pool or no pool

[txsportsscribe]

finally decided that home prices have dropped enough and it's time to buy. have pared down the list to three houses - 1 one with a pool. for those who have had a pool, is it worth the extra work (or paying a pool guy) and the extra money for utilities?

 

[imjustagirl]

1. Do you have kids?
2. Do you live in a temperate enough area where you would get enough use out of it? We had one in Ohio, but we only used it like four months a year.
3. In ground or above ground? Heated?

 

[LongTimeListener]

Probably depends on the area, but I think it usually pays off OK in the resale value of your house.

Personally, I would be absolutely terrified to own a pool if there were young children in the house.

 

[txsportsscribe]

single, no kids and in north texas. and the pool is heated.

 

[imjustagirl]

If you think you'll use it, and it's in good shape, I'd say go for it. LTL's right, it will help in resale. And you're probably years away from kids (even if you get married in the next year) so it should be good. And it's good to invite girls back to your pool.

 

[LongTimeListener]

Yes. Please keep us advised on all actual or potential FFM threesomes.

 

[txsportsscribe]

would surely have used it this summer with 40-something straight 100-degree days and now up to 60-something days overall!

 

[txsportsscribe]

Yes. Please keep us advised on all actual or potential FFM threesomes.

would post photos but me being in them would just ruin it for everyone

 

[Mizzougrad96]

It costs an insane amount of money to heat a pool, even a hot tub.

In Texas, I would think maintenance wouldn't be too bad. Your homeowners insurance will also be significantly higher.

 

[Evil ... Thy name is Orville Redenbacher!!]

finally decided that home prices have dropped enough and it's time to buy. have pared down the list to three houses - 1 one with a pool. for those who have had a pool, is it worth the extra work (or paying a pool guy) and the extra money for utilities?

I assume you are talking in-ground?
NO.

It is a LOT of work and maintenance - i.e added costs - and pools do not add much to the resale value of homes (in my neck of the woods).
Plus, the price of above-ground pools are pretty cheap now and be removed.
My uncle installed a pool after they bought ther house.. It took thier entire back yard (small lot) and required a good bit of maintenance and they found out it added very little resale value to their home. And with their kids now out of the house it is also very little used.

Anymore it's just a pool. ... maybe a diving board or a water slide... For kids, pools are BORING, compared to the water parks many municipalites are installing in lieu of the old pools...

No. No. No.

But that's just my opinion. Ask your realtor what they think.


Found this from money magazine...

The Swimming Pool
In some areas, especially hot-weather spots like Arizona and Florida, a pool is a must-have. In the Southwest, adding one boosts your home's value by 11 percent on average, according to a National Association of Realtors study.

But elsewhere it can just as easily turn off buyers, who worry about affording the upkeep and insurance. And if the most likely buyer of your home is a family with small children, think long and hard before installing a pool.

"People with younger children may be leery of houses with pools for safety reasons," says Barry Graziano, a real estate agent with Prudential Rand Realty in White Plains, N.Y. "I've had families walk away. A pool can cut down on the number of people who will want to buy your house."

 

[zebracoy]

It costs an insane amount of money to heat a pool, even a hot tub.

In Texas, I would think maintenance wouldn't be too bad. Your homeowners insurance will also be significantly higher.

Yes, but does it still cost an insane amount of money to have a heated pool in North Texas?

 

[JackReacher]

It costs an insane amount of money to heat a pool, even a hot tub.

Even a hot tub? I'm thinking about getting one and was wondering how much extra that would run. I can handle the maintenance, but the extra energy cost has kept me from getting one...so far.

 

[Brian]

It costs an insane amount of money to heat a pool, even a hot tub.

Even a hot tub? I'm thinking about getting one and was wondering how much extra that would run. I can handle the maintenance, but the extra energy cost has kept me from getting one...so far.

We had a hot tub when I was growing up and I remember it being $20-30 per month on the electric bill. And then costs for chemicals,Ph tests, filter. That was a good 15 years ago. I'm guessing they've made them more efficient.

 

[JackReacher]

Oh, I could swing $20-30 extra a month. Need to do some more research...

 

[Inky_Wretch]

It costs an insane amount of money to heat a pool, even a hot tub.

Even a hot tub? I'm thinking about getting one and was wondering how much extra that would run. I can handle the maintenance, but the extra energy cost has kept me from getting one...so far.

Don't forget the cost of chemicals for the pool. And a cover for the winter.

 

[Ace]

I would vote no pool.

They are great if you can pay someone else to keep them up, but mostly a pain in the ass.

 

[User 1019]

Pool.

 

[JackReacher]

It costs an insane amount of money to heat a pool, even a hot tub.

Even a hot tub? I'm thinking about getting one and was wondering how much extra that would run. I can handle the maintenance, but the extra energy cost has kept me from getting one...so far.

Don't forget the cost of chemicals for the pool. And a cover for the winter.

Cover comes with it. And I haven't yet looked into the cost of the chemicals? They pretty expensive typically? Also, how often are you supposed to drain it and fill it back up?

I suppose google is my friend, huh?

Edit: After a simple google search, here's what I found. Note: I spent about 10 seconds and only went to one site, so....

On average a hot tub costs about $1 a day for electricity and chemicals, although this can vary from $15 -$60 a month depending on size, insulation, climate and local utility costs.

A hot tub cover cuts heating costs and is also an essential safety feature for homes with children or pets. Covers start around $50 -$100, but can run $100 -$400 or more, depending on size, materials, energy efficiency and if they lock. Lifters to help move that heavy cover run $100 -$300.

Me again....So, I can definitely deal with $1 a day. Completely worth it.

 

[93Devil]

It costs an insane amount of money to heat a pool, even a hot tub.

Even a hot tub? I'm thinking about getting one and was wondering how much extra that would run. I can handle the maintenance, but the extra energy cost has kept me from getting one...so far.

Don't forget the cost of chemicals for the pool. And a cover for the winter.

Cover comes with it. And I haven't yet looked into the cost of the chemicals? They pretty expensive typically? Also, how often are you supposed to drain it and fill it back up?

I suppose google is my friend, huh?

Edit: After a simple google search, here's what I found. Note: I spent about 10 seconds and only went to one site, so....

On average a hot tub costs about $1 a day for electricity and chemicals, although this can vary from $15 -$60 a month depending on size, insulation, climate and local utility costs.

A hot tub cover cuts heating costs and is also an essential safety feature for homes with children or pets. Covers start around $50 -$100, but can run $100 -$400 or more, depending on size, materials, energy efficiency and if they lock. Lifters to help move that heavy cover run $100 -$300.

Me again....So, I can definitely deal with $1 a day. Completely worth it.

Look at it this way, you are only going to heat it nine months a year. I'm guessing in June, July, August you would not want it hot.

Two things that would scare me are pipes freezing in the winter if anything should happen and the corrosion of the parts over time.

I would spend the extra on the cover to keep the heat in. Insulation on top of anything makes a huge difference.

 

[93Devil]

In certain parts of the country, pools are much more common than others. In Arizona and Florida, for example, they are pretty common. Just GoogleEarth a neighborhood.

In Virginia, I would not want one. I have a great subdivision that has two pools, and that gives us plenty of time in the water.

One reason why I would not want pools is dogs. I had a friend in AZ that lost two dogs to drowning in pools.