First rental. short term leasing, Pool, AZ, questions.

[Dean Belcher]

Location is Tucson, AZ.

I am closing shortly with my first rental property. I'm looking for some info if possible. 

If you have a pool what do you recommend for liability reason other than posting rules?

I have seen people stating to apply for business licenses and others stating its not necessary so I'm unsure the proper course of action here as well.

This is an out of state property I'm buying so I assume I will have almost 100% 3rd party running/ managing it. Dose anyone have advise on apps or programs that can help me automate certain portions to streamline. I would like to have the ability to have some control vs paying someone else to take care of everything.

I have researched everything but answers never seem to be black or white. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Especially any local contacts that I could bounce some questions off of.

[Greg Scott]

I've owned two single family properties with pools.  Here is my short list of things to think about:

• Talk to your insurance carrier.  I'd get a healthy amount of liability insurance
• Most insurers will tell you to remove any slides or diving boards
• Make sure you have a proper fence so little ones can't get in
• The pool drain must have property anti-suction devices
• Operationally, I included pool maintenance / cleaning in the rent.  In the long-run you are more likely to protect your investment and you won't have to worry about the pool becoming a swamp.   I found I could charge a little more rent for having the pool service, but often not enough to cover the costs.  I just viewed it as another layer of property insurance.