There’s nothing better than cooling off on a hot summer day in your back yard swimming pool. Swimming pools seem fun and safe most of the time, but the truth is that they can be very dangerous. In fact, a swimming pool along can cause your homeowners insurance rates to increase in some cases because of the added liability. Don’t feel like finding good insurance coverage will be impossible with a pool, you are always in control of the main aspects of your homeowners insurance. With a swimming pool, there is more of a liability risk on your property, so adjusting the liability coverage on your policy can make your rates adjust also.

Adjusting your liability rates can be a risky thing to do, so make sure any changes to your policy are fully researched and talked over with your insurance agent. If you make your liability coverage considerably lower and there is an accident in your swimming pool where you become sued, your liability will only cover the amount you changed it to. So before making any major changes to your policy, think about all the different scenarios that could happen, then make sure you will be properly covered in any situation.

Just having a swimming pool along can raise your liability risk, but there are also other things that can play a major factor when your insurance is priced out. Some things that insurance companies take into consideration when providing insurance for a swimming pool are:

• Above-ground vs. In-ground

• Fencing around the area

• Diving boards and slides

• Swimming pool location

• Locking gates around the area

All of those specific items are looked at when insuring a home with a pool. One main concern that may be looked at is the location and security of the pool. Can someone see the pool from the street? Is there a gate around the pool area so trust passers cannot enter? Someone walking by may see your swimming pool, then they might want a closer look. If that were to ever happen, the best thing to have is a locking door or gate so that no one can enter the area without supervision. That way you could avoid a potential accident by stopping people from getting in the pool when you are not around.

Every situation is different, and in some cases an added swimming pool to a home may not increase your insurance rates at all. It all depends on a lot of specific things like the type and location of the pool. The absolute best thing to do is contact your insurance agent to find out how a swimming pool will affect your homeowners insurance policy in general. If you don’t currently have an insurance agent and are still shopping around for an insurance company, you could ask the companies you are looking at if a swimming pool would affect your insurance.