Inground swimming pool.

[Deleted]

Does anyone on this board have an inground pool?
Husband and I are tossing around the idea of pricing out a pool for our backyard. Above ground isn't an option because our HoA doesn't allow it.
I do know what kind of work and maintenance goes into maintaining a pool. We had one in a house growing up. I would probably have to get a heater of some sorts because our backyard doesn't get direct sun all the time. And I would have to clear my backyard but we have the space for it and wouldn't mind a landscapes backyard.
So my reasons for wanting a pool - one I want to have the party house everyone wants to come to and hang out.
Another reason - I love to swim. Lastly we are in a small slightly isolated community with no chance of ever having a pool included in our dues. The closest pool to us is about 8 miles away. And there is a huge road that cuts our community off from my son ever being able to bike anywhere so when he is old enough to stay home in the summer but not old enough to drive he is kind of trapped here.
We could probably move and find a house with a pool already but I really really love this house and plan on being here indefinitely.
So what are your opinions of installing a pool vs moving to a house with a community pool or already has a pool installed.

[sailorgray]

I think a lot depends on where you live. In PA, I would not want my own pool due to upkeep and the worry of having one with kids. I would, however, LOVE to live in a neighborhood with a community pool where they care for it and have a lifeguard, etc. Also, resale would be an issue where I live. Most of my friends would not consider a house with a pool. We actually looked at two houses with pools with the intention of filling them in had we purchased. Now, if you live in a warm climate, all f these opinions of mine would be different. Where I live, we only have about 4 months of swimming.

[Deleted]

I wouldn't want an in ground pool. If I ever got sick of it/couldn't afford the maintenance anymore, it is a lot harder to get rid of.

I have also heard (and I have no idea how true it is) that in ground pools negatively impact the resale value of the house.

[Deleted]

We don't have a pool, but DH is in the pool industry. An average sized pool will run you about $50-$60K for everything ranging from excavation to plumbing to poolside deck installation. The larger the pool the more the cost, obviously. Same goes for a hot tub if you want that in addition to the pool. I would add in another $5-10K for landscaping, depending on what your yard is like, how many bushes and trees need to be cleared. You'll need it landscaped so that the mechanical equipment is hidden. I'm not sure about the cost for annual maintenance but if you hire a service company, I'd estimate about $100 per cleaning. Most pools are cleaned every 1-2 weeks during open season. Also you'll need to have a privacy fence installed.

[kaylie]

H is anti-pool, I'm pro-pool, but he won because we really liked everything else about our house. About half of the houses in our neighborhood have pools but there's a local community center a few miles away we could go to to use them. When we lived in an apartment complex that had a community pool we really never went. I'd much prefer having one in the backyard.

Houses in our neighborhood sell quickly with or without pools, so I don't think a pool negatively impacts resale value. Sure there are some people that really don't want them, but I think there are enough who do want them that it's fine.

[SusanBAnthony]

It seems neighborhood dependent (and state/region dependent). I do not want a pool, and would calculate the cost of ripping out the pool into any offer I made. We are in ohio.

I grew up having one, and it was fun as a kid, but it was tons of work and expense for my parents. That was in Oklahoma, so they did increase house value there. Having seen the work and expense, though, no thanks.

I don't know if this is how they still do pools, but when we had one,there were two types. Concrete ones with no liner, and ones with rubber liners that had to be replaced every ten or so years (at great expense). Definitely get a liner less one.

[SusanBAnthony]

Oh, another thought. DH's super rich cousins built an addition on their mansion with a heated indoor pool. They never use it. We visit once or twice a year and I think my kids are the only ones who ever swim in that thing. What a waste.

[Deleted]

Thanks, guys. The only reason I would consider leaving this house is because the community doesn't have a pool so if we did get one, we would be here for a very long time!
I appreciate your responses.