The thought of having a pool in your backyard fills you with lots of excitement. Wouldn’t it be fantastic to step outside in the summer sun and take a dip in your private pool? If you have kids, they’ll love it too – and it can add a certain ambiance to your home’s exterior.
It sounds like the perfect idea, but don’t forget pools can be expensive. They also require lots of construction work and will completely change the way your yard looks. This is a big investment, so you must consider everything before going ahead. The quickest way to know if you’re ready for a private pool is by answering the three questions below:
Will a pool raise or lower your home’s value?
We’ll begin with the toughest question as there isn’t one answer that rules over all. Depending on where you live, a pool can raise or lower your home’s value. If you live in an area with lots of sun where every house has a pool, then not having a pool can decrease your property’s value.
In conjunction with this, you need to ask yourself if the answer matters. Do you care if a pool lowers the value of your home? It could be your forever home, so all you care about is making the most idyllic place for you and your family.
Are you going to keep up with pool maintenance?
Homeowners are never fully aware of how much pool maintenance there is to deal with. You need to clean your pool, deal with cycling the water, put chemicals in it, and so much more.
It’s not something you can install and then leave to its own devices. What’s worse is that a poorly maintained pool will get gross very quickly. Algae or mold can form at the bottom or around the edges, so you need to commit to regular upkeep. Whether you do this yourself or hire a pool maintenance company is up to you – just be sure you’re willing to accept the burden.
Can you truly afford to install and keep a pool?
According to HomeGuide, it can cost between $3,000 and $6,000 each year to own a pool. This includes the maintenance, repairs, electricity, and water costs.
See, it’s a huge financial commitment.
Ask yourself; can you genuinely afford this? The figure above doesn’t take into consideration the cost of pool installation, which will be another few thousand dollars. If your finances allow this, then go right ahead and do it. It could be the best decision you ever made! Just be aware of how much this will roughly cost per year before you make your mind up.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, a private pool is one of the most sought-after home improvements. If you don’t care what this installation does to the property value, are willing to handle maintenance, and can afford the general upkeep, then nothing’s stopping you from getting a pool. Take your time when weighing up this decision as you don’t want it to be one you regret.
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It got me when you said that neglecting full maintenance will quickly make that amenity gross. And I can imagine how unsafe it is for people to get in a pool that is not completely clean and without properly balanced chemicals. It can definitely affect both adults and kids if they accidentally drink or ingest the water when it is dirty or has a lot of chemicals.
I completely agree Mia!
I appreciate it when you explain that the usual cost of owning a pool would be between $3,000 and $6,000 each year. I will share this information with my husband to know if we can afford it, since we definitely dream of having our own in the backyard. If we do, then we can start looking for swimming pool builders this spring for it to be ready for the summer season.
That is great Mia, I appreciate your comment.