Pool or no Pool? (Phoenix: bank owned, real estate, home owners insurance)

[tiredofrain]

Opinions on whether or not to buy a house with a pool? If I buy without and decide I want one how much will it cost me? Pros, Cons?

Never had to make the choice before....thanks

[KarmaPhx]

You have to keep it maintained, which can be expensive if you don't know how to do it yourself. Hiring a pool tech will cost a decent amount of money, but save you the hassle of measuring chemicals and such.

Pools will cost you a good amount to run and maintain, but they are VERY NICE to have in the summer.

[dookieboy]

Much cheaper to buy a house with one already. Pools are like new cars, they lose half their sticker price value the moment you drive them off the lot. A pool that might cost you 20k to have built, will only prop the value of your home about 7 to 10k.
That being said, I still can't imagine living here without one. Chemical/water/electrical costs are not too bad and if the pools cleaning system is in good shape, maintaining it is pretty easy once you get the hang of it.

[piratepilot]

NO POOL, and for several reason: 1. If you're buying a used home, you really have know idea how the previous seller maintained and cared for the pool & equipment (pump and filter) so you're taking a very large gamble, even more so if purchasing a bank owned property. Make sure you purchase a pool warentee along with your home warantee if you do decide to go with a pool 2. You will spend a great deal of time and money year round (primarily in the summer) on chemicals (chlorine and shock), caring for the pool yourself or hiring a pool service 3. You will spend a great deal more on your electrical utilities running your pool pump and cleaner 8 to 10 hours every night. 4. Unless the pool is heated or cooled you can really only use your pool a few months out of the year because its either too cold in the winter or its like jumping into bath water in the summer 5. You will need to carry extra home owners insurance incase the neighbors kid jumps your fence and drowns 6. Every year it is recommended that you pump out a minimum of 1/3 of your pool water and replace it with fresh water to lower the level of Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Calcium Hardness and Cyanuric Acid. Chemicals, including chlorine and other sanitizers, find it more difficult to do their job when TDS is high when you have elevated TDS levels also cause corrosion of equipment and fixture. I could go on and on but I hope you get the point: having a pool is a huge expense and liability. Any run of the mill real estate agent will tell you a pool adds value to your home, that's just not true. Just wait until your kool decking cracks... and it will crack, then ask your self how much this pool is worth to the value of your home after you spend 10K replacing the decking.

Good Luck! Send me a Direct Message if you need any more info.

[KarmaPhx]

If your pool is deep enough, it should stay cool during the summer. I once made the mistake of buying a above ground pool, it was only 3.5ft deep, so it felt like getting in a hot bath in the summer since the water warmed up so quickly.

You can swim most of the year, not just a few months. March-September is warm enough.

[piratepilot]

Originally Posted by KarmaPhx

If your pool is deep enough, it should stay cool during the summer. I once made the mistake of buying a above ground pool, it was only 3.5ft deep, so it felt like getting in a hot bath in the summer since the water warmed up so quickly.

You can swim most of the year, not just a few months. March-September is warm enough.

How deep are you talking? My pool at its deepest point is 18 feet deep and its like bath water in the summer>

[Howard Roark]

I suggest NO POOL! My parents bought a house with a pool and realized it is a mistake. First, it's harder to sell, since the one you want to sell to may not like the design of the pool in the first place. Let the buyer put their pool in. Secondly, liability. I remember they made the parents of the neighborhood kids sign a waiver when the kids wanted to join us in our backyard pool. It was fun having other kids over but...Third: maintenance costs. Fouorth: In Phoenix the pools are too hot in the summer. Like bathwater. I think I will swim in a tub instead.

I would not want to have an attractive nuisance in my backyard. Kids would be using it when I'm gone and I could be sued.

I'm a serious fitness swimmer and swim eight to ten miles per week. I go to LA Fitness. My nationwide club fee of $41 per month is a bargain for the pool in each club itself. The pools are lap pools, which are more expensive than the traditional backyard pools.

The only good thing about pools is it allows families to get together. I reminisce about our parties and barbecues.

[azriverfan.]

I own a pool.

PRO
1. It makes your house more marketbale. Since there are so many homes with pools, many people won't even look at your houses that don't include pools

2. Great for families. Kids love it. You dog will love it.

3.Having backyard bbq is more fun with a pool.

4. Makes the summer more tolerable. Taking a dip right before you go to bed can instantly cool you down and make summer more fun

CON
1. It costs a lot of money: It costs a lot of money to build a pool and pay for chemicals, cleaning etc. I spend about $50 a month on cleaning and chemicals and that's really a steal because most people I know who pay for pool upkeep pay around $100 a month

2. Maintenance: maintenance is involved. Keeping it clean. Backwashing it. Making sure the pump works. Making sure your pool sweeper or creepy crawler works

3. If you don't have a family, it's not worth it as you probably won't use it.


Overall: I would probably say it's a luxury you can avoid. It's kind of like a luxury car. It's fun but you don't really need it

[azriverfan.]

Originally Posted by piratepilot

How deep are you talking? My pool at its deepest point is 18 feet deep and its like bath water in the summer>

What's funny is that in the midwest and even in southern California, people heat their pools in the summer because they want that bath water feel where they don't have to adjust to the cold water. I personally don't mind the fact that pool water is a perfect temperature when you get in

[Greatday]

Pools, from a pure investment perspective, are not a good investment. If you spend $40,000 to install one, you MIGHT, MIGHT, see an increase in value of your home by $15 / 20,000. So, if you want a pool, a home with an existing pool might be better.

Then again, if you are planning to STAY in your home for a long time, installing one might be OK.

We built our home and had a pool included. We have a Salt Water pool and absolutely love it. Maintenance is a breeze and chemicals are minimal. We spend a lot of time in, and around the pool - and do a lot of entertaining - with a lot outside (we incorporated an large outdoor kitchen area near the pool). We "live" in the pool so to speak. For us, the pool was almost a necessity. For you though - it might be different.

Good luck on your decision.