Ponte Vedra Beach

[JMMH]

Basically the main question you will be asked with a pool is what kind of shape (and budget) you want. Freeform (i.e. amoeba looking pool) or more linear. My wife and I differed on opinion, so the pool company we used drew up a new design that incorporated both, and we had input on various things. If you either build or buy a house without a pool and you put one in, I would make sure you have input on the design to make the pool your own.

I also agree you are way overestimating the alligator threat. The screen enclosure for me is to keep the bugs out. We also saw a snake in our backyard, so it's also to keep them out as well. We have had a few tiny frogs get through (attracted to the light at night), but they are harmless and easy enough to escort out the door.

Originally Posted by Robyn55

Just to clarify things - it isn't a choice between having a screen enclosure and doing nothing. Florida laws/building codes require owners to do something to insure the safety of their pools. I'm not familiar with the current options - but people building pools have to check them out.

Also - some older pools may be "grandfathered in" - but it is often difficult/impossible to get homeowners' insurance if your pool isn't secure.

Also - many insurance policies don't cover damage to things like pool enclosures (screens/fences/etc.) or similar. Something for homeowners to check out in their insurance policies. Robyn

One of the big questions when you have a pool is whether or not to enclose it with a screen, so yes it is a choice between screening it or not. Obviously one will have to insure that kids can't get into the pool regardless of the choice so if you don't screen you have to fence somehow.

My comment was because I was told by different people why they did or did not choose to get an enclosure. I decided to get one because of the bugs and reptiles, and I could not imagine the alternative. I also have a fence around my backyard to boot.

[snuffybear]

Thanks...screen sounds good to me.
I'd love to design the pool to make it a bit bigger...but I think financially it's good to buy house with pool already in (since it doesn't make the house cost more - even in FLA right?). So would want house with a pool already if possible. And the screen enclosure souinds good!

[SaintCabbage]

Originally Posted by snuffybear

Thanks...screen sounds good to me.
I'd love to design the pool to make it a bit bigger...but I think financially it's good to buy house with pool already in (since it doesn't make the house cost more - even in FLA right?). So would want house with a pool already if possible. And the screen enclosure souinds good!

Correct, building your own pool is flushing money down the drain, you wont get it back in your resale price.

[oldday]

We moved into Seaside Estate off of A1A. Seaside neighborhood should be change to "Duck Dynasty". Certain areas are full of rednecks and The American flag is adorned as window treatments. We have a few people leave their garbage cans on the side of the house with no lids and you can imagine the mess in yards. People don't respect the speed limit, they drive fast even-when the speed limit states 15 and 25 miles. Cigarettes butts and glass beer bottles are on the streets. At the community pool and tennis area young teenagers smoking cigs and pot. Every sentence has a curse word and they play the country music so loud.

My wife and her friend were walking down (Dog Street) by a house and a lady let her dog out the front door. The dog charged at them and bit my wife’s friend ankle. The lady did not apologize or asked if we were okay. She just cuddles Fluffy and asks Fluffy if he was alright. No one picks up their dog crap and neighbors leave their chained dogs out in the front yard barking, growling and lunging at every car, person and animal. Every morning there is a German Shepard name Greta in the front yard barking and disturbing everyone. You know how there is always one neighbor the community talks about well Greta is the talk around the hood. Many of the neighbors want others to make complaints to local animal control and HOA but they don't wants to confront the people. My wife and I stopped walking early in the morning and wait till they put the white Shepard in the garage for the day. We can still hear it barking in the garage but it’s not chained in the front yard but at night it will be back on the chain. It makes the neighborhood look like a show on “cops”. Funny thing, down the way a SUV with a k9 unit. You would think the cop would do something about this. Drinking buddies are tight. We are stuck here. The property value has dropped. Three houses from the chained up dog sold under market value. Think of Seaside Estate as a trailer park experience.

