Will a Home with a Pool Sink You?

Will a Home with a Pool Sink You?

Finally, you have found what seems to be the home of your dreams! The property has beautiful curb appeal. You love the location and you’re ready to make an offer, but the house has a swimming pool. Is it a good idea to purchase?  There are plenty of advantages and disadvantages to buying a home with a swimming pool.

At first blush, owning a home with a swimming pool sounds like a fantastic idea.  Many homebuyers are quick to fall in love with the idea of having one. They view it as a focal point for kicking back and relaxing. During the heat of the day, cooling off in your own backyard pool is enticing. Night swims under the stars never gets old and entertaining possibilities can be endless.  But there certainly a number of considerations to weigh before going off the deep end and buying a property that you might regret.

Property Value

In the Southwest portion of the United States, a home’s value will increase more than 10 percent if there is a swimming pool, according to the National Association of Realtors. The remainder of the nation will witness a 7.7 percent spike in property value of homes with a swimming pool. In recent years, swimming pools also have become part of a trend that involves being blended into part of the landscaping and can increase property value.

Costs and Maintenance

Homeowners fall in love with the idea of taking a nighttime dip. The sound of a waterfall is soothing. The added beauty of a pool can be euphoric, but when homeowners find out about the maintenance and cost to keep a swimming pool clean from debris and algae, that love quickly turns to disdain. If you are going to have a swimming pool, understand that its upkeep is a lot of work and is never ending, even in the winter. If you are considering buying a home with a swimming pool, be sure to examine the pump and heater.  If they are not working properly, your pool could be rendered useless until you have the pump and/or heater replaced. Consider purchasing a home warranty that covers repair and replacement costs of the pump and heater.

Safety

The dangers of owning a home with a swimming pool become evident every summer. Drownings are not common, but when they do occur and are on the nightly news, safety issues come to the forefront. There are options to diminish the risk of a child falling into the pool. Consider erecting a fence with a locking door. Keep proper life-saving equipment handy and know how to use the equipment. Even if your children are capable swimmers, there is always the fear that a child in the neighborhood might wander into your yard and fall into the pool. Drownings are not the only safety hazard. Most pools are equipped with lights for swimming at night.  If the electric connections are not grounded, a swimmer could be electrocuted.

One danger seldom considered comes from faulty or loose pool drain covers. The force of a pool’s suction is so powerful, it’s nearly impossible for a swimmer to break free.  A swimmer with long hair might not be able to escape the powerful grip of the suction and likely will end up drowning.

Another unseen danger results if the water is not balanced properly. In this case, the swimming pool could become a breeding ground for any number of disease-carrying bacteria.

Health and Fitness

Homebuyers might not be aware of the advantages a swimming pool presents for a healthy lifestyle.

Swimming is considered an aerobic exercise and just walking back and forth in the pool offers great health benefits. Along with the physical benefits there is a distinct mental benefit to owning a pool. Maintenance of the pool takes time and many homeowners use the time when they are skimming the pool of debris or when they are brushing and cleaning the deck as an opportunity to reflect on life and take it slow and easy.

Whatever you decide, be aware that owning a pool can be rewarding, but a pool won’t take care of itself. It can be a costly endeavor and will require some of your time.