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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Cancelling viewing

59 replies

Anewname20 · 20/09/2020 11:06

Hubby and I are looking to buy a new property. We saw a nice 3 bed semi-detached house with a 150ft garden. It looks ordinary but when you go on google earth there is a massive structure in the garden that turns out to be a 6m x 12m (20ft x40ft) enclosed swimming pool.

Am I unreasonable to discount looking at this property straight away? I’m more worried about it not being easy to sell if we had to move in the future.

OP posts:
Coffeecak3 · 20/09/2020 13:26

I have an outdoor pool unheated. In a warm country though. So not quite such expensive running costs.
Your household insurance will have to cover pool related accidents so may well go up.

Ellmau · 20/09/2020 13:43

I'm curious now - would you be prepared to link?

orangenasturtium · 20/09/2020 14:08

Having a pool, if you can afford to heat and maintain it, is amazing. Ours has hosted many happy memories, summer barbecues and pool parties, cocktail parties, baby swimming with my antenatal class friends, playdates and the DC's birthday parties from primary school to 21st and the post-prom after party.

Is this a forever home? If it is, the positives of having a pool will outweigh the negatives (if you can afford running costs). If it isn't, I would think twice because it will be a bit harder to sell and devalue the property.

Can you afford the maintenance? I would add on the cost of replacing the filter/heating system and a new liner/repairs (depending on the type of pool) if you are planning to live there for a decade or two.

Do you have enough garden space with the pool or have you lost too much of the garden to use it how you would like?

If you can buy the house at a reduced price to cover the cost of filling the pool, you don't really have much to lose. You can either resell in the future at a reduced price or fill the pool before you sell, if you are struggling to attract buyers.

Original poster
Anewname20 · 20/09/2020 14:28

I am so glad I asked in here. I really appreciate the advice and how different thoughts on having a swimming pool. Definitely for thought.

OP posts:
IncandescentSilver · 20/09/2020 14:36

YABU to post on mumsnet rather than going ahead with a viewing you've already booked.

If you really object to swimming pools, you could always leave it empty?

orangenasturtium · 20/09/2020 16:06

Actually, @Anewname20 I forgot one important point. You also need to factor in how much you would be able to use a pool, and specifically that pool. I WFH, we had live in childcare, the pool got sun all day into the evening, so it could be used every day, even with DC having a busy after school schedule and us having busy lives. If the pool only gets morning sun, you work until late, the DC are in childcare until the evening and you are at activities all weekend, you will rarely use it, or not enough to justifiy the cost of running it.

PicaK · 20/09/2020 17:31

So what did you think? I sort of disagree with pp but in a nice way. We tended to use it not as frequently as them but still found it marvellous. There's nothing like opening the house up to everyone - it's such a joy to share and they all rock up with food and wine!
You need to have a serious think about safety too. For us in the end we put no safeguards in and went with what we got told verbally by owners and professionals - you have to watch your kids, you can't leave them to play outside on their own not for a second.
And then you have to secure the garden to stop neighbours kids wandering in.
You also need a lot of towels. Friends bring their own but the kids go in 2 or 3 times!

DollyDoneMore · 20/09/2020 17:35

If you don’t want a house with a pool, don’t go and look at the house with a pool.

HTH.

malmi · 20/09/2020 17:50

I would recommend turning up with a swimming cossie and a towel under your arm

Iknowthingsthatwillhappen · 20/09/2020 17:55

I imagine that now covid is lurking, a swimming pool would be a big selling point!!

Ginfordinner · 20/09/2020 17:57

It depends on where the house is. Southern England, I would look. Where I live - no chance. An outdoor pool would get used an a handful of days a year.

Nacreous · 20/09/2020 20:18

I think where I am if it was in a really sunny place you could get a lot of use out of it, especially as every summer seems to be hotter now.

AntiHop · 20/09/2020 20:25

Oh my god I would LOVE a swimming pool. But as I'm a londoner, unless I win big on the lottery, there is no chance!

Ginfordinner · 20/09/2020 20:30

I would as well, but it would have to be an indoor pool.

EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide · 20/09/2020 20:30

This is such a weird thread! You'd actually like a pool, the house that you can afford comes with a free surprise pool and now you don't even want to go and look at it? I can't work out the problem.

Original poster
Anewname20 · 23/09/2020 14:58

We viewed the house and like the house. Really great potential to turn into our own forever home. Still very unsure about the pool. It is enclosed in a giant greenhouse type thing. We will do some further quick research but thinking of putting in an offer taking into account the cost of dealing with the pool although we might lose out if others see it as a plus.

OP posts:
ImaginaryCat · 23/09/2020 15:05

Oh my god, if it's a sort of indoor pool bloody do it! If you're worried about costs, offer it as a private hire to local swim schools. Our club would bite your arm off for extra pool time!

Original poster
Anewname20 · 23/09/2020 15:14

I never thought about it in this way. Clearly my brain is clogged. It is 40ft by 20ft so it is quite a thing. I understand that the lady love swimming though I am sure there must be a more interesting story there. Swimming must have been hugely important to her and the family.

It is completely enclosed in what I can only describe as a greenhouse. You can walk in with loads of head room. There are plastic chairs to sit on in the corner and a life buoy.

I know it all sounds strange but it really is a normal semi-detached with a long garden.

OP posts:
Doje · 23/09/2020 15:20

It sounds amazing!

Have you asked the current owners about running costs? They will be able to give you an idea.

memememe · 23/09/2020 15:21

wow, id love a pool, especially one under cover. and that also sorts out the safety issue with the kids as im assuming you can lock it.

LadyCatStark · 23/09/2020 15:24

It sounds amazing!

Ellmau · 23/09/2020 15:31

Ooh, I know somewhere exactly like that!!! Is it in Romsey?

giletrouge · 23/09/2020 15:36

You can't offer it as private hire though surely, you'll come up against all KINDS of regs, insurance, health and safety? Don't go down that road. Buy it for you, not because you think you can make money out of it.

EdwardCullensBiteOnTheSide · 23/09/2020 16:25

Did you ask them why they didn't mention on the advert about the giant pool?

DianaT1969 · 23/09/2020 20:21

How long are you thinking of living in this property? You keep mentioning selling.