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I live in the north, where pools can only be used a few months a year. Although I suppose if you heat them, you will get a couple more months out of them. Not looking for a home now, but when we were, I told the realtor that we would not even consider a house with an in-ground pool. We are still in our first house, which had an above-ground pool. One of the conditions of sale was that the pool be removed before closing. Nope, don't want a pool of any type. Someone else might have a completely different opinion, though, and reading the posts here, it seems that's the case.
Location: Finally the house is done and we are in Port St. Lucie!
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Living in Florida we are able to use the pool many months. I get in it daily when no storms are near.
It is so much better to just be able to walk out my back door and jump in. No getting in the car, no carrying all the towels, sun screen and whatever you need for the day. I can get out, eat lunch, go back in. Sheer bliss!
Pools in general are a stupid idea. There is cost to them, increased insurance because of the liability and it makes it harder to sell.
Pools have a danger to them. For 2017:
Pools in cold areas of the country are even more stupid where it might only be useful 2-3 weeks during the summer assuming it isn't raining.
Use the neighborhood pool, that's what it's there for or at a health club where there is a lifeguard.
Where is it that cold? Northern Alaska? Why wouldn't you use the pool when it is raining? Rainy days are some of the most pleasant times to swim.
We live in Michigan, we use our pool from April or may through October. Some years we woudl heat it up for Thanksgiving and Christmas. When all of our kids were home, it got used every day, usually multiple times a day. Now our last kid is moving out in August. He will still be home in the summer, but our pool no longer makes any sense for us, but then our entire house no longer makes sense for us. It certainly was worthwhile when we had them home. No, no one has ever drowned, no close calls. A deer fell in it once and had to have help getting out, also some worms and some frogs had to be rescued. Otherwise, the application of common sense will eliminate most of the risk of anyone drowning in a pool.
We have a public pool a few miles away. Before we had our pool, we used to use it maybe once or twice a year. There is a huge difference between having to collect your stuff, go out to the public pool and being on display to your neighbors, being subject to rules you may or may not agree with, bumping into people every few feet (and forget playing any sort of game), swimming in people's pee and diseases/infections, then driving home damp and covered in chlorine (and pee); versus coming home, changing in a matter of seconds and jumping into your private pool where you control the condition, use, people who swim in it, temperature, etc. or doing some chores, rinsing off then jump in the pool with the kids for twenty minutes, go back to chores, repeat. Our pool is always open to us. There are no hours of operation. Midnight swim? Fine. Wake up at 5:30 a.m. and want to swim some laps before work? Fine.
We can have as many or as few people in it as we desire. Chlorine levels, temperature, whether or not five kids can cannonball in at once, splash water at each other, whether or not our dogs can swim with us, what toys or other items can be in the pool, who can use the slide, all are determined by us, not by someone else. No pimply kid is sitting in a chair telling me I cannot pick up one of my kids and throw them into the air and let them splash back into the water; or that we cannot play chicken fight, or Frisbee, or volleyball, etc. No one shuts down our pool for ten minutes every two hours so someone can take a break. Our pool is never closed for a swim meet or private party. Yes, it is worth it and not stupid at all. When we have summer parties, the kids love having the chance to swim and the adult love either swimming or just sitting under the portico and watching the kids swim. At my son's grad party this past weekend, the guests his age rotated from swimming to throwing axes to throwing atlatl, to chatting and eating, back to swimming - he had the best grad party - no one sitting around bored for hours on end.
It is a luxury and one that apparently makes some people very jealous, but it is a wonderful luxury if you can afford it.
For selling a house, an in-ground pool is a push. Some people see it as a huge plus, some will not consider a house that does not have a pool. Others see it as a liability. Depending on the location and type of house the balance of each view may vary. For larger upscale homes, people expect a pool. It will not add value or not much compared to the cost. An above ground pool is different - most realtors seem to recommend that you remove it before putting the house on the market.
The insurance increase was minimal. The trampoline increased our insurance rates more, but even that was pretty minimal.
Last edited by Coldjensens; 07-05-2018 at 07:21 AM..
Popular concept is to buy a fiberglass, one piece pool, and set it level with existing decks and bring landscaping up to the pool edge. Using 'building blocks' to support land around pool and grading appropriately makes it look like it is 'in-ground' but really only a portion of the pool is actually below any existing grade. Saves $$$ and give you a nice pool...without the stigma of having an above ground pool.
Above ground pools generally do not last as long, but once your kids move out, will you still want a pool?
Are you... joking?! What do kids have anything to do with a pool?! I'm 35, I love swimming, I can't imagine buying a nice house without a pool. That is a complete waste and ruins your enjoyment of the outdoors during the summer. We are never having kids, and a pool is a must-have in any house we see. I swear, some people act like only kids can enjoy life and have fun. It makes no sense to me.
PS: It's a stupid idea to have a pool?! It's a stupid idea NOT to have a pool in a nice climate. Furthermore, I would never use a neighborhood pool and swim with everyone else. Swimming is about relaxing and some peace and quiet. No thanks to a neighborhood pool that everyone pees in. That is so lame. Every pool should be heated, no matter the climate, and if you want to turn the heat off in the summer in Vegas or Phoenix, go for it, that makes sense. But I wouldn't swim in a pool that's colder than 84 and I'd prefer 86 or 87. Unheated pools are just not comfortable except if you're doing laps, which isn't fun, that's just cardio.
Are you... joking?! What do kids have anything to do with a pool?! I'm 35, I love swimming, I can't imagine buying a nice house without a pool. That is a complete waste and ruins your enjoyment of the outdoors during the summer. We are never having kids, and a pool is a must-have in any house we see. I swear, some people act like only kids can enjoy life and have fun. It makes no sense to me.
PS: It's a stupid idea to have a pool?! It's a stupid idea NOT to have a pool in a nice climate. Furthermore, I would never use a neighborhood pool and swim with everyone else. Swimming is about relaxing and some peace and quiet. No thanks to a neighborhood pool that everyone pees in. That is so lame. Every pool should be heated, no matter the climate, and if you want to turn the heat off in the summer in Vegas or Phoenix, go for it, that makes sense. But I wouldn't swim in a pool that's colder than 84 and I'd prefer 86 or 87. Unheated pools are just not comfortable except if you're doing laps, which isn't fun, that's just cardio.
We will be signing a contract for our first pool build in a few weeks. Our youngest just moved out last month. Time for the wife and I to enjoy our next stage in life.
Though I cannot imagine who would think a pool right up against the house is a good idea.
Personally, I wouldn't want a pool. In-ground or otherwise. We walk the few blocks to the beach when we need to cool off or simply go out on our boat. I'm not a big fan of pools.
Pools aren’t for “cooling off” mainly they’re to swim in and enjoy lol. The greatest beach in the world isn’t a substitute for a nice pool feet away from your doorstep.
Remington - enjoy the pool!
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