For a lot of people, having an outdoor pool on their property is one of the highest signifiers of a high-class home that meets all of their needs. Whether you want easy access to reliable, easy exercise, or you simply love the idea of lounging by the water in the summer before cooling off, there are plenty of great reasons to add a pool. However, there are also some caveats that homeowners need to learn before they invest money in installing one. Here are a few things you should know.
Safety Should Be Your First Priority
If you’re getting a pool, then you need to be responsible for it, as, legally speaking, you’re definitely going to be liable for it. Drowning risks are real, especially when there are children and pets involved. As such, you might want ot invest in secure fencing as well as self-closing gates, as well as covers and pool alarms to give the pool as much protection as possible. Make sure that you set clear rules for anyone with access to the pool, as well, such as no diving in shallow areas and no swimming when adults aren’t around.
While your pool can certainly offer a ton of fun, it’s also going to require a lot of maintenance. They need regular cleaning to remove derris, as well as chemical balancing to prevent bacterial growth and keep the water clear. You also need to inspect and maintain your filtration systems routinely to ensure they’re working to make the pool healthy. You can easily find a seasonal pool maintenance guide (with free download) to make sure that you’re staying on top of your routine care. Otherwise, neglecting maintenance can lead to costly repairs, algae buildup, or even health risks for swimmers.
Pools Don’t Always Add Value To The Home
Lastly, it’s worth considering the impact the pool has on your home. A lot of people install pools to dress up the home exterior and give it some curb appeal in order to increase its value. However, for a lot of potential buyers, the implicit work that comes with owning a pool can be a negative, balancing out the positive of having such a great feature to begin with. It’s important to know your potential buyers. In some markets, especially higher-end homes, pools definitely do tend to add value, but it’s not always a given.
Know How It Affects Your Budget
Pools come with costs that go well beyond the installation, which you need to be prepared for. All of the maintenance mentioned above is one such cost, but running your pumps, heaters, and filtration systems is going to increase your home’s energy use significantly, while topping up the water levels also increases your utility bills. It’s important to budget realistically for these ongoing costs before installing or buying a home with a pool, as they’re an ongoing commitment, not just a one-time investment.
The points above aren’t to put you off the idea of owning a pool if that’s what you really want. It’s just important to make sure that you’re adding it for the right reason and giving it the care it needs.
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