What would you find more desirable, pool or not?

[Deleted]

A pool and a garden in the back yard can be a good combination. The plantings in our back yard aren't anything special- just what the builder put in, plus what the previous owner planted- but it's beautiful to float on my back and look up at the flowers, or to look out from the sunroom to the pool and the garden below.

[Deleted]

No pool, Never again. The house we have now had a huge in ground pool that we used for 7 years. We found we just cleaned it but didn't use it that much. It was also really expensive with the chemicals and power. We had it dug out in the fall. The back yard looks much bigger and more useful without it.

[Deleted]

I live in the South and summers can be brutally hot. When I was looking for a house, I did NOT want a pool. I don't value them enough for it to be worth the hassle. Then again, I don't want to have to deal with a lot of high-maintenance landscaping either. I'm just lazy I guess, so it's best for me to keep it simple.

[la808]

The highlight of my yard is a large Koi pond and although it's pretty, it's becoming a PITA. I can only imagine what a headache a pool would be. Don't think I'd like one.

[Opti]

Dec 30, 2010 17:44:36 GMT -5 @la808 said:

The highlight of my yard is a large Koi pond and although it's pretty, it's becoming a PITA. I can only imagine what a headache a pool would be. Don't think I'd like one.

How big is the pond? I think a Koi pond would be cool but with
the filters and all maybe its a lot of maintenance?

[Artemis Windsong]

In my fantasy world an endless pool would be great. I quit swimming public pools in the 80s because of the chlorine. Our in-house hot tub became a problem and was empty for 20 years until we took it out. Within a detached gazebo, I have firends who use their hot tub every day in this frozen tundra of a state. A spa bath tub would be a better way to go. That could be filled fresh everyday. A big window with nice plants to give the outdoor feel.

My DD tried a Koi pool. She would be heart broken when the fish died and expensive to replace. It's a garden now.

[sesfw]

When we looked for our present home, one of the criteria was no pool. We can get a very expensive club membership for the funds and time spent on a pool. PITA

[Peace Of Mind]

Dec 29, 2010 2:30:21 GMT -5 Cheesy FL-Vol said:

Garden/lawn.

IMHO there is far more satisfaction to keeping up a beautiful garden than a pool. A pool is a PITA to keep up.

I agree. I have a garden with a water feature in our back yard and front yard. We would not use a pool and the cost and hassles with keeping it clean, the screen repaired and the water balanced would be a PITA. Also the space needed to store the chemicals, floats, etc. along with the pump which is so ugly... not worth it.

We did choose a community that has a pool with all the amenity center features that include a club house, etc. if somebody wanted to swim.

[la808]

Dec 30, 2010 17:44:36 GMT -5 @la808 said:

The highlight of my yard is a large Koi pond and although it's pretty, it's becoming a PITA. I can only imagine what a headache a pool would be. Don't think I'd like one.

The pond is about 12 feet in diameter and about 4 feet deep in the middle. It has a nice filter system, but does require some maintenance. I've had it for years and do enjoy sitting next to it.

[❤ mollymouser ❤]

We swim in our in-ground pool from April through October. That's how long our summer lasts here in central California ~ and we average 50 days per year over 100 degrees. Our average temperature in July is 97 degrees. It's nice to have a pool.

That being said, there are a number of costs that go along with pool ownership that need to be considered.

1. Electricity. We have some of the highest electricity rates in the United States (.46/KwH), and having a pool adds to our electricity bill 12 months of the year. Even in months that we don't use heat or air conditioning, our electricity charges are close to $200. Why? Pools use a lot of energy. Depending on your electricity rates as well as your environmental concerns about using/wasting energy ~ this may be something to consider.

2. Ordinary maintenance. We employ a pool service to clean our pool, service the filters, empty the skimmers and baskets, and ensure our pool sweep is working. (He also does repairs, at additional costs.) Our cost is $115 per month. Even if you do this yourself, there will be some costs for chemicals and supplies, and you will be making a time investment.

3. Other maintenance. Pool filters. Pool pumps. Tile cleaning. Pool sweep repair and replacement. Replastering. At some point in your pool ownership, some or all of these will be realities (and expenses) that you should expect to face. And when they occur, they can be expensive.

4. Liability Issues. In some locations, additional fencing around pools is required. Even if that's not the case, I do believe that the presence of a pool on the property impacts your homeowner's liability insurance. And, of course, you will want to be exceptionally vigilant when your own children, or visiting children are visiting ~ even if they aren't "supposed" to be outside. Pool covers, pool alarms, self-locking doors/gates ... are all additional expenses that may become necessary.

[daylight]

Garden. If you can afford it, don't mind the liability and the expenses and you'd actually use it regularly, the pool may not be such a bad choice either. I voted garden since I would not use it enough to justify the expenses and liability.

[Opti]

LA, sounds like a nice Koi pond. I did some reading on Koi ponds and was surprised to learn that some people in more Northern areas bring their fish in for the winter unless they have a really deep pond.

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 29, 2010 2:17:39 GMT -5 ihearyou2 said:

Make the assumption you live in a warm clime. What would you prefer for your backyard if you could only choose one. A pool or a garden/lawn area and why? From a neutral perspective what do you think would add more value?

