There’s no doubt that a swimming pool can add a lot of appeal and enjoyment to any backyard. So, if you’re looking to buy a home and your ultimate design happens to have a pool attached, it’s easy to jump right in and buy it.
Stop!
While buying a home that already has a pool installed can save you almost $100,000 in installation costs, a pool comes with a considerable monthly maintenance bill. It’ll cost you even more if it’s old and in a state of disrepair.
You should never buy a home with a pool unless you’ve arranged a pool inspection beforehand. It’s also unwise to include the pool as part of your home inspection, and here’s why.
1. You Need an Expert Opinion
It’s important to arrange for a specialist pool inspector to examine the pool. Most home inspectors aren’t well versed in the specifics concerning swimming pools. They usually have a basic checklist that they work from.
Specialist pool inspectors have years of experience checking pools and can spot common pool problems right at the outset.
Swimming pools have a lot of complicated parts that involved detailed inspection. These include filters, pumps, and heaters.
Other aspects of your pool that can cause maintenance issues down the line include the tile, coping, and salt damage in saltwater pools.
They can also provide you with an itemized report with pages of in-depth information highlighting any defect. You could use this in your favor when negotiating a price with the owner.
Most insurance providers don’t cover aspects like cracks in the swimming pool shell, loose coping stones, or hollow tile that’s about to fall off the wall. So, it’s important to know about these things from the outset.
2. Determining Legalities and Safety Features
An inspection will also reveal if the pool meets local safety regulations. These vary from municipality to municipality and state to state.
Your pool inspector will know what’s required in your area let you know if the pool is up to standard.
If it isn’t you’ll need to make some adjustments before you buy the house.
For example, in most areas, you need to have a permanent fence of at least 5 feet high surrounding your pool. If your new house doesn’t have this important safety feature, it can cost a few thousand dollars to get one erected.
Other important safety features include alarms on doors and windows leading to the pool, safety glass on windows near the water’s edge, and a pool cover that can bear the weight of a child.
The pool should also have federally-approved anti-entrapment covers on all the suction outlets in the pool.
You can use information like this in your negotiations with the homeowner too since you’ll need to implement these features yourself. Especially if you have small children.
You can also earn a fine from your local municipality if your pool’s not up to code.
3. A Pool Inspection Saves You Money
If you’re nervous about all the responsibilities and maintenance that go hand in hand with a pool, a pool inspector can fill you in on what to expect with the particular pool going forward.
They’ll also be able to warn you about any once-off as well as ongoing expenses to expect from the pool.
Outdoor pools spend their entire existence exposed to the elements. They’re exposed to blazing heat and freezing cold conditions, normal wear and tear, and chemical onslaught.
These factors quickly turn a sparkling new pool into a cracked, leaking money pit.
Your pool inspector can advise you whether the pool is beyond repair or whether it’s worth fixing. At the very least they can provide you with an estimate for a total resurfacing, or a written recommendation to fill the pool in.
Either way, you’ll have the bargaining tools you need when negotiating a price with the home seller.
With the advice and guidance of an experienced pool inspector, you won’t encounter any costly and unpleasant surprises after you’ve bought the house.
So, if you’re in two minds about the extra pool inspection cost, consider how much you’ll save later on.
4. The Pool May Have Unseen Problems
Pool equipment’s a lot more complex than it seems, with many moving parts. A pool inspector can make sure these are operating at an optimum before you buy the pool.
The best way to test the pool is by running the equipment to evaluate its performance. A pressure test for leaks can reveal any expensive repairs that may be lurking in the near future.
They will also check the electrical components involved in the pool’s operation.
5. Pools Can Have Extra Issues
Apart from the inner workings of the pool, they also have several other features that a home inspector won’t check.
These could include a wooden deck, hot tub, lighting, water features, or an infinity edge with a catch basin. All these things are a wonderful addition to your backyard but they can cost a lot of money to repair and maintain.
A pool inspector will also consider your backyard’s layout when advising you. They’ll be able to tell if the prevailing wind’s going to blow dust into your pool constantly, or whether falling leaves from nearby trees could cause problems with cleaning.
Thanks to a pool inspector’s years of experience, you won’t have to learn the hard way about the prospective pitfalls of owning the pool in question.
Defining Your Ideal Home
For many families, the benefits of owning a pool far outweigh the expense and occasional hassle.
You can enjoy hours of family fun and outdoor entertaining with neighbors, keep fit, and stay cool in the hot summer months.
A swimming pool adds a resort feel to any backyard and is a wonderful place for relaxing, reading, or sunbathing, even when you’re not swimming.
If you think you can master all the pool owner tips you need to keep a swimming pool, spic, span, and safe all year round go ahead and get the house with the pool.
Whatever you do, don’t neglect to get a pool inspection before you do.
If you’re looking for more advice on how to make the most of your home and garden, keep reading our blog.
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