Need your thoughts on a pool

I want to put in a semi inground pool this year- will cost about 10k. I also want to move in five years- my mother is telling me a pool will make my home harder to sell- do you agree?

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

For me personally, if I was shopping for a home, I would stay away from houses with a pool. It is more money in maint, and when I have kids, hopefully soon, it is something that I have to be worried about.
I had a pool for years at my last house. Loved the convenience, but after a while the maintenance costs and time, was just too much. Took the pool down before putting the house up for sale.

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

Yep I tend to agree. We're looking now and places with pools are on my "b" list - for a variety of reasons -- safety, with a toddler, is primary. Also I don't think I'd ever relax with visitors, I'd be too nervous to ever take my eyes off of it if other people's kids were in there... Then add in the maintenance and extra electricity and it's just not something of interest to me, when we'll be stretching ourselves to even purchase the home without those added costs.

Most of my friends with little kids feel the same, not a deal breaker, but I probably wouldn't install one, since it can hurt resale value....

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Houses with pools were an automatic turnoff to us. Even if we didnt have a dc it woukd be an added expense we didnt want. We also found a great house, but since there was a pool it just was to much money tomclose it up and remove it. So, i say nay on the pool.

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I guess I am in the minority. I grew up with an in ground pool and have one now also. I LOVE having a pool and it would be a plus for me. Laying out by the pool all summer, jumping in when it gets too hot, ahhh

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When we sold last summer, we were told by the buyers that our pool was a huge selling feature for them. Other bidders said the same thing.

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Posted by muffaboo

I guess I am in the minority. I grew up with an in ground pool and have one now also. I LOVE having a pool and it would be a plus for me. Laying out by the pool all summer, jumping in when it gets too hot, ahhh

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

I think it can help or hurt you...I know for us its not a deal breaker, but its not something a house HAS to have in order for us to buy.

Will there be backyard space if you put the pool in? That IS a deal breaker for us...we found a great house that we loved but the whole backyard was taken up by the patio and pool so we had to move on.

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

We're looking right now and want a pool.
We don't want the expense of putting one in, we wanted it already there.

In our group of friends, 4 couples bought a house with a pool.

Guess it could go either way.

ETS: 3 of those 4 couples have young kids.

Message edited 2/24/2011 1:19:56 PM.

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

When we were looking, we didn't really have a preference and ended up with a house with a pool. Honestly, we haven't even gotten much use out of it. When we first moved in, the pool was disgusting b/c the previous owners hadn't cleaned it in 2 years So basically DH and FIL emptied it, cleaned it and refilled it and then closed it up.

Last year we didn't get to use it much either because we were so busy with the wedding and HM and everything.

I'm hoping this year we'll get to take more advantage of it.

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

as an agent I would say it could go either way

however- I have more then 1 buyer who wants an inground pool and I have never had anyone tell me they love the house but don't want b/c of the pool

above ground pools are easy to get rid of - a quick ad on craigs lists and you'll have a "scrapper" take it away for free

so I would do what makes you happy- you might not end up moving in 5 year

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

When DH & I were looking for a house we wanted a pool very badly but just couldnt find a house that we liked w/one. So we bought our house & sacrificed the pool. We plan to to put one in summer '12. I only plan on staying in my home till 2017, the latest, and then move.

So if I were you I would go for it.

FYI...my DH refuses to finish the basement b/c he feels that it will hurt our resale value....I think he is bonkers!!!

Message edited 2/24/2011 2:32:35 PM.

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

Posted by muffaboo

I guess I am in the minority. I grew up with an in ground pool and have one now also. I LOVE having a pool and it would be a plus for me. Laying out by the pool all summer, jumping in when it gets too hot, ahhh

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

I love having a pool, we put ours in, I would say an inground pool is a plus as long as the previous owners keep up with it, theres no leaks, there is a heater and the equipment is in good condition.

We have pavers all around our pool and i would be shocked if we ever sold if someone said they didn't want the house cause of the pool or wanted to fill it in

Here are some pics!
Cant wait for summer to come

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

i think it all depends on the buyers! my friend is house hunting and wants a pool sooo badly.
me on the other hand i did not want a house with a pool and wouldnt even look at them if it was inground...above ground i would consider if the seller took it down.

Re: Need your thoughts on a pool

I agree with Beth -- in my experience as an agent, it depends on the buyer and their own lifestyle and preferences. For some it's a plus, for others it's a minus (because of liability or safety or maintenance issues). Therefore, I wouldn't make a future move and potential buyers' reactions a big factor in your decision.

Two things I would add:

1. Consider where you live -- I find that people who are looking at waterfront properties tend to view the pool as a plus and part of the "lifestyle" they are buying with a waterfront property, and pools are more common in those homes. That's just an example, but I think pools are considered more desirable in certain communities than others.

2. Consider how big your property is -- I know a lot of my customers with kids are looking for a yard with grass for playing etc., and while they might not be adverse to a pool, they would not want the pool to take up the entire backyard.

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Can I just how big of a pool are you getting? I have a semi in gound pool.
It's a 4 feet 2 feet in the groung 2 feet out

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When we go house shopping.... we are def looking for a pool.

I think there are those who want pools and those who don't. It goes both ways.

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When we were looking for homes and I read that it had a pool- we didn't even bother. It was a total turnoff!!!

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I think it all depends on who is buying. When my family bought their current house the previous owners had a pool and my family loved that. I personally would want a house with a pool because I enjoyed having one growing up. Some people may not want it because it is alot of maintenance so it's not meant for everyone.