Why We Decided Buying a House with a Pool is a Mistake

Buying a house with a pool is a mistake.

Pools have small upside and huge downside.

Let me explain...

Summer heat in Florida is brutal and takes years to get used to. It sounds refreshing to be able to jump into a pool on a hot and humid summer day.

But the reality is not as appealing.

After living in an apartment complex for over a decade we haven't used the pool since our first year.

The amount of problems we've seen this pool go through since we've been here has showed me how much pain in the ass owning a pool would be. At least once a year the pool is closed due to leaking foundation, clogged up drain or for cleaning.

Pools are a huge liability.

First, you are paying for the pool. Houses with a pool are sold at higher price and require higher insurance premium.

The backyard is smaller with a pool.

Also the pool should be screened in otherwise you'll end up having to clean it, deal with clogs and fishing out dead animals.

You will also have to burden all the costs of a pool.

Average maintenance in Florida is $75-100 a month. Doesn't seem like much but that's $1,000+ per year. I am pretty sure that the pool will have something wrong with it at some point in a very near future where you'll have to fix it. Any leaks or any cracks which will be thousands of dollars in repair you'll have to cover.

The pool won't get used in the winter time even in Florida. This is 4-6 months of the year it will be taking up space. After the first couple of years the novelty will wear off and it won't be used very much.

So, if I am buying a house with a pool:

• I am buying an extra monthly expense
• Higher insurance
• Less of a back yard space
• Huge liability cost when needing repair
• Novelty will wear of very quickly based on living in an apartment with a pool just few feet away
• Won't be used very often during summer and not at all in the winter

Keep your pool and all the work, money I'd have to put in to upkeep and fix.

No pools.

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