[williamwebb1986]

Originally Posted by oldday

We moved into Seaside Estate off of A1A. Seaside neighborhood should be change to "Duck Dynasty". Certain areas are full of rednecks and The American flag is adorned as window treatments. We have a few people leave their garbage cans on the side of the house with no lids and you can imagine the mess in yards. People don't respect the speed limit, they drive fast even-when the speed limit states 15 and 25 miles. Cigarettes butts and glass beer bottles are on the streets. At the community pool and tennis area young teenagers smoking cigs and pot. Every sentence has a curse word and they play the country music so loud.

My wife and her friend were walking down (Dog Street) by a house and a lady let her dog out the front door. The dog charged at them and bit my wife’s friend ankle. The lady did not apologize or asked if we were okay. She just cuddles Fluffy and asks Fluffy if he was alright. No one picks up their dog crap and neighbors leave their chained dogs out in the front yard barking, growling and lunging at every car, person and animal. Every morning there is a German Shepard name Greta in the front yard barking and disturbing everyone. You know how there is always one neighbor the community talks about well Greta is the talk around the hood. Many of the neighbors want others to make complaints to local animal control and HOA but they don't wants to confront the people. My wife and I stopped walking early in the morning and wait till they put the white Shepard in the garage for the day. We can still hear it barking in the garage but it’s not chained in the front yard but at night it will be back on the chain. It makes the neighborhood look like a show on “cops”. Funny thing, down the way a SUV with a k9 unit. You would think the cop would do something about this. Drinking buddies are tight. We are stuck here. The property value has dropped. Three houses from the chained up dog sold under market value. Think of Seaside Estate as a trailer park experience.

I guess that this is an example of what your failure to
pay 'due diligence' when buying a home is all about!

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by williamwebb1986

I guess that this is an example of what your failure to
pay 'due diligence' when buying a home is all about!

I'm not familiar with Seaside Estates (or the Seaside Estate area - or whatever it's called). But - if there's a HOA (there seems to be one) - the poster and his neighbors have a remedy. Run for the friggin' board - and turn the community into a place they want to live in. A HOA isn't a "they" - it's a "we".

Dogs are an issue *everywhere* (owners never believe that Fluffy is a nuisance). And the only way to deal with them in a HOA is to have strict rules - and to enforce them (note that the enforcement process means you have to show up and testify at hearings if you have a complaint).

Most of our dog owners pick up their dog poop (we have stands with "poop bags" throughout the community - which helps). Still... Like there's an old guy down the block who lives with his kids. He uses a walker - and we think he has dementia. We sometimes find him walking the dog in *our* back yard. So we tell his kids - and they come and fetch him.

FWIW - Florida is a strict liability state when it comes to dog bites. The person who was bitten by a dog can pursue a lawsuit if she cares to do so. Also - SJC has a leash law that HOAs can enforce.

As for "rednecks" living in the area and "American flags" - most people in most of the communities here are very patriotic. We fly American flags throughout our HOA on flag holidays. And allow public flag displays (subject to the limitations allowed by Florida statutes). We have people from the south who live here. OTOH - the only one on our block who really looks like someone from Duck Dynasty is a fairly young retired floor trader from New York City (he "went country" when he moved here - we figure he'll grow out of it at some point <LOL>). He's Jewish - and puts menorahs in his windows during Chanukah (as do I). Most important - he keeps his property looking nice (which is what most people here care about).

Regarding traffic - I think 15 MPH is a very low speed limit. But 25 mph (which is the speed limit in our HOA) is often appropriate. Our security people do not have the power to enforce traffic laws. So we hire off duty SJC officers to set up speed traps. We also have "sleeping policemen" which note peoples' speed limits when they drive by. We still have speeders - but fewer than we would have without these measures.

Some people will always be slobs - no matter what you do. But the elected HOA should strive to set the tone for a community. Note that my husband served for 3 years as the chairperson of our rules violation committee (the committee that determines whether people have violated rules - and has the power to fine them). It's a thankless job - but someone has to do it. Robyn