House with swimming pool

[artyjools]

I never thought in a million years I would be posting a message like this!

Anyway, having completely given up on the idea of moving house and having taken ours off the market a few weeks ago, someone who offered before but coudn't sell theirs now has a complete chain beneath them and still wants ours. So I have been charging around like a mad woman looking at houses, as the schooling situation means we really need to exchange before the start of next term (aaaagggghhhh!!!!).

I have seen a house in the right area which I love. The only thing is that it has a swimming pool in the garden. It is a really lovely below ground pool, which takes up about a quarter of the garden. To be honest, I would prefer it wasn't there. My kids are old enough for me not to worry about safety issues too much, but I think the hassle and cost might override the benefits of a few days a year fun in the pool. But I really, really love the house.

Do you think the pool devalues the house? Can anyone with a pool let me know whether its worth it or not please? What about filling a pool in? Anyone done this / know how much it costs?

[CroissantNeuf]

Apparently pools in the garden can de-value a house.

They can also be an expensive PITA to maintain.

However this is only what I've heard as I've never actually owned a house with a pool myself (although we did once look at one that had an indoor swim-spa....now that is something I would love!)

Has it been on the market for a while? If so it could be that the pool is putting people off so you might be able to use this in negotiating a lower price?

[lalalonglegs]

They are very costly to maintain (I know a couple of people who have them) and it would put off some people with young children/dogs etc BUT the friends I know who have them do say that they are brilliant even for a few days a year - children love having one, great at parties, means they have to go out a lot less iyswim. So, if that were the only problem with the house, I wouldn't let it put me off. If it turns into a real bind, a couple of lorry-loads of top soil and you have a new herbaceous border .

[fivegomadindorset]

The thing that puts me off swimming pools is the cost to heat and maintain, we put in a swimming pond which is not heated so minimal expense, but the DC's love it are in most days.

[cheekychickenknickers]

Mum and dad have a pool int he garden and it wasn't mentioned on the house particulars because it had been putting people off going to look.

However, it has been a joy! the kids have all learned to swim in it, every BBQ each summer turns into a pool party, and Mum and Dad have benefitted from being able to jump in for a swim a couple of times a day in the summer without a second thought.

For me it has been lovely as I have eczema and the amount of chlorine in normal pools is so high but mum and dad just have to put the minimum in so mu skin feels ok.

Go for it!!

[artyjools]

Thank you for your quick responses.

The house hasn't been on the market for very long, so its difficult to tell whether people like the pool or not. It isn't a heated pool, so the cost will be lower. Fivegomadindorset - great to see your lot are loving an unheated pool. In fact, more positive than negative comments.

Of course, the kids love the idea. DH hasn't seen it yet as he is away on business, but I think it is likely to put him off. Guess I'll have to see what he says when he sees it.

[fivegomadindorset]

Bung on wetsuits, they will love it, DS gets a bot cold but he is not quite 3 so not a very 'active' swimmer. Had my family over yesterday and nephews were all iin and the week before everyone was in so is used alot. We have been in since Easter and last year swam until mid September so quite alot.

[GrendelsMum]

The only person I know with a swimming pool - which was indoor, no less - said that their family never used it as it was just too much hassle to maintain every year, and they ended up just leaving it empty and storing stuff around the edges of the room :)

[GrendelsMum]

A swimming pond, on the other hand, even I might like!

[MrsCholmondleyWarner]

We had a swimming pool in the garden of the house I grew up in and we loved, loved, loved it!

We had the most amazing family barbecues and we seemed to spend most days swimming in the summer.

Thinking about it though, I can remember my Dad spending lots of time cleaning and maintaining it and my Mum always moaned that we had every kid in the neighbourhood in it on a sunny day. But it can't have been that much of a drag as they did seriously consider building one in the next house they moved to.

Overall, I'm v envious!

