Buying a house with a swimming pool comes with lots of perks, especially here in New Mexico where we have two weather conditions, hot and hotter. If you’ve been thinking about buying a house with a swimming pool, you may be wondering if it’s really a good idea. Of course, being able to take a dip in the pool whenever you want would be awesome, but is pool ownership more trouble than it’s worth?
Before you make your decision, you should know a few things about owning a house with a swimming pool. There are definite benefits to owning a house with a swimming pool, but you should go into your home purchase fully armed with information.
The upside of owning a home with a swimming pool
A pool can improve your life
Owning a pool brings a lot of good times to your life. When you were a kid didn’t you always love getting to swim in the pool? Having a pool right in your backyard means you can go for a swim any time you want. Swimming pools are a great way to destress, exercise, and cool off when New Mexico’s sunshine gets to be a bit too much.
Swimming pools can increase your home value
In some states, a swimming pool isn’t the best feature to add to a home. After all, how much do you need a swimming pool if you live in a midwestern state? Here in New Mexico, having a pool can increase your home’s value. Many New Mexico homes for sale have a pool because they are so sought after.
You have the cool house
Sure, being cool isn’t everything but owning a pool can be so much fun, and not just for you. If you have family and friends who love to swim, having a pool means not just you get to enjoy the fun, your friends and family do too! What many pool owners love about having a pool is that it provides convenient easy entertainment. Having kids over? No need to come up with things for them to do, just send them all out to swim in the pool. Planning a BBQ? Your guests can enjoy the food and a good time around the pool.
The downside of buying a house with a swimming pool
Pools require a lot of maintenance
In order to keep a swimming pool clean, there is a lot of maintenance involved. Your pool will need to be cleaned weekly and treated with chemicals to maintain the correct PH levels. This takes time and money. If you don’t want the hassle of cleaning your swimming pool, you can hire a pro, but that typically runs around $80-150 a month. If you don’t maintain your pool, it can lead to problems later if you should decide to sell your home. Before you purchase a house with a swimming pool, you should decide if you have the time and means to maintain it.
Safety issues
If you have young children, you should understand the risks of owning a pool. Drowning is the leading cause of death in children below the age of four, and the second leading cause of death in children under 15. Even if your children know how to swim there are pool-related injuries every year. This doesn’t mean you can’t safely own a pool when you have children, but before you purchase a home with a pool in New Mexico, you should have a safety plan written out. Precautions like having a fence around your pool, having a lock on any doors that lead to the pool, and teaching your young children how to swim are imperative. Children need to be supervised when they swim in the pool, even if they know how to swim.
Higher utility bills
Swimming pools use a lot of water and extra electricity. Homeowners can expect to pay around $25 a month or more on their electric bill, according to Home Advisor. Your water bill will be higher as well. On average, you can anticipate your water bill to be anywhere from $4-20 a month, depending on where you live.
Your home insurance will be higher
Because pools come with higher risks, your home insurance premiums will be higher. This is due to the fact that swimming pools are a leading cause of the accident and injuries, especially swimming pools that have a diving board or slide installed. Before you make your decision, talk to an insurance agent to find out how much you can expect to pay in insurance premiums.
Your house may be more difficult to sell later
Although homes for sale with a pool in New Mexico are much more popular than in other states, not everyone wants to buy a house with a pool. Your home value might be improved overall, but when it comes to selling it, there may not be as many buyers interested. This doesn’t have to be a deal-breaker. After all, you’re interested in buying a house with a pool. There are other buyers that are seeking homes with a pool just like you. This is just something to keep in mind when making your decision.
Overall, there are a lot of great reasons to buy a house with a swimming pool. If you have any questions or want to start your home search, get in touch with the Bigelow Team. We have an experienced team of New Mexico realtors that know the market and can help you find the home of your dreams.
