swimming pools

[WineOhWhy]

If you (hpothetically) had the money, would you buy a house with a swimming pool? If so, would you prefer it indoors or outdoors? How much do they cost to maintain? What about a tennis court?

Friend is househunting and not looking for a house with a pool, but has found a cottage in her perfect area which has an outdoor pool. The pool is putting her off (which I think is mad becuase it is otherwise exactly what she is looking for - not to mention that it will make visiting her even more enjoyable!), but she says (1) she will never use it given weather in this country, and (2) she suspects it would be expensive to maintain.

It got me pondering though and I suspect she is right that the weather means it will not be used much. I would love an indoor one though (not at all realisitic given we are in central London!)

I really wouldn't want an outdoor pool in Britain. An indoor pool would be brilliant, although very expensive to heat and maintain I imagine.

I have heard it said that outdoor pools can bring property prices down due to the heating and maintenance costs.

I wouldn't want one but I wouldn't mind a swim spa. I know someone who has an outdoor one and they use it a lot all year round. Its smaller and can be covered so costs are lower and its easier to maintain.

My relatives heat their outdoor pool with solar panels on the roof, so no heating costs. In good years it is in use from Easter - October.

If I had a choice between indoor/outdoor I would always choose outdoor, so much nicer to swim in fresh air. Wouldn't say no to a swim spa though!

I have an outdoor pool, but live in Dubai so heating costs are minimal..though at the moment I'm paying to chill the pool.

it's maintenance .. Constantly. the pool man is here three times a week

BUtnhere it's fab. It's 7.15 pm and I'll have to drag the kids out of there shortly for bedtime

We have an outdoor pool in the garden of our very average semi detached garden. It was badly maintained when we bought the house 6 years ago, and we've spent thousands on it to get it back up to scratch and to install an automatic safety cover.
It's an outdoor pool, and is gas heated and we use it Easter to October. It's nice to swim even when it's raining. it probably costs £100s to heat every year but it keeps the kids happy and exercised.

My dh gramps had outdoor one, none heated.
was ok 15yrs ago as use to have 2 + months of sun in the summer and wasn't heated,
Heating an pool could be quite costly, is it heated? would need to be except this week.
Maintaining is ok as you only have to prep an outdoor a few weeks/months before using with chlorine etc.
if money was no option an indoor poor with retractable roof
labootin wow lucky....

I used to work for a new homes developer and they would not take a house on part ex if it had an outdoor pool
However it would be easy to fill in I should think

I know they are a faff and expensive to maintain etc etc but I would love one. It certainly wouldn't put me off a property.

My dream choice would be a natural swimming pond. They look beautiful all year round, are ecologically beneficial instead of damaging, and once they are 'in balance' (which admittedly can take years!) they are maintenance free. Shame they cost about £100K to install...

Friends have an outdoor heated one, and whilst it is expensive to maintain, their kids use it all the time from Easter- October.