Cost, time and pitfalls of having a built in pool?
Also of interest, does it indeed increase the value of the home as I have heard.
Answers:
The value to the home is tricky in that you do increase the value, but you also are limited to a niche market. I bought a house despite the pool, not because of it. I paid a company $25 per week to maintain it during the season plus about 300 to shut it down for the winter and another 300 to open it in the spring. Your homeowners insurance will increase because of the liability factor. By the way, the fence is mandatory but it is not enough. Even an eight foot fence with a self-closing and latching gate and padlocks is not enough. You also need motion sensors and such. And it is not just your kids, although they are at risk. Every pool owner I know has found out about neighborhood kids swimming in the pool when no one was home. And if they drown, guess who gets sued for maintaining an attractive nuisance with inadequate security measures? I live in a climate where we could use the pool about 5 months of the year. In that five months I appreciated having it for maybe 12 hours total. The rest of the time it was just a burden.
Other answers:
the biggest problem of having a backyard pool is the liability of someone unauthorized getting hurt or dead in your pool. in most states, YOU are responsible and could get the crap sued out of you even if you lock it up with a pool cover. check your local laws
the biggest problem of having a backyard pool is the liability of someone unauthorized getting hurt or dead in your pool. in most states, YOU are responsible and could get the crap sued out of you even if you lock it up with a pool cover. check your local laws
The increase in value of your home by having a pool installed is very small, not really worth it. If you are going to stay in your home for a long time then you may want to have a pool installed for your own enjoyment and not for expected added value to your home. As for running cost remember you pay for that cost ALL year (lower in the winter because you don't use as many chemicals and you don't run the pump as many hours). If you are not going to live in that home for a long time then you may want to consider buying a home with a pool already installed next time and let that seller take the loss instead of you because it is a loss. Whatever prices you see in ads for pools increase that amount by double or triple to get a realistic price. Those advertised prices are more like bait and switch prices.
Follow up to oldguys remarks, in California someone had a pool with one of those heater covers and a next door neighbors dog thought it was solid. As you guessed it, the dog walked on the cover fell in drowned and the owners of the dog sued their neighbors and won. By the way the pool owners also had swimming pool warning signs posted all around their fence to boot.
Most costly is electric from ther heater, so get a good rated one!
Solar blankets can really help there!
Chemical costs, well salt is my choice, non caustic, they use more chemicals depending on the season.
A poolcage/ screen, help allot with cleaning!
Code enforcement would still require either a barrier, like a kiddie fence, or alarm if "attached" to house, like in between house and pool. Also around entitre pool area. In FL we have drownings every year, tons of them.
Also, get a good coating, regular ones have to be redone every few years very very costly! I like the ones like pebble tech. Guaranteed!
But I have to say , to me the benefits are wonderful!