[whitelotus]

Dear friends,
We are currently looking at houses online. We've never had a house with a pool although we both enjoy the water and swimming. Hubby and I disagree on this issue. Since we'll be living in the desert, I think a pool would be great. He's says no, they require too much work and probably expense. Would appreciate those of you who have feelings about this to weigh in. Do you have a pool? Is it worth the work and expense to you? Would you do it over if you could? If you don't have one, do you wish you did? Thanks a bunch.

[BUGBULLY]

Originally Posted by whitelotus

Dear friends,
We are currently looking at houses online. We've never had a house with a pool although we both enjoy the water and swimming. Hubby and I disagree on this issue. Since we'll be living in the desert, I think a pool would be great. He's says no, they require too much work and probably expense. Would appreciate those of you who have feelings about this to weigh in. Do you have a pool? Is it worth the work and expense to you? Would you do it over if you could? If you don't have one, do you wish you did? Thanks a bunch.

We just moved into a home last year with a pool. I have a 5 year old, and it is so worth it.

We have the pop-ups in our pool, so the maintenance is really not that much. Just get chemicals put in weekly, and we just skim it before we swim.

The electricity is a little more, but I usually do not run the air during the day, so it makes it not too bad for us.

[sheriwx]

We're looking at houses as well, and we avoid the ones with pools. Aside from the maintenance cost and maintenance time, our big reason is that we have small children at home. I don't want the risk of drowning, and rarely even let people with gated pools watch my kids because I'm so concerned about it.

If my kids were teenagers I would consider it because: 1. No more drowning risk and 2.They could help out with maintenance.

As it is, a neighborhood pool works great for us.

[Muonic]

Originally Posted by whitelotus

Do you have a pool?

Had one for 6+ years, when I lived in Florida. I do not have one now.

Is it worth the work and expense to you?

It wasn't to me, so when I moved to Texas, I specifically found a house without a pool.

Would you do it over if you could? If you don't have one, do you wish you did?

They are nice to have, especially in hot climates. So I wouldn't mind having a pool, but I find the maintenance to be about as much fun as cutting the grass. Unfortunately, it is one of those things that simply can not be skipped.....it has to be done on a regular basis. So, if I ever do get a pool again, I will budget enough money to pay someone to clean and maintain it properly. About $100/month, give or take, would be worth it to me.

[bmac88]

Originally Posted by whitelotus

Dear friends,
We are currently looking at houses online. We've never had a house with a pool although we both enjoy the water and swimming. Hubby and I disagree on this issue. Since we'll be living in the desert, I think a pool would be great. He's says no, they require too much work and probably expense. Would appreciate those of you who have feelings about this to weigh in. Do you have a pool? Is it worth the work and expense to you? Would you do it over if you could? If you don't have one, do you wish you did? Thanks a bunch.

I use mine EVERYDAY from May thru October,best thing I ever did.....Get The Pool !!!!

[Buzz123]

I agree with Hubby. It's a hole in the ground you pour money, time, and effort into. I've had two pools, two spas, and a medium sized water fall. I HATE WATER FEATURES. I'm the one that did all the work, and they constantly need something. I suppose if I was an avid swimmer I might put up with the trouble, but neither my wife nor I care that much about swimming. But on the other hand, when my son was a teen at least I knew where he was. He and his friends were always in our pool. But of course Dad did all the cleaning.

My daughter had one put in her back yard last year. They like to swim a lot, and so far she hasn't complained about the work.

They are also an unnecessary safety issue. After we sold one of our houses that had a pool, the new owners' toddler drowned in it. If I had known that would happen I would have filled it with dirt before I sold it.

The house was empty for a while when we moved to Albuquerque and had a management company trying to find a renter. One of our old neighbors called me to let me know that some kids were jumping the fence and swimming in the pool. If one had even gotten a hangnail, guess who would have been liable?

[olecapt]

Originally Posted by Buzz123

I agree with Hubby. It's a hole in the ground you pour money, time, and effort into. I've had two pools, two spas, and a medium sized water fall. I HATE WATER FEATURES. I'm the one that did all the work, and they constantly need something. I suppose if I was an avid swimmer I might put up with the trouble, but neither my wife nor I care that much about swimming. But on the other hand, when my son was a teen at least I knew where he was. He and his friends were always in our pool. But of course Dad did all the cleaning.

My daughter had one put in her back yard last year. They like to swim a lot, and so far she hasn't complained about the work.

