Living in a house with a pool seems like a dream come true – taking a refreshing dip in the cool water after a long summer day at work, sunbathing and relaxing on the pool deck on weekends, having fun with family and friends by the poolside… A swimming pool brings comfort and luxury to a home and makes everyday life feel like a vacation.
Having a pool, however, isn’t only pleasure and fun – it requires a lot of work, extra expenses, and constant vigilance.
If you’re planning on moving into a house with a pool, you need to be well aware of both the pros and cons of having a swimming hole in your backyard – and you need to know what to expect from your new living situation. It will be exciting, there is no doubt about that, but it will bring about a lot of responsibilities. You need to prepare properly so you can enjoy your new home and your new pool without any regrets – and without any risks.
Here is everything you need to know when moving into a house with a pool.
Pros and cons of moving into a house with a pool
Swimming pools offer a lot of enjoyment and recreation – yet, they can be dangerous and costly.
When considering moving into a home with a pool, you need to look at both sides of the coin – contemplate both the benefits and drawbacks of having a pool – so you don’t come to regret your choice later on.
Advantages of moving into a house with a pool
- A pool provides escape from the heat – the cool water will help you refresh and revive, keeping your energy and spirits up during the hot summer months. You will be able to take a dip to cool off whenever you want to – and it will feel great;
- Pools allow for a number of fun and recreational water activities – swimming, water aerobics, water games, etc. You will be able to use your pool for fitness and frolicking – it will be good for your health, good for your shape, and good for your mood;
- Pools are entertainment hubs – people enjoy hanging out in or near a pool, so having one in your backyard will attract family and friends to your place – and will give you an easy way to keep everyone entertained. You’ll be able to have tons of fun with your pals and your loved ones by the poolside – whether you’re hosting a party or just lounging by the cool waters;
- A pool increases the aesthetic value of a home – you will have a beautiful landscaping feature in your yard and will be able to create your own tropical paradise – a charming and cozy outdoor retreat with lounge chairs, umbrellas, flowers, decorative plants, lanterns, and whatever else you like;
- A swimming pool boosts the value of a home, so buying a house with a pool is a good investment.
Disadvantages of having a pool
1) Pools require a lot of upkeep
If you move into a home with a pool, you will have to take care of a great number of cleaning and maintenance tasks such as skimming the pool, emptying the strainer baskets, cleaning the filters, checking the water, PH, and chlorine levels, and periodically draining the water and scrubbing the pool sides. It will be a lot of work and will take a lot of time and effort.
Besides, if you live in a cooler climate, you’ll need to winterize your pool for the cold season – deep clean the pool, drain and clean the filter, pump, and heater, super chlorinate the water, and cover the pool.
2) Owning a pool is costly
When you have a pool, your electric bill will be higher (as you’ll be constantly running the filtration system and, occasionally, the water heater and the pool pump), your water bill will be higher (as you’ll need to periodically drain and refill the pool and replace water lost due to evaporation), and your home insurance fees will be higher (as you’ll need to up your liability limits, so your insurance premiums will increase). Besides, you’ll need to buy some safety equipment (pool fence, pool alarms, etc.), a pool cover, and a number of pool accessories.
The biggest drain on your budget, however, will be the pool maintenance costs. If you’re using professional pool cleaning and maintenance services, it will cost you hundreds of dollars per month. And even if you’re taking care of your pool yourself, you will still have a lot of expenses – for pool chemicals, filters, water test kits, and appropriate cleaning equipment (pool skimmer or net, pool brush, pool vacuum, etc.), as well as for occasional repairs.
3) Pools can be dangerous
When you move into a house with a pool, you’ll need to take precautions to prevent pool accidents – install safety features, make sure young children and pets don’t have access to the pool area, etc. (see below for details)
4) A pool can make a house more difficult to sell
Selling a house with a pool may not be easy – some people may not want a pool, some buyers may be turned off by the higher price, etc. In colder climates, a pool may actually decrease the resale value of a house.
Having considered the pros and cons of having a pool, you will know whether moving into a house with a pool is right for you or not. And if you decide that it is, you will want to move into your poolside house as soon as possible.
Tips for moving into a house with a pool
Once you’ve found a house with a pool that you like, you need to come up with a good strategy so you have a successful relocation and no pool-related troubles:
1. Organize your move well – follow a detailed moving checklist, set up a moving budget, hire experienced and trustworthy movers, take care of the paperwork, pack your belongings in a safe and efficient manner, and ensure a smooth moving day.
2. Deal with the pool issues:
- Find out as much about the pool as possible – ask when it was built, what company installed it, how it has been maintained, whether there have been any problems, etc.;
- Have a professional inspect the pool – the filtering system, the plumbing system, the pump, the liner, the surface of the pool, etc. You want to know about any existing problems beforehand – and if you decide to buy the house anyway, you need to fix the issues without delay;
- Find out what chemicals you’re going to need to keep the water in your pool safe and clean (take a sample of the water to the nearest pool supply store – they will test the water (most likely for free) and will tell you what chemicals to use and how often to apply them);
- Have the pool thoroughly cleaned and make sure everything is as it should be before you start using the pool;
- Make sure the pool is included in your homeowner’s insurance.
3. Ensure pool safety – take measures to prevent pool-related injury and drowning and make your pool safe for your kids, pets, and visitors:
- Install a pool safety fence – make sure the fence is tall enough, has a self-latching gate, and surrounds the pool completely;
- Invest in pool alarms – surface pool alarms that trigger an alarm inside the home when the water’s surface is broken and/or subsurface pool alarms that detect disturbances beneath the water surface. Subsurface alarms are more expensive, but they’re less prone to false triggers and more reliable;
- Make sure your children learn to swim;
- Always keep an eye on kids when they’re in or near the pool – never leave children unattended in the pool area, not even for a couple of minutes (it only takes a few seconds for an accident to happen);
- Remove toys and floats from the pool immediately after pool time is over (as such things can attract children to the water);
- Get first aid and CPR training, so you can help someone who has had an accident in or near the pool.
Once you’ve taken all the necessary safety precautions and made sure that your pool is in good shape and the water is balanced, you can finally throw a swim party – invite your friends and your new neighbors over and have some fun together. It’s a great way to celebrate your new life and to get to know the people next door. Happy moving!
