Buying a house with a pool - expenses, worth it? (utilities, closing)

[Scott99999]

My wife and I are looking at a few houses, some of which have pools and some of which don't. Most have new or new-ish liners.

I actually would like to have a pool, but everyone is telling us not to get one, since we've got a baby (soon to be toddler) on the way and because of the added hit to taxes, general expense, and maintenance.

What do people think?

- How expensive is a pool per year?
- How difficult are they to maintain?
- Are they really that dangerous if they're fenced and you're attentive?

THANKS!

[Jerseyt719]

Originally Posted by Scott99999

My wife and I are looking at a few houses, some of which have pools and some of which don't. Most have new or new-ish liners.

I actually would like to have a pool, but everyone is telling us not to get one, since we've got a baby (soon to be toddler) on the way and because of the added hit to taxes, general expense, and maintenance.

What do people think?

- How expensive is a pool per year?
- How difficult are they to maintain?
- Are they really that dangerous if they're fenced and you're attentive?

THANKS!

We have one. It isn't expensive at all. We bought a water purifier (Eco2) and it was the best thing we did. We spend $60 on that filter at the beginning of the season. We have a cartridge filter which is another $50 once every two seasons and spend $20-$25 on an opening kit and again on a closing kit plus only about $30-$40 per summer on chlorine tablets. The Eco2 keeps the cost of chlorine that low.
Skim the pool daily and vaccuum weekly. They're not dangerous, assuming you will have an above ground with a take away or fold up ladder.
We've had years of fun with ours and our twins were babies when we put it in.
Have a blast with your pool!!

[stevemorse]

well I know someone and the utilities if heated alone are a deal breaker for me!

[Jerseyt719]

OH!!! And you won't be taxed on an above ground pool. You will on an inground.

[stevemorse]

Originally Posted by Jerseyt719

We have one. It isn't expensive at all. We bought a water purifier (Eco2) and it was the best thing we did. We spend $60 on that filter at the beginning of the season. We have a cartridge filter which is another $50 once every two seasons and spend $20-$25 on an opening kit and again on a closing kit plus only about $30-$40 per summer on chlorine tablets. The Eco2 keeps the cost of chlorine that low.
Skim the pool daily and vaccuum weekly. They're not dangerous, assuming you will have an above ground with a take away or fold up ladder.
We've had years of fun with ours and our twins were babies when we put it in.
Have a blast with your pool!!

is the heating alot?

[NatasNJ]

Originally Posted by Scott99999

What do people think?

- How expensive is a pool per year?
- How difficult are they to maintain?
- Are they really that dangerous if they're fenced and you're attentive?

THANKS!

Pool expenses are not THAT bad. Assuming you are going to do the work. This includes brushing the walls and floor a few times a week to reduce staining. Adding chemicals as needed. (cost depends on type of pool system) I would estimate $50 a month on chemicals would be on the average.

You usually have to clean out some major pool filter 2+ times a year. This cost $150 to get done but you can do for $10-$20 and a few hours. Usually involved yanking out a bunch of filters, rinsing them with hose, then putting cleaner on them then rinsing again. Once again depends on pool size how many filters you have and how often you have to clean them.

Then you have things that break. (seems to happen often) So guess a few hundred a year for that.

Then factor in a few extra bucks for electricity each month. $25 easy I would think.

So you are probably talking $100 - $125 as a monthly expense on average. Assuming you do the cleaning and chemicals. If you hire that out also I think the costs will be up even more.

Is it worth it? IN 2006 we wanted a pool when moving to TX. Had to have one. Got a great salt water pool. Just the wife and I (and dog). Used it a bunch for a month. Then it seemed like a chore for us to use it. Not sure why. Was great to jump in after mowing the lawn and stuff but we just didn't use it enough.

So I would NEVER buy a house again with one. Having said that if I had a kid (which I will never do but if I did) I think a pool would be MUCH more fun and useful. Growing up we always had pools and I loved it. Being an adult not so much.

So... The cost probably won't kill you unless you get stuck having to resurface the pool or something major breaks. The work to keep it clean is a PAIN especially in winter. (we kept ours open year round) That alone made me hate it more than the costs. Just depends on the person but if I had to fall on one side of the fence I would say pass. Especially if you can't use it year round.

[Jerseyt719]

Originally Posted by stevemorse

is the heating alot?

We don't heat it with a heater. We bought a $35 solar cover that we cover it with about 2-3 times a week and it works beautifully, for the most part, the whole season, our pool stays no lower than 80 degrees. I'm telling you it's not bad at all!!

[Jerseyt719]

Originally Posted by NatasNJ

Pool expenses are not THAT bad. Assuming you are going to do the work. This includes brushing the walls and floor a few times a week to reduce staining. Adding chemicals as needed. (cost depends on type of pool system) I would estimate $50 a month on chemicals would be on the average.

You usually have to clean out some major pool filter 2+ times a year. This cost $150 to get done but you can do for $10-$20 and a few hours. Usually involved yanking out a bunch of filters, rinsing them with hose, then putting cleaner on them then rinsing again. Once again depends on pool size how many filters you have and how often you have to clean them.

Then you have things that break. (seems to happen often) So guess a few hundred a year for that.

Then factor in a few extra bucks for electricity each month. $25 easy I would think.

So you are probably talking $100 - $125 as a monthly expense on average. Assuming you do the cleaning and chemicals. If you hire that out also I think the costs will be up even more.

Is it worth it? IN 2006 we wanted a pool when moving to TX. Had to have one. Got a great salt water pool. Just the wife and I (and dog). Used it a bunch for a month. Then it seemed like a chore for us to use it. Not sure why. Was great to jump in after mowing the lawn and stuff but we just didn't use it enough.

So I would NEVER buy a house again with one. Having said that if I had a kid (which I will never do but if I did) I think a pool would be MUCH more fun and useful. Growing up we always had pools and I loved it. Being an adult not so much.

So... The cost probably won't kill you unless you get stuck having to resurface the pool or something major breaks. The work to keep it clean is a PAIN especially in winter. (we kept ours open year round) That alone made me hate it more than the costs. Just depends on the person but if I had to fall on one side of the fence I would say pass. Especially if you can't use it year round.

Ours has never even been CLOSE to that.

[tahiti]

in ground or above?

we had a pool in our last house - time and $$$ sucker, IMHO. if something goes wrong, forget it - we had a leak somewhere - what a PITA.

if you have a heater prepare to pay a decent chunk every month to run it.

i love inground pools, but for us, it isn't worth the hassle, given the short season.

if you end up buying a house with one - get an alarm for the baby.

[tahiti]

Originally Posted by Jerseyt719

Ours has never even been CLOSE to that.

do you have above ground? our inground was definitely in that range, and this was 10 yrs ago. (electricity/chemicals)