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Original poster

House with swimpool. Is it pointless?

325 replies

SweetSally · 05/12/2019 20:20

Hi lovelies!
My husband and I are considering buying a house with an indoor swimpool. We don't know anything about swimpools and are not sure if it's a good investment...

The property is in the UK and the swimpool is indoors (extension added to the house) and it also has a conservatory added to it. It's large space and the swimpool is rather generous when it comes to the sheer size of it.

Please, could you share your experience? We actually want to use the swimpool and are not considering the house because of it. We do actually like the property.

OP posts:
SevenStones · 05/12/2019 22:51

I've changed my mind! Now I've seen the whole listing the house is really cramped and the kitchen is quite weird and small. The pool is thr only thing I like about it.

MiniMum97 · 05/12/2019 22:52

Wtf is a swim pool?

MiniMum97 · 05/12/2019 22:53

Aah seen the pictures. That is a SWIMMING POOL not a swim pool, whatever that is.

Looks amazing I'd go for it.

Singlesoda · 05/12/2019 22:54

I’m just amazed at the price! I live just outside the Home Counties in an ex council semi and if I was to sell I could get something like that. Blooding amazing. I’m moving to the west mids!

Also, don’t see it as racism but it’s swimming pool over here or pool. I had to read through three pages to work out what you meant as I thought swim pool was some kind of brand.

rp30 · 05/12/2019 22:55

@SevenStones the house is really cramped? Do you live in a mansion and do you think everyone does? Maybe the layout is not to your taste but I think it is an above average sized home in the UK.

Babybel90 · 05/12/2019 22:57

I wouldn’t buy it because a) it will be hard to sell on and you never know when you might need to sell quickly b) I’d be worried about a child accidentally getting in and drowning and I wouldn’t want that on my conscience c) it will be a hassle and expensive to maintain and will probably cause damp d) there are plenty of excellent swimming facilities in the UK that are very reasonably priced so unless you have a specific need to have a swim(ming) pool in your house why would you?

TWD89 · 05/12/2019 23:02

We have an indoor swimMING pool.

It’s small and costs around £100 per month to maintain with chemicals and heating.

No need to worry about mould etc assuming it’s properly dehumidified.

It isn’t as bad as people seem to think. Just keep a lock on the door if you have kids.

rp30 · 05/12/2019 23:02

To all the posters talking about the risk, in 2015, 3 children under the age of 5 died in swimming pools. I don't think it is risky but it would be great for children. Public pools are nasty.

feelingverylazytoday · 05/12/2019 23:02

It depends how much you love swimming. I would swim every day for at least an hour if I could, so I would love this.
If you and your family don't love swimming then it's not really worth it, as the house itself ,though nice enough probably isn't the best available.

Illeana · 05/12/2019 23:02

the pool is too much trouble or leaks or cost too much to heat put in a false floor and use it as a gym or snooker room
You can’t just put a false floor over a damp hole. It’ll go mouldy and it will absolutely stink. Plus you can’t leave the pool empty - it’s designed to hold the weight of water and if it doesn’t have the water pressing down inside it the pool shell can actually rise out of the ground. If it leaks you either need to get a builder to repair it or (probably cheaper) fill it in.

pallisers · 05/12/2019 23:02

The American Academy of Paediatrics strongly recommends that you do not live in a house with a pool if you have children under the age of 6. It is just too risky. This would be the major reason I would say no.

When I was 8 I became good friends with a girl who had a beautiful indoor pool. We weren't allowed to go in to it as a visiting child had drowned in it 2 years before. They moved later.

The upkeep would also be a big thing for me. Also the re-sale factor - they devalue a house like that rather than add value (even where I am in the US with very hot summers, swimming pools don't add value). But the biggest issue would be safety with toddlers etc. My dd's school friend had an outdoor pool and they would host end of year pool parties every year. Even when the kids were 14, the family hired lifeguards from the local boat club to supervise - too risky otherwise.

AnotherEmma · 05/12/2019 23:04

My toddler says "swimpool".

