Owning a pool: worth it or not? (Town and Country, Ladue: 2014, how much)

[4wildmonkeys]

We're relocating from Florida where we use our pool a good 8 months out of the year. Several of the houses we've seen in the STL area have pools.

I'm use to taking care of a pool, but obviously never have to close it for the winter. Can anyone tell me what this entails and if it's worth it to own your own pool or if it's more of a pain than it's worth?

[GoCardinals]

I guess it pretty much depends on how much of a use this pool would have or perhaps how much you wanted it as in terms of house beautification purpose.

I may be wrong but I have not seen a whole lot of people having a heavy use of their pool in the West County area; however, it's good to have in a sense that it could serve as a small incentive to get out doors in this day and age where everyone is glued to their smart phones 24/7.

[bella84]

It's a pain, but it's worth it if you use it. You can keep it open from about May to September. You could add an extra month on either end, but it wouldn't necessarily be warm enough to use on a regular basis during those months. You might have an occasional nice weekend though. Here is some info from Lowe's about how to close the pool for winter: Close Your Pool for Winter. You may have other maintenance from time to time, but you're probably used to that in Florida too.

[flynavyj]

It'll depend on a couple things, how much you'll use it and how close (or available) a neighborhood pool is. I know we looked at a couple subdivisions that had neighborhood pools available, and if we'd moved into one of those we definitely would never consider a pool.

We're lucky enough now that the our municipal pool is about two blocks away...so on those hot days of summer, we have easy access. I've known some family and friends who've owned pools, and love them. They make a great place to hold a party or gathering...and I think I would use it moderately, but all in all I don't swim enough to ever justify putting one in.

If you're in the house hunt, and value having a pool then keep it as a criteria in your shopping. They're by no means uncommon up here, but it can be a "love it or leave it" item for many families.

[STL2006]

This is only my opinion, but when I'm house hunting and see a great house,then see they have a pool...my heart sinks. Up here, I view a pool more as a liability and a hassle than a selling feature, especially with two small children. Just my two cents. In FL, it's almost an expected feature.

[DogtownBnR]

If you have a heater on your pool, you can use it comfortably from May-October, maybe part of April. Without a heater, normal years, Mid-late May, through mid-late September.

[luckodeirish]

I recently moved here from Orange County, Calif where I always had a pool in each home I bought. I had a love/hate with each pool, loved it when it worked but.. well you know the story.

I decided to purchase a home without a pool because to be honest, if I was not able to use it year round I did not want to deal with one. I also may have developed a bias when I was viewing homes that all seemed to have let their pool go to seed- this was in the spring of 2014 and in Ladue, Town and Country, etc.

While I do miss having a pool sometimes, it just did not make sense for me out here.

[oneslip]

Not worth it in STL. It seems the "use" season is getting shorter & shorter. It seems last year the summer season was cut short by cooler temps and this year the summer season is hindered by rain. Unless your going to have an indoor pool it seems a waste as it will be closed most of the time. Invest in a fire pit instead...ready to move to FL.

[FrankMiller]

I wouldn't be too quick to judge based on a couple bad seasons. It's not a given that ten years from now our summer will consist of six straight months of daily rain.

[Brickmama]

I often view owning a pool as a money pit.