Community Chat

[Jayhawk Girl]

We’re thinking about putting in an in ground swimming pool.  The latest seems to be the salt water option.  Do any of you have any thoughts on this?  Also, any other “pool building” words of wisdom are most welcome!!  

[Bhvbum]

I have a neighbor who has been trying to sell their house for years and the major impediment is the swimming pool. So think hard about it.

[shaggygirl]

I have a 20 x 40 inground and trust me there are days I'd like to plant a stick of dynamite at each end and let it blow. But to answer your question, a neighbor across the street switched to the salt water option a few years back and they have no regrets. They claim they'd never go back.

[Sooner]

If there are a lot of pools in your neighborhood, check and see what houses with them have sold for and how quickly. You can do this online at places like Zillow.  I doubt it affects the price much.  But may affect sales time.

It just depends on where you live.  People do seem to like saltwater a lot better!  

[Silver Lining]

There's a house a block from me that has a salt water pool. Very pretty but it stayed on the market for more than a year. Another lovely home nearby had a pool. Military family was transferred and the house sat there empty for a very long time. They ended up having the listing real estate company arrange to have the pool filled in and the area sodded with grass. The house sold quickly afterwards. 

[threecees]

Not sure about an inground salt water pool.

We have an above ground pool and it is a lot of work. 

Have you had a pool in the past of any kind @Jayhawk Girl 

[SeaMaiden]

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@Bhvbum wrote:

I have a neighbor who has been trying to sell their house for years and the major impediment is the swimming pool. So think hard about it.

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@Bhvbum      I guess I do not do things in my home based on selling it down the road.  I do what makes ME HAPPY.  When I sell the home, things can be changed and removed...    Yes a pool is not easy to remove... but someone will come along and if the pool is well taken care of there will be a buyer out there somewhere. 

I am going to spend $15,000 for an whole house generator... because I want the security of having power when it goes out occationally in the winter here in Seatte.   The power hardly ever goes out, but, when it does... I want to have POWER.  SO for me this is an investment in my happiness and my feeling safe and secure.

 Some people would see this as  stupid... but not me. That is all that matters. Not what other people see as not necessary.     Why would someone base doing something in their home  for  selling it in the future??  Life is short..... do what makes YOU HAPPY.

[SahmIam]

@Jayhawk Girl  I've used both and prefer salt water, hands down. Those I know who have been in both also prefer salt water.

As for having one or not:

In my area, the insurance premiums plus the regulations for fences and covers makes it VERY expensive to have one. It is NOT an advantage as most people don't want to pay for the upkeep and if you want to get rid of an inground, you're looking at $50,000 up to do so for a small and simple one (the larger and the more ornate, the more expensive). 

Many look at landscaping the same way; the more flowers/plants, things in the yard, the more time, effort and money it will take to maintain it. Unless you're going to be there for a long time, it's considered a huge waste of money.

Again, this is in MY area. Pools are a negative and everyone knows it. BTW, above ground pools are not allowed unless you live way out in farm country in my county.

[esmerelda]

@SeaMaiden  Big difference between standby generator and a pool. One takes care you; you take care of the other. 

[kaydee50]

Before putting in any sort of inground pool, I would also take into consideration the maintenance time wise and cost wise and the fact that it will add to your property taxes.  I would weigh it against how much of the year I would actually be able to use the pool.

In the past we looked at several houses in northern NJ and if it had a pool, would immediately eliminate it.