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Original poster

Swimming pool

32 replies

Dejayou · 13/08/2020 18:48

Would you buy a property with a 30+ year old pool? The pool looks about 25metres and the garden is about 200ft by 33ft wide. The pool seems in working condition. We are not looking for a pool but the house has one outside. Very strange as no other property there has one. The lady who lives there liked swimming.

If we keep it we would have to renovate it or I don’t know what. Removing it would be a big job I suppose. Ideally I would want the price to be reduced to reflect it isn’t a value to me but might it be attractive to others? A 30+ year old outside pool?

OP posts:
ginginchinchin · 13/08/2020 18:52

We have a pool in our garden. It was lovely when our grandchildren were small, not used so much now. Take into account the costs of heating and chemicals - it's not something cheap, there's definitely a big cost in keeping them maintained both financially and time wise.

Finfintytint · 13/08/2020 18:52

We had one once that was around 20 years old and was needing minor repairs. It took a looooong time to sell the property as it’s not always desirable. It’s probably not too pricey to fill it in though. I would not have one again.

Bunnybigears · 13/08/2020 18:54

Its pricey to keep and relatively cheap to get rid of. I would get a quote for filling it in and deduct that from your offer.

Hedgesfullofbirds · 13/08/2020 18:58

Could you not turn it into an ornamemental pond or use it as a nice environment in which to keep ornamental waterfowl or otters - I would! 🦆

Original poster
Dejayou · 13/08/2020 19:05

Thanks for your very helpful replies. I wondered whether this was something that was highly desirable. I will look at quotes for filling it in and see whether I can negotiate down. I truly cannot see us using it much and the heating and maintenance costs must sum to mucho dineros over the years.

OP posts:
Original poster
Dejayou · 13/08/2020 19:06

Hedges that’s a nice idea but it would be a rather large feature and that volume of largely stagnant water would be a problem?

OP posts:
leafeater · 13/08/2020 19:11

25m Grin thats half the size of an Olympic pool, are you sure?

Hedgesfullofbirds · 13/08/2020 19:15

@Dejayou - just idle thoughts running through my mind! Not a serious suggestion...although a friend of mine has a hard surface tennis court which came with the property she bought and keeps her chickens and ducks in it - virtually fox proof - she is not remotely interested in tennis and the cost of having it removed was prohibitive so she put it to much better use!

JoJoSM2 · 13/08/2020 19:40

To us a working pool would be a bonus. But, as above, you can always fill it in.

HasaDigaEebowai · 13/08/2020 20:02

More people are looking for pools as the indications are that time spent at home is going to increase.

Personally we discounted houses with outdoor pools when we bought ten years ago but if we were looking now I’d view it as a positive as long as it’s in decent shape

iMatter · 13/08/2020 20:06

We have a pool which we use a lot (April - Oct). However we have 6 acres of land so it doesn't take up so much space relatively speaking. The one you're looking at is very big. It will cost a lot to maintain and heat and will need refurbishing in time (seriously expensive)

Original poster
Dejayou · 13/08/2020 21:48

Leafeater🤣🤣 my husband said it’s around 12m. Sorry. It looked so gigantic.

OP posts:
Bluntness100 · 13/08/2020 21:52

It doesn’t need to be heated though. My neighbours have one and it isn’t heated and is perfectly usable half the year, the other half it’s covered.

Op put in an offer for what it’s worth for you. Many people wouldn’t wish it, but some would.

jolokoy · 13/08/2020 22:00

God I would love a pool. I would swim every day.

It's my idea of heaven.

BustPipes · 13/08/2020 22:06

No point in a pool of it's less than 20m. Barely got into your stride before you have to turn.

I would suggest the previous owner liked 'a dip' rather than 'swimming'.

BustPipes · 13/08/2020 22:08

(and yes, I may be being ride about other people's crap pools because I'd bloody love one myself)

15m absolute minimum though - just pointless otherwise.

Justajot · 13/08/2020 22:13

I think that houses with pools have historically been harder to sell that houses without pools. So you'd need to factor in whether you are expecting to have to sell again and how quickly you might need to sell.

I wouldn't want a pool because of the expense and drowning risk. I think I'd worry about my DC (even though they can swim), wandering neighbours children etc. I know you can gate them, get sturdy covers etc, but that would become another 'Did I remember to...'

Pikachubaby · 13/08/2020 22:17

Our garden came with a massive pond, we were quoted between 5 and10k to have it removed, filled in etc.

Personally I would love a pool!

Has it been well maintained?

We kept our pond but built a fence around it as within tge first month a visiting friends toddler escaped for 1 minute and went straight into the pond (and kids can drown very quickly)

So if you keep it, make sure it’s fenced

JoJoSM2 · 13/08/2020 22:21

Even with shorter pools you can have those counter current units fitted, can’t you? It’s also great fun for kids even if it’s shorter.

Elouera · 13/08/2020 22:24

We've just bought a house and looking to put in a pool! Possibly more a lap pool with jets, so you can swim against the stream. Great for fitness, back problems and lots more.

Have you rung a few pool companies to get an idea of what maintenance a 30yr old pool would need? Cost of chemicals? Cleaning? Maintenance etc etc? Also the cost to dig out or just fill in?

Many years ago, my cousins used their pool out of season to raise trout. No idea of the details, filters needed etc, but they got tiddlers, fed them daily and they grew and grew. They ate and froze many, and possibly sold the rest back to the company. It might be an option before you fill the pool in.

Goslowlysideways · 13/08/2020 22:24

Yes yes. We have one. I was so convinced we should fill it in but I’m so pleased we didn’t. It’s been fantastic. We look after it ourselves and compared to swimming lessons for four kids it’s been much cheaper. The kids swim brilliantly and spend hours in it. We have all their friends over and it’s just fabulous. I really love it.

Goslowlysideways · 13/08/2020 22:27

My kids were 1, 2, 4 and 6 when we moved in. It’s covered in winter and they were never in the garden without an adult. They learnt really quickly not to go near it. Now 10 years later they don’t go in it unless one of us is here and I watch them when they are in the pool. It’s no hardship. I have very strict rules and if anyone doesn’t follow them I throw them out!
I am so pleased we have it.

user1471528245 · 13/08/2020 22:39

Unless the property is on millionaires row or with substantial grounds pools Actually devalue a property due to costs and safety concerns, reduce your price by the amount it would cost to Get it filled in,

DearTeddyRobinson · 14/08/2020 08:20

We have a pool and we have been thanking our lucky stars. Been in most days since the start of lockdown, it's great for the kids who have been swimming since they were 6 months old! It's an absolute godsend in this hot weather too.
Having said that we have had to replace the boiler (£4K) and the liner (£3k). The maintenance isn't too much really as DH does most of it, it's mostly cleaning and adding various chemicals. But the bigger jobs are really pricey.
We fenced it off when we moved in (I was pregnant with DC1) and have a lovely flower bed in front of the fence, with a sort of Mediterranean style terrace behind the pool itself. It's a lovely feature of the garden but I appreciate it's off putting for lots of people.
Having said that if we ever move we will look for a pool or budget to have one put in, we love it.

WhoWouldHaveThoughtThat · 31/08/2020 15:44

  1. Drain it, put a solid roof over it, make a reasonable wine cellar that size - well it would for me.
  2. Drain it, put a clear roof over it, make a mini version of the Eden Project.
  3. Don't drain it, get some penguins...

I could go on! There's just so many things you could do with it other than filling it in. Smile