherwise injury them. If swimming in a natural body of water, swimmers need to be aware of water currents and the effect temperatures may have on a person.

Practice Water Safety | Hounchellrealestate.com

Stay Together

Swimming should never be a solitary activity, no matter the swimmer’s experience. Using the buddy system will provide a measure of safety should the swimmer experience an emergency. Children should never be expected to monitor another child’s swimming. To prevent unauthorized access to water, barriers, safety covers, alarms, and locks should be used at all times when pools and hot tubs are not in use. Children should not be allowed to explore areas with water without adult supervision.

Vehicles In the Water

Boaters and people operating other watercraft need to be just as mindful of rules and regulations as they would be driving a car. Operators should know how to safely pilot their vehicle and learn the best conditions under which to operate. It is important to have a way to contact the authorities should you need help and also be able to direct them to your location. Operators should also refrain from drinking alcohol before and while operating a watercraft. All occupants should wear a Coast Guard approved life jacket at all times.

Prepare For Emergencies

Whether you plan on enjoying your summer in your private swimming pool or head to one of the many beaches in the area, familiarize yourself with property emergency procedures. Know your exact location (address and easy to identify landmarks). The American Red Cross also recommends every person learns CPR/AED and proper first aid techniques.

We feel following these simple and easy to implement water safety practices will allow for you and your family to enjoy the water all summer long.