They are also an unnecessary safety issue. After we sold one of our houses that had a pool, the new owners' toddler drowned in it. If I had known that would happen I would have filled it with dirt before I sold it.

The house was empty for a while when we moved to Albuquerque and had a management company trying to find a renter. One of our old neighbors called me to let me know that some kids were jumping the fence and swimming in the pool. If one had even gotten a hangnail, guess who would have been liable?

We tend to be water people. Our two older children swam skillfully by three years old. Actually they learned to swim in the Natortorium in Rochester NY in the middle of the winter when they were still babies. The youngest was more difficult though she was drown proof before she was two. Did not really become a swimmer until she was Five or six and not allowed to swim to the raft at Montauk...when the three and four year olds could. Took a week.

Even the poor Admiral was required to become a swimmer once she married me. She is from the plains of Canada where they don't do that. The proudest day was when she actually swam a hundred yards to another boat in an anchorage at Catalina.

So anybody over a year old should be comfortable in the pool and over their head. You got babies...don't let them near the pool...and seal it off tight.

You can also go the way we are rigged. Our pool has an electric cover that will stand the weight of an adult. Costs about 8K. But if you have concerns about kids it is well worth it.

[007 license to sell]

Originally Posted by whitelotus

Dear friends,
We are currently looking at houses online. We've never had a house with a pool although we both enjoy the water and swimming. Hubby and I disagree on this issue. Since we'll be living in the desert, I think a pool would be great. He's says no, they require too much work and probably expense. Would appreciate those of you who have feelings about this to weigh in. Do you have a pool? Is it worth the work and expense to you? Would you do it over if you could? If you don't have one, do you wish you did? Thanks a bunch.

By all means get a pool, you will even use it at night when it's still 90 or 100 degrees out. It's a great way to still enjoy being out doors when it's hot in the summer. We came from a cold climate and moving to the desert has been great especially with a pool.

Both my husband and I work from home and I go out to my pool to get my exercise rather than drive to a gym. My husband didn't learn to swim due to bad allergies as a kid growing up, but when we moved here having our own pool I taught him how to swim and now he will get in the pool.

We have a solar heated pool which amazingly can get the water pretty hot so we have to turn it back in the summer, in the spring it gets the water warm enough to start swimming in April, unfortunately it's been a cool spring and haven't gotten to use the pool yet.Gas heated pools can really be expensive to heat . Having a solar heated pool gives you more months to use the pool versus one that isn't heated at all.

[Trash Can]

It'll probably come down to what phase of life you are in. Several years ago, we owned a home that had a pool. Even though we loved it, it was a pain in the arse, as it was an older pool that required extra maintenance -------> lots of money replacing equipment, etc. We also had an infant/toddler at the time. One day, he got "lost" in our house. Even though the pool was gated/locked at all times, we were panicked for several minutes until we found him hiding in another room.

I got a new job shortly thereafter that required us to move. One of our requirements for our then-new home was no pool, mainly because we could eliminate our fear of an accidental drowning. I didn't regret not getting a pool, but there were many hot days when I wished I could jump in and cool off.

Then we decided to move here. Our son learned how to swim, so we're much more comfortable with the idea of a pool again. One of preferred items when looking was a home with a pool (or room for a pool). We just finished building ours a few weeks ago. Although the water has been too cold to swim, we have used the spa frequently - I have a hard time getting my wife and son out of the thing. I can't imagine what it will be like once it's hot. Like someone else mentioned, I'd much rather have my son and his buddies play here where I can keep an eye on them, versus doing whatever at someone else's home.

Depending on your personality, pools can be much like boats - sometimes it's just better to use your friends or neighbors. They are a lot of fun and it's so nice to be able to jump in and cool off anytime you want. Just prepare yourself mentally ahead of time though - it will take some work on your part (or hired help) to keep it running. Only time will tell whether it's worth it or not.

[yellowsnow]

I love my pool/backyard. It's hot for so much of the year that I feel it's worth it. I usually turn on the solar at tax day and I'll be swimming by the end of the month. The dogs have already been swimming for a month or so. Anyway, there are few days we don't use the pool. Plus, we like just sitting out there or BBQing, the pool adds to the experience. And it's great for parties. We swim every day.

I don't have kids to worry about. I was concerned my dogs would jump in and not be able to figure out where to climb out. But they figured it out soon enough.

My pool is pretty big for a home, 30K gallons. I estimate it costs about $100 per month for power and chemicals. Doesn't take much to maintain at all and we kind of like puttering around the pool. I have a salt system so I don't use chlorine.