Written by Carol Trehearn and published on https://www.finehomesandliving.com/
Thinking of buying a house with a swimming pool or installing one in your current home? You’ll need to carefully consider all aspects of pool ownership before taking the plunge. While owning a home with a pool comes with plenty of advantages (namely that it can improve physical health, boost mental health and expand your social life), it can also come with quite a few serious considerations. From the price of pool maintenance and the cost of higher insurance premiums to the safety of your children and the impact on your property value, there’s plenty to think about when buying a house with a pool.
Should You Buy a House with a Swimming Pool?
When you are considering buying a house, features such as a swimming pool will no doubt seem appealing. After all, swimming pools are a lot of fun, and if you have kids, it’s a surefire way of keeping them entertained during the summer. The problem is, they can be a lot of work to maintain, and not everyone uses their pool as much as they think they will. Here are some things to consider when you are looking at houses with pools.
Will you use it?
It sounds obvious, but you should spend some time thinking about how often you’ll use your pool. If the pool is big enough for short swimming laps, then you may be able to get more use out of it, as swimming is excellent exercise. If you use your pool regularly enough, then the cost per swim may work out cheaper than visiting a public pool.
Your local weather
If you live in a state with plenty of sunshine and mild winters, then it makes sense to have a pool. If you live somewhere that has varied seasons, then it’s worth remembering there will be long periods where the pool may not be useable, so you need to think about whether your usage in the summer will make the maintenance costs worth it.
There are ways you can use your pool in colder weather, such as:
- Adding a shelter to protect from the elements.
- Adding heating to your pool.
- Using a pool cover to keep the heat inside the pool until you’re ready to use it.
Renovation and maintenance costs
Some pools aren’t looked after by their owners, so when it comes time to sell the house, it might not be in the best condition. It’s worth getting a swimming pool renovation company to come round and assess the damage, as they may be able to retile or fix the pool and get it looking like new.
Maintenance costs are another consideration. From cleaning the pump and replacing the filter, to regular skimming and cleaning, the prices of running a pool can soon add up. Get a quote for these services before you buy the house, so you know roughly what financial burden you might be taking on.
Swimming pools affect your home’s value
While you may assume a swimming pool will increase the value of your home, the fact is, a swimming pool can put off potential buyers. This could mean when it’s time to move on, you end up getting lower offers for your property, or it sits on the market for a long time. This is especially true for small and medium-sized houses because people who buy these places are usually on an average income, so don’t want to spend thousands a year paying for things like maintenance and cleaning.
If you are contemplating buying a home with a pool, it boils down to the question, do you want one? If you’ve always wanted a pool, will use it a lot and can budget for the cost, then there’s no reason not to go for it.
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