People seem to put a lot of thought into whether or not to buy a house with a pool. Here in Tampa, I’m not sure why anyone would even hesitate if you are considering a house that already has a pool. It’s hot here most of the year. Today, for example, it’s 86°F, with 35% humidity. Perfect pool weather.
If it’s a nice pool that has been maintained well, winner, winner, chicken dinner! You’ll just have to keep up with cleaning it and making sure it has the proper pH balance. You can bring a water sample to a local Pinch A Penny store, and they can advise you on the chemicals you need to purchase. If you’re not into the hands-on approach, or don’t have the time to do it yourself, you can hire a pool service. There are hundreds of them in the Tampa Bay area — possibly even thousands. And once a week or every other week care will run you in the range of $80-$200/month. Pretty affordable.
If you are considering buying a property that has a pool that is in rough shape, fear not. There are also lots of companies that specialize in pool restoration and repair, and most are willing to come out and give a free repair estimate. In my personal experience, repair estimates have ranged from $200 to $10,000. Far less than the cost of building a pool from scratch. I am not comfortable estimating the cost of building a pool, because there is so much variation in pools — size, width, shape, orientation on the property, materials used, patio type and materials used, screened enclosure or fence, waterfall, hot tub, infinity edge, type of heater, if any. But, let’s just say it will cost more than double the cost of repairing an existing pool.
So, definitely give it some thought. There are few more relaxing things than taking a dip in the pool after a long day of work, or spending a day in the pool with family or friends over the weekend.
Here at McCoy Wyman, we redevelop properties with and without pools. If you’re looking for your next home, visit our Homes for Sale page, or call us at 813-489-9600 to arrange for a private showing.
