swimming pools - pros? cons? (windows, air conditioning, heater, vacuum)

[spritle]

we are thinking of putting in a swimming pool and wonder if it is worth it. we will be calling tomorrow to schedule estimates and see what is involved, but i was wondering if you have any general advice. saltwater or no? fiberglass or cement? slide or no slide? would you buy a home that had a swimming pool? thanks!

[Charles]

Seems like homes for sale with pools don't cost any more than homes without them.
I think kids would enjoy a community pool if there were other kids at the CP to play with, rather than being committed to the pool in their own back yard.
If the neighborhood or HOA has a pool to use, then I wouldn't put one in.

How many minutes on average does a person use their backyard pool per year.

[manderly6]

When I was house hunting I would take a similar home without a pool than one with. Too much hassle for the benefit (or at least in the NE where you can only use it a few months a year).

[Hopes]

Saltwater. Definitely saltwater. It eliminates the "too much of a hassle" argument that prevents some people from buying a house with a pool.

I personally would prefer a house with a pool----even living in the Northeast. A pool is worth it for even the few hot summer months.

Many homes don't have central air conditioning in my area. Sometimes a pool is the only escape from the heat for many residents.

[K'ledgeBldr]

Originally Posted by spritle

we are thinking of putting in a swimming pool and wonder if it is worth it.

Since you're the one installing- it's a "con" right-off-the-bat (RE agents and appraisers consider pools as $0.00 value. But, they can increase the traffic and diminish the time on the market).
Your payback is enjoying the pool as much as possible. And that includes the startup and the winterizing every year. And of course the usual maintenance stuff. All of that can be minimized by having a service do all the work.

That's your top of the list "pro's" and "con's".

[jimboburnsy]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Saltwater. Definitely saltwater. It eliminates the "too much of a hassle" argument that prevents some people from buying a house with a pool.

I personally would prefer a house with a pool----even living in the Northeast. A pool is worth it for even the few hot summer months.

Many homes don't have central air conditioning in my area. Sometimes a pool is the only escape from the heat for many residents.

I agree about the saltwater pool being superior, but it isn't necessarily that much less hassle. A mismanaged saltwater pool can get really expensive really quickly and will stay expensive unless the owner gets his or her stuff together. It's pretty common for people to put in too much salt and corrode out the chlorine generator way before life expectancy or to let the pool go fallow, get out of balance and spend a lot of time and money buffering and killing back algae and critters.

All good points on valuation and sale considerations. Some people will not buy a house without a pool, others will not buy a house with. It just depends on whether or not you see hours and hours of fun and relaxation in the hot summer or hours and hours of labor and expenditure year round.

I think a pool is almost certainly more positive than negative from a future sale perspective, but it's similar to new windows in that you are unlikely to recoup your actual costs.

[South Range Family]

I have a good friend with a killer pool. He spent well over 50 grand about 8 years ago. The curved water slide has been turned on once since I have been swimming there. The diving board gets more use, but not that much. He has a propane heater that extends the season, but this dude has money to burn.

I really wouldn't consider a pool in our Ohio climate unless it was inside.

[00molavi]

We don't have one and are in hot climate. Am considering the portable over the ground stuff from toys R us. I think it would serve the same purpose and you can pack it up and move when the time comes.

[sportsgal]

Don't homeowner's insurance rates go up for homes with pools? Also, you have to install safety fencing around the pool to keep it from being an "attractive nuisance" to neighborhood children.

As a parent with two small children, swimming pools scare me to death. Pool drownings happen so quickly and I would be a nervous wreck any time children were in the pool. A pool would eliminate a house from my consideration as a buyer.

[VegasGrace]

Had one and won't ever have one again.

Every day I was vacuuming, testing weekly, ph up, ph down, shocking....it was rediculious!
Of course I did have trees around, and ducks.