We only have 3 months of summer but I loved my in-ground pool. Unfortunatley, I had had three summers with it before we sold our house. Pools do not add value in NE Pennsylvania so that was $50K out the window. We are moving into our new house in a few weeks and I will most likely put another pool in there. I did not find them that expensive (though to heat it into September did cost us about $500 but I also keep it at 92) and they were not much maintenance at all (we had the auto skimmers and vaccuum).

I would find a pool to be a necessity if I lived in a warmer climate. I don't like swimming in large toilets (AKA public pools).

[Miss Tequila]

Dec 30, 2010 10:06:51 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

NO pools for me. I think there are a lot of people that really don't like pools, dont' want the hassle of maintenance and view it as a danger if they have small children or grandchildren. If there were comparable houses, I would opt for the house without the pool.

And I would always opt for the house with the pool.

[cashflowz]

From the resale real estate standpoint, a pool will return only a fraction of the dollars invested in it, as a rule. If you want a house with a pool, buy one with the pool already installed.

[Deleted]

Jan 2, 2011 16:02:36 GMT -5 @cashflowz said:

From the resale real estate standpoint, a pool will return only a fraction of the dollars invested in it, as a rule. If you want a house with a pool, buy one with the pool already installed.

I agree- I would never have forked over the money to install a pool. Like many other home improvements, you have to be comfortable with it being a sunk cost and not a dollar-for-dollar addition to the value of the house. For a room addition, remodeled kitchen, and other improvements you do have a chance of getting some return, but not a pool.

[TheOtherMe]

Definitely a beautiful garden. Here in the Midwest, the time to use a pool is way too short for the cost. I would never even allow a realtor to show me a home with a pool. I simply do not want the liability or expenses.

[bobbysgirl]

At this stage in my life, I'd like the garden. I could grow food and flowers, as I wanted. I think it may depend on your personal needs and choices.

[TD2K]

Pools make sense for some people. I know of one pair who live around their pool in Indiana during the summer and their pool is most of their back yard :-). I'd never put one in though.

[Miss Tequila]

Jan 2, 2011 18:25:36 GMT -5 TD2K said:

Pools make sense for some people. I know of one pair who live around their pool in Indiana during the summer and their pool is most of their back yard :-). I'd never put one in though.

That's how we were....except we had three acres so we still had a huge yard. We have children and we all loved the pool. I really miss it

[la808]

Jan 2, 2011 15:51:12 GMT -5 Opti said:

LA, sounds like a nice Koi pond. I did some reading on Koi ponds and was surprised to learn that some people in more Northern areas bring their fish in for the winter unless they have a really deep pond.

Our Koi winter over just fine and it gets really cold here. If the pond starts to freeze over, we simply dribble water into it, so that there is an air hole. We live in a really arid area and the humidity that the pond gives off in the heat helps the plants in the yard.

[Miss Tequila]

Jan 2, 2011 19:25:09 GMT -5 @patstab said:

I would like to have one. Our doc keeps saying it would help DD and I if we used it. But that's it would we use it all the time. I know its expensive but here in Houston you could use it a large portion of the year. But I know we will never get one. Just like we won't get a horse I've always wanted. To much extra expense.

Pat, you need to live a little. You have a lot of savings and investments, your husband makes great money and you are in your 60's. Spend some money and enjoy life.

[Poppet]

NO pool.

[The J]

Pat, I agree with Tina -- you have the money. Go for it.

[crockpottin]

Given the choice, (and endless money, lol) I'd go for an indoor pool...my grandparents had one when I was growing up and I loved it. My DH, on the other hand, is an avid gardener and would love to have a larger garden. FWIW, we live on a small city lot, so neither one of us is getting what we want any time soon!

[4boyz1gurl]

Unless, it's really hot for at least 8 months, don't do it. We has one in the Northeast and it was a lot of work.

[mudflap81]

I rented a house with a pool, and it wasn't bad. My roommate did the lawn and I did the pool maintenance, which wasn't that bad.

In the end, wife and I are indifferent towards one. We're looking to buy a house in 2011 and a pool isn't on the list, but having one won't remove the house from the list. We also won't pay extra for it. A lot of people in this area add $50,000 to the price tag of the house simply because it has a pool and either the house doesn't sell or if you check the land records after it sells, you see it selling for the same price as homes without a pool.

[oreo]

We live in So Cal and my next door neighbors have an in-ground pool. They don't maintain it and the city has had to put fish in it to eat the mosquito larvae. It is black and green--pretty gross. I'm assuming they can't afford to maintain it.

I now have a 2-year-old who loves water so I'm contemplating an above ground pool. We had one when I was a kid.

[kinetickid]

Dec 29, 2010 2:17:39 GMT -5 ihearyou2 said:

Make the assumption you live in a warm clime. What would you prefer for your backyard if you could only choose one. A pool or a garden/lawn area and why? From a neutral perspective what do you think would add more value?

For us, no pool.

pool = expense + liability

[kinetickid]

Dec 30, 2010 10:06:51 GMT -5 Lady Gaga Gaga Snerd said:

NO pools for me. I think there are a lot of people that really don't like pools, dont' want the hassle of maintenance and view it as a danger if they have small children or grandchildren. If there were comparable houses, I would opt for the house without the pool.