YA BUNCH OF TODDLERISTS Angry

IndefatigableMouse · 05/12/2019 23:05

It would be the perfect house for a swimming teacher (for little kids). You could make a bundle (they’re in demand here) from the comfort of your own home. Otherwise it’s too big for the house I think?

clippyclippy · 05/12/2019 23:06

Where are you from, OP? I've never ever heard swimpool before! Anyone else who says it? Where?

rp30 · 05/12/2019 23:08

@pallisers where do the The American Academy of Paediatrics say that? They do not say that in this guide www.aap.org/en-us/about-the-aap/aap-press-room/Pages/AAP-Updates-Recommendations-to-Prevent-Drowning-in-Children.aspx which states "Toddlers are naturally curious; that’s why we must implement other strategies, such as pool fencing and door locks.”

MzPumpkinPie · 05/12/2019 23:09

We have a pool but an outdoor pool, with optional hydrotherapy jets and an exercise jet for my disabled DC.
Just had it built in the spring and with solar panels on the roof and on the pool it didn't cost much to maintain at all.
However the end of September/ whole of October it cost over £400 to heat so it was closed for winter.
We've had a pool before when we lived overseas and they are really easy to maintain.
Don't regret it one bit. Looking at buying a retractable roof for it in the spring .
I'd love an indoor pool though.
Our DC were never out of the pool this year and we've had some great times.

saraclara · 05/12/2019 23:16

I thought it was fairly clear from the OP's posts that she has English as a second language. So people's obsession with her using one slightly different term is just bizarre.

Logjam · 05/12/2019 23:16

I know a couple of people with a pool - big novelty at the start, got boring - now only use because visiting kids get excited about it - it really is not something I'd ever want in a property.

clippyclippy · 05/12/2019 23:29

I thought it was fairly clear from the OP's posts that she has English as a second language

Really?? I've just reread them and apart from a few typos and mistakes (which native English speakers make all the time) her English sounds totally natural, she uses idioms and expressions that foreign speakers often wouldn't... Which parts make you think she "clearly" isn't a native English speaker?

alwayscrashinginthesamecar1 · 05/12/2019 23:30

Just jumping on this thread because I have just put in an offer for a house with a beautiful saltwater pool. I'm in Oz though, where everyone has them. Keep your fingers crossed for me that my bid is accepted!

As for the Op, lovely pool, I would go for it. But I love swimming. And as for everyone criticizing the house, it looks fine to me! Needs a bit of work, but most houses do.

pallisers · 05/12/2019 23:33

@rp30 you know I couldn't find it so I am wrong - it is probably not the current advice. I certainly was told this when mine were toddlers but the youngest is now 18 so I am out of date.

I still wouldn't have one if I had small children who weren't proficient swimmers. There are so many drownings here every year from the one time someone left the door open or the time a child discovered how to open the door. I couldn't live with that degree of worry. I'd be the same about a pond or stream at the end of the garden.

Also the pool drain thing is a worry. I used to carry a scissors with me when my 2 girls with long hair went in the pool on our holidays. Jim Baker who served in the Bush administration had a granddaughter who died when her hair got caught in the pool drain and they couldn't free her in time.

rp30 · 05/12/2019 23:36

@pallisers fair enough, advice does change over time.

Figmentofmyimagination · 05/12/2019 23:45

We lived in Latin America renting as expats when DCs were under 5. Lots of people did rent houses with outdoor pools but I couldn’t bear the thought of the risk, especially as I planned to get a part time job so would be delegating a lot of the childcare to another adult.

If indoors in the uk, I think I’d also be a bit concerned about diseases eg legionnaires.

omtotheg · 05/12/2019 23:47

We have a swimming pool at my parents house.
It's indoor but in a separate building.

Growing up it was amazing! The summers spent in the pool literally all day long. However, I'm not sure how our parents were bothered to watch us all day (but they did!!)

I am nearly sure it cost £400 per month to heat (and that's going back 15 years!)

There was a maintenance guy on top of that too I'm not sure what he charged for chemicals etc.

Now though DM is terrified of one of the grandchildren falling in. It's been boarded up for years and the room is used for storage!

Sugarskulllover · 05/12/2019 23:49

My BIL and SIL viewed this house! I thought I recognised the photos! They loved the idea of the pool but were underwhelmed with the house and the current owners apparently said both the main house and pool house need new boilers Confused
It's also on a BUSY main road