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Original poster

Would you buy a house with a swimming pool?

30 replies

LizzieMint · 09/02/2015 17:34

One of the houses we're looking at has an outdoor pool. I'm sure the price is higher to reflect this, but we don't really want a pool, especially an uncovered outdoor one. It just seems like a rather expensive waste of space for the handful of days you'd get use out of it in this country. Not to mention the safety aspect and maintenance costs.

But it seems a bit daft not to buy a perfectly good house just because it's got a pool. Confused

OP posts:
Weebirdie · 09/02/2015 17:35

If you buy a heat exchanger you'll be able to warm it up in winter and cool it down in summer if needed.

NormHonal · 09/02/2015 17:39

Personally no, I wouldn't, based on experiences of friends who have had them - the expense of maintenance, the safety issues, the fake friends it attracts because they just want to be invited to swim in the summer.

mrscumberbatch · 09/02/2015 17:39

I wouldn't buy with an outdoor pool but would jump at an indoor.

Outdoor upkeep is a palaver

Original poster
LizzieMint · 09/02/2015 17:39

It is a heated pool, but I still wouldn't want to be getting in an outdoor pool over winter .
It was iced over when we saw the house!

OP posts:
WowOoo · 09/02/2015 17:41

An outdoor pool in this country? No, I wouldn't.

iwantgin · 09/02/2015 17:43

Yes, if it were in the South of France.

In the UK - no chance. Unless we were particularly wealthy and could afford to keep it heated and cleaned.

PandasRock · 09/02/2015 17:44

Yes I would, as there are several different ways of housing it, from very temp to more permanent. I would love a pool, if only so I didn't ever have to shiver in the leisure centre changing rooms while dressing small children again!

Bowlersarm · 09/02/2015 17:48

Yes I would. I'm surprised you say the price is higher because of it though; normally outdoor pools have a neutral affect on the price from my experience.

Ludways · 09/02/2015 17:53

Yes I would but I would use it a lot, through the winter too.

ClashCityRocker · 09/02/2015 17:57

I'd look carefully at the maintenance costs and care required, however I think I would probably use it at least nine months out of the year.

fussychica · 09/02/2015 18:02

Well I had one in our Spanish home but wouldn't consider it here. It was enough work in Spain and even there it was only warm enough to use it (unheated) from April - early October. Additionally, upkeep would cost a fortune here.

iwantgin · 09/02/2015 18:04

I just can't imagine wanting to swim outdoors in the UK. There are the couple of weeks of summer i suppose, but the rest of the year it takes me all my time to get undressed to have a hot bath.

SuzP · 09/02/2015 18:06

We have one - we were going to get rid of it as soon as we moved in and then summer was here and we used it all the time. Bit of a ball ache in the winter but was so worth it for all the use we got in the summer hols!

MaybeDoctor · 09/02/2015 18:08

No, but apparently they are quite easy to get rid of and fill in. A friend did it recently.

CarolVordermansCamelToe · 09/02/2015 18:10

No. I wouldn't buy a house with either. Not in the UK.

CMP69 · 09/02/2015 18:11

Oh yes but only if we were rich. DH would have a proper cinema Grin

Weebirdie · 09/02/2015 18:12

It doesn't have to be cold in the winter.

Eastwickwitch · 09/02/2015 18:13

If I had the funds to heat & maintain it then yes.
But only if I didn't have small DC.

Would prefer a tennis court though.

ajandjjmum · 09/02/2015 18:15

We had a pool when I grew up - it was rarely used, but I do have some fabulous memories of pool parties when we were growing up.

The guy who my DP bought the house from working for a swimming pool supplier, and had it installed as a demo. The upkeep was a real pain! Grin

I wouldn't bother unless it was indoor, although I don't think I'd let it stop me buying a house.

Fullpleatherjacket · 09/02/2015 18:18

No.

CBA with the expense, the maintenance and keeping it child proof.

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 09/02/2015 18:19

I'd have to look carefully at running and maintenance costs, but if I could afford them then yes I'd love to buy a house with a pool.

A few of the dc's friends have pools and I think I'd try and keep it quiet as I know they have lots of 'friends' round all summer holidays.

We have had one of those overground pools in a previous house and that was fab, so a proper built in one would be lovely. I swim 4-5 times a week so the luxury of going to my own garden and swimming would be lovely.

castlesintheair · 09/02/2015 18:20

We've got an outdoor heated swimming pool. Use it from about May to October if the weather is good (don't live in UK). It's lovely when it is hot and great for the DCs but it is the biggest pita to look after so no I wouldn't buy a house with one. In fact I'd ask for a reduction in price!

HelpMeGetOutOfHere · 09/02/2015 18:20

My dc are all older now so perhaps if toddlers I wouldn't be so keen.

beachyhead · 09/02/2015 18:28

Depends how new it is and how deep it is. Some of the more modern ones are shallower and therefore not so bad to heat...

RaphaellaTheSpanishWaterDog · 09/02/2015 18:38

We looked at buying a house with one a few years back. Whilst it wouldn't put me off - we decided against the location of the house, our decision had nothing to do with the pool - I'd prefer it if it were in the South Of France!

However, I do think, in our case at least, that the amount it would get used overall throughout the year would not warrant the expense of maintenance......speaking as someone that had a bloody expensive high-end hot tub for nine years - some years it was only used a handful of times, yet we had it on permanently (just in case!) and once DS and me and DH had outgrown the novelty it became an expensive to run white elephant.....

Think I'd prefer a tennis court too!