[artyjools]

Yes, its the hassle of it all that really puts me off. I read somewhere that it costs about £300 per season to run a pool that isn't heated. I guess that would be okay if it were used quite a lot.

Does a swimming pond have weed and fish in it? If so, I don't think I would like that.

MrsCW, my DH spent part of his childhood in a house with a pool and he says people would just turn up unannounced with their towels. I wouldn't be putting up with that!!

[fivegomadindorset]

this is waht we have the actual swimming area is plant free but we have tadpoles and a resident frog.

[Greenstocking]

I was really warming to the swimming pond idea until you mentioned tadpoles and frogs

[hoofhearted]

We moved into a house with a pool - and I too was worried that it would be hard to maintain/expensive and a potential hazard with small kids. So glad we moved here though - it is the best thing ever! We have solar heating so no expense there. we have to have the pump on to filter for only about an hour a day and we tend to do that at night - so not expensive on the electricity and the chlorine etc is really easy to get the hang of - we spend about £30 a year on Chlorine. The pool is fully enclosed and lockable. We use it continually from April through to October. It is such a social thing to have. If we ever move again I will only be looking at houses with pools!

[MrsCholmondleyWarner]

Ooh yes, we were used to random kids turning up with their towels and knocking on our door, asking for a swim. My mum never used to buy posh ice-creams, only ice pops as she ended up handing out 30 plus a day! But I think she did toughen up after a while and go used to saying "no"!!

[hoofhearted]

You are right Mrs Chol - on a hot day we can have a lot of 'extra' kids here - but its all great fun. If we don't want anyone around and have the garden and pool to ourselves we have to lock the front gates and close the curtains and not answer the bell! -the only down side :)

[scurryfunge]

I did type out a similar response to hoofhearted -so will just add as above

[FellatioNelson]

Whether or not it devalues the house really depends on the house. If it is in a smallish garden in a very average house in an average area then yes, it would, as it would take up too much space and cost more to run than most people at that level could afford or justify.

But for larger detached houses on decent plot sizes it would usually be considered an asset. Prod my friend Alouiseg on here - she has had a pool for quite a few years which they put in themsleves so she should be able to tell you about the running costs and the practicalities. TBH I would be glad of it - the weather is getting better every year in this country and it's a pretty cheap way to entertain the DCs all summer compared to other alternatives.

[HollyBollyBooBoo]

If you do buy a house with a pool just make sure you have public liability insurance, if anyone has an accident or God forbid worse in your pool they can sue.

[scurryfunge]

Most home insurance policies cover liability but you do need to let your insurers know as it may up your premium. You only need separate public liability insurance if you are going to let the public in.

[hoofhearted]

It's in on most good house insurance policies and doesn't put up our premium.

[nancydrewfoundaclue]

My parents bought a house with a pool when me and my siblings were young. Apparently they were very put off by it but loved the house and it didn't really impinge on the garden so they went ahead with the purchase on the basis they could fill it in.

We got twenty years of great fun out of that pool. It was absolutely brilliant having it.

We now have a pool in our house (not UK) and again it is brilliant. The children are entertained, we spend every weekend lazing by/in the pool and as felatio points out it is actually a very cheap way to provide entertainment, comparitively speaking.

[bacon]

We 'fill-in' swimmming pools, around £2000 plus to do the job - worth considering?

[Selks]

Swimming pond is a lovely idea....but I would worry it would get leeches in it

[artyjools]

Sorry I have been so late getting back to you.

Oh no, I couldn't consider swimming with tadpoles and frogs - sorry!!

So mostly positive still. We went around the house again. I love it and would offer immediately. DH isn't keen, but how much he is being put off by the pool is hard to say.

Bacon - thanks for the info (although it is the "plus" bit that worries me!). Where are you based?

As you can see from me typing this at 3.30 in the morning - the whole moving thing is getting to me a bit!

[cuckooclock]

it has always been my dream to own a house with a swimming pool. Go on - make me jealous!