The Ups and Downs of Buying a Home With a Pool

When you first laid eyes on that beautiful backyard swimming pool, admittedly you were a bit dazzled. You’ve always wondered about having one — and if you have kids, you know how thrilled they’ll be. Just think of all the money you’ll save on vacations and how much fun you’ll have sharing it as a family. Even better, it’s all set up and ready!  

First, Test the Waters 

Before we get to the pros and cons, one step we recommend is a once-over by a certified licensed pool inspector. After all, you’re probably already getting the potential home inspected. Think of the professional inspection of the pool’s operating system, interior surface, main drain and deck surfacing as part of the same due diligence. Hint: To find an inspector in your area, use InterNACHI’s “Find an Inspector” search tool and check off “Pools and Spas.” 

With that step taken, here are some of the reasons why you may — or may not — want to consider buying a home with an in-ground pool. 

Pros: You’ll Definitely Make a Splash 

Recreation 

Having your own pool means unlimited access to swimming and other water activities right in your own backyard. You can go for a dip whenever you want, day or night. And just imagine how good it will feel plunging into that crisp, cool water on a sweltering August afternoon. 

Parties and Entertaining 

A pool is a great focal point for entertaining friends and family. You can throw pool parties, barbecues, and other casual get-togethers. Your pool will become the place where people want to be on sizzling summer days and nights. 

Physical and Emotional Health 

Swimming and floating in a pool is tremendously relaxing and a wonderful way to relieve tension and stress. The buoyancy of the water takes pressure off your joints and muscles, creating a basic version of a low-impact workout. Many people also find that swimming laps or just splashing around helps clear their mind and boost their mood. 

Your Kids Will Love You 

For families with young children, having a backyard pool can be a great source of recreation during summer breaks from school. If you have kids, a pool provides endless entertainment for them and their friends during the summer with minimal effort or supervision from you. Even better, you won’t don’t have to spend a small fortune to visit a water park or worry about paying for overpriced food and drinks at an amusement park concession stand. 

Cons: You Could Also Take a Dive  

Maintenance Time and Money  

Maintaining your pool means skimming, vacuuming and chemical balancing almost daily — and you can expect to spend about three to five hours per week on these tasks.  Unless you have a heated pool or live where it’s warm year-round, you’ll only get a few months of use. What’s more, closing and re-opening the pool requires time, effort and money. 

There are also chemicals, equipment, repairs and possibly a pool service for which to budget. On average, expect to pay $50 to $100 per month to maintain a standard residential pool yourself. You could opt for a pool service, but that expense can run into hundreds of additional dollars.  

If you’re thinking about buying a home with a pool, be sure to ask the seller about any previous repair work, the types of repairs and when they were completed. If this starts looking like a repetitive pattern, beware.  

Higher Energy Bills  

A backyard pool doesn’t check off many boxes when it comes to environmentalism. In addition to the chemicals and treatments, you’ll also see a rise in utility bills for the added electricity needed to run the pool pump, pool lights and heater. During your pool’s “open” season, plan to factor in an extra $200 to $400 per month for your utilities. You could offset some of this cost by installing a solar heating unit on your roof, an expense your state or local government might partially cover.  

Safety and Insurance 

Will you pay more for liability insurance? In all likelihood, yes. That said, installing safety features like fencing, gates and alarms can lower rates significantly.  

According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), nearly 380 children under the age of 15 drown in backyard swimming pools every year. As a precaution, the CPSC recommends installing door alarms on all doors leading to the pool area, including the entrance to the fenced-in area. Many experts also recommend that you ask the seller to have any diving boards removed before the closing date on the property.  

Neighbors, Babysitters and Guardrails 

It’s not unheard of for neighbors to automatically expect that the previous owner’s rules about pool usage will continue with you. Perhaps they were used to coming by and plunging into the water whenever they felt like it — or dropping their kids off for the afternoon. Remember, you’re the homeowner now so don’t be shy. Even if it’s awkward, be sure you set up access dos and don’ts that work for you. 

Is a Move in the Works?  

Why not let the professionals at United Van Lines take care of the heavy lifting? United’s full-service moving packages provide flexibility to mix and match the services you want and need, from packing and unpacking to standard furniture placement.     

Get a quote from United Van Lines today.     

Do you need help settling in? Check out our other blogs for moving tips and packing advice, as well as city guides and a wealth of other helpful, time-saving information.