Pools can be fun and in our hot Arizona whether they are a relief most sunny afternoons, but buying a home with a pool might not be as glamorous as it sounds. There are some things to consider when touring and looking at homes with swimming pools. Here are five things to know about buying a home with a swimming pool.
#1. Regular maintenance.
Obviously, you’re going to have to maintain a swimming pool and it does take a little bit more time, money, and chemicals to keep it clean and balance the pH levels. There are plenty of pool service companies throughout Mesa and Scottsdale and they can cost anywhere from $50-$150 per week. This is necessarily a bad thing, but something to be aware of.
#2. Your utility bills could be high.
If you’ve never owned a swimming pool before be prepared for an increase in utility costs. Homeowners can pay up to $300 more per year in electricity just operate a pool pump. Talk to the existing homeowners on the cost of their utilities compared to your own.
Related: Things to Consider Before Putting in a Pool Slide
#3. You must be careful with kids and pets.
Drowning is the leading cause of injury-related deaths in children ages 1 to 4 so it’s important that you take necessary precautions when buying a home with a swimming pool, especially if you have kids. But even if you don’t, you could be liable if kids sneak into your backyard to use your pool. Because so many people have pools in Mesa this is rarely an issue, but it is something to be aware of.
#4. Association or community rules.
Your homeowner’s association, if you have one, may require that you install a fence around the perimeter of the swimming pool. If you’re buying a home in association with an established pool, you probably won’t have to do anything except move in and take care of it. But it’s important to understand the rules, even if the previous homeowner didn’t adhere to them. Your homeowner’s insurance may also increase due to the fact that you have a liability in the backyard. It’s something to ask about before finalizing the offer.
#5. It could increase your property value.
Clearly, having a swimming pool in the Mesa area is a perk in any home. Around the Mesa area having a swimming pool in the backyard definitely increases your property value, so in our area, it’s a great idea but in cooler areas or those that experience a serious winter, a swimming pool may not add value and may be seen as more of a hindrance than a benefit.
Buying a home with a swimming pool is pretty common in Mesa so you shouldn’t feel anxious about buying one but it is important to understand all of the legalities and issues that come along with owning a pool.