Pros and Cons of Owning A Home With A Pool
Who wouldn't want a pool?
A closer look uncovers the reality (and hazards) of pool ownership, good and bad, and all should be considered by potential homeowners.
Realtors say pools lower resale value. Americans are increasingly forgoing swimming pools. Over 28.4 million U.S. households owned a pool in spring 2009. By April 2017, it was 18.9 million.
This deterioration is financially-driven. In 2009, the Great Recession was still raging, so many cash-strapped homeowners stopped paying for pools.
U.S. homeowners may not desire the inconvenience and expense of developing and maintaining a pool.
Experts agree having a pool has benefits. Pool ownership has many benefits:
Realtors say pools lower resale value. Americans are increasingly forgoing swimming pools. Over 28.4 million U.S. households owned a pool in spring 2009. By April 2017, it was 18.9 million.
This deterioration is financially-driven. In 2009, the Great Recession was still raging, so many cash-strapped homeowners stopped paying for pools.
U.S. homeowners may not desire the inconvenience and expense of developing and maintaining a pool.
Experts agree having a pool has benefits. Pool ownership has many benefits:
Physical and mental health benefit from swimming. "If you're a swimmer, a pool may double as your workout," says Jennifer Beeston, a mortgage lender in Santa Rosa, Calif. "My family's best times have been at my pool. My son and his pals plunging from the waterfall as I read is priceless."
Your home looks good. A well-designed pool can bring indoor and outdoor design together like few other components, says Beverly Solomon of Beverly Solomon Design in Austin, Texas. "I still envy a client/friend with a hilltop home/vineyard and an infinity pool," she admits. "It appears like water is flowing into space with mountain views for miles."
Here are several pool drawbacks.
Pool Cons
Precious. Solomon argues that despite marketing from pool gadgets and chemical businesses, pools require effort and attention. "Design, site prep, and building costs are just the tip," she explains. "Maintenance, insurance, and upkeep are expensive. Energy prices can add $100 or more to your monthly bill."
Risks. Teris Pantazes, the co-founder of EFynch in Baltimore, Md., says pool safety is paramount. Pools are inherently unsafe, thus most towns require a lockable fence, explains Pantazes. "Drowning and diving are prevalent concerns, and because pools attract attention, these dangers are like a magnet that draws everyone around. I've heard lots of stories about intruders using home pools or kids when parents are gone, which is dangerous."
Insurance premiums. The safety concern with pools causes homeowners to seek supplementary insurance to cover accidents and other safety issues. Charlie Riley, a pool owner and marketing director at Curbell Plastics, Inc. in Orchard Park, N.Y., recommends adding an umbrella policy to your homeowner's coverage due to the increased liability a pool entails. "Fencing, cameras and locking systems may be required when children are present. My 20-month-old offers another safety layer."
Mark Ferguson, a real estate broker and investor, says "consider your neighborhood." "Pools can increase a property's value in some places. In some locations, they reduce home values."
In Ferguson's native state of Colorado, in-ground pools are only functional for a few months. In Colorado, an in-ground pool can be a detriment. "Maintenance exceeds benefits. I've seen individuals buy houses, fill in pools, and resell them for more money."
Conclusion? A pool is a terrific place to relax, swim, and spend time with family and friends. It's a financial, maintenance, and safety headache.
Solomon compares a pool to a puppy in a pet store display. "It's so enticing, you don't consider the cons."
If you can afford a pool, you'll love it like a puppy.
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Leslie Don Wilson
Realtor - ABR AHWD ALHS CIPS CNE CRS GREEN GRI MCNE SFR SRES TRLP
Houston - 281-804-2291
DFW - 214-702-3447
Texas Pride Realty Group
Brokered by: HomeSmart Stars