Summer will be here before we know it, and dare we say, after this winter, we have never been more ready.
If you want to rule pool season, make sure you’re up-to-date on your community’s rules, including starting with the basics: access.
Do You Know How To Access Your Community Pool?
Floaties, noodles, goggles… all important. But your most important poolside accessory this season is access.
The fastest way to receive access is to log in to your portal or request access to your community’s amenities with the online form. It’s quick and easy-to-do: Just click on ‘Pool Access’.
New to the Neighborhood?
If you’re a new resident and haven’t received pool access, please remember it can take up to three weeks for Sentry management to receive your closing information (we have no control over this process). But we are super speedy at turning around your information once we are notified.
If you’ve got your access card (FOB or key), do yourself a favor and take it for a little ‘test swim’.
Just like a hotel key, cards can get deactivated by other electronics. Trust us — nothing ruins poolside vibes faster than being ‘sunscreened’, towel in hand, mentally on vacation for the day… and locked out at the gate.
Save yourself the dramatic slow turn back to the house.
Need to Pay to Play?
Another reason your key may not work is if your HOA dues have not been paid. It can take up to 48 hours for a payment to process – log into your portal to make sure you’re all caught up.
Keep the Cool in the Pool
Every community does things a little differently, and rules can vary depending on the pool management company — so it’s worth a quick refresher before you make your grand entrance.
Safety always comes first — even when cannonball season is in full swing. Be kind to your neighbors, brush up on your community’s pool rules (age limits and supervision requirements), and maybe double-check that your floaty game isn’t too legendary for the deep end.
And one more big, bold, capital-letter reminder: NO GLASS. Ever. At. The. Pool.
If glass breaks, it’s not just an “oops.” The pool has to close, drain, and basically take an unexpected vacation. It’s expensive, time-consuming, and nobody wants to be the one to explain to the neighborhood gang holding pool noodles and popsicles why the water disappeared.
If you’ve got small fish, please make sure they’re potty-trained or wearing a proper swim diaper — and keep those eyes up and phones down. Things can happen in the blink of an eye, and most community pools do not have a lifeguard on duty.
Finally, a friendly reminder: Sentry doesn’t manage the pool. Your volunteer board typically partners directly with a pool company for logistics and cleaning, etc. Now go forth and float responsibly!
