Many people dream of owning their own pool. Pools are great for entertaining friends and family, and they mean relief from the summer heat is only a short walk to the backyard away. However, there are a lot of factors that go into pool ownership that many home buyers don’t realize when thinking about installing a new pool. Owning and maintaining a pool takes a lot more than just buying chlorine and skimming off falling leaves. Here are some of the most important factors to take into account when considering buying installing a new pool.

Some Neighborhoods Don’t Allow Pools

The biggest barrier for getting a pool is finding out if the HOA or homeowner’s association allows them. Some HOAs bar pools altogether, and others only allow above ground pools that can be disassembled. When thinking about buying a pool, Suncrest homeowners need to find out if their HOA has any rules regarding pools and make sure they’re working within those guidelines. Homeowner should also look into city laws regarding pools, especially if they don’t have an HOA, because many cities have their own rules. Once a homeowner knows the pool they want isn’t breaking any rules, they can comfortably start looking into the process of purchasing their pool.

Having a Pool Increases Insurance Rates

After installing a pool, homeowners will quickly discover that their homeowners insurance payments have increased. This is due to the potential danger that comes with owning a pool, which is categorized by insurance companies as an “attractive nuisance”. Attractive nuisances include things like pools, ponds, trampolines, and other things that young children would want to play with. In order for insurance companies to cover the home, homeowners need to ensure that they’ve followed all the rules for protecting it. This includes things like keeping it fenced off, having clear signs that there is a pool, and having the entrance to it locked when not in use.

Upkeep and Maintenance Costs Money

As mentioned briefly before, homeowners will of course have to buy the essentials for their pool like chlorine, replacement filters, and so on. However, if the pool is in a location where I can’t be used year-round, homeowners will also have to open and close it each year. If the homeowner wants to heat the pool, that’s also extra money due to the power heating so much water requires. All these costs and fees add up, so homeowners who want a pool need to understand that pool ownership isn’t just a one-time payment and be able to expect the bills before they arrive.

Owning a Pool Affects a Home’s Value

Some people love pools, but others don’t. Because different people have different tastes, having a home with a pool can affect a home’s value both positively and negatively. The location of the home also has a big influence on the home’s value—a home with a pool in Florida is going to sell for more money than the same home if it were in Idaho. If the homeowner plans to move out of the home, they need to take the change in value into account and have a plan for what they want to do regarding the pool.

A pool can be a great purchase to add to a home that can bring many hours of summertime fun, but homeowners need to know understand the costs and responsibilities that pool ownership comes with. Keeping these factors in mind can help homeowners decide if owning a pool is for them.