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residential pools

8,142 Views | 51 Replies | Last: 1 mo ago by rlb28
Tormentos
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11:43a, 5/21/25
AG
My experience as a home owner with a pool.

- bought a home in desirable area in Houston. Older home w/ 1990s pool.
- pool needed new plaster/tiling when I bought, I did nothing for 10 years.
- extremely simple setup, one pump, chlorinator, filter, robotic cleaner.
- all maintenance was handled by me when living there, not a major issue, followed trouble free method
- ultimately sold the place in 2024 for a decent profit. Buyer complained about aesthetic pool issues but ultimately I did not budge on any pool repair allowance as home was not valued much higher than homes without pool and buyer demand in the area was high.


My current home does not have a pool but if I put one it it would be basic design with extremely simple single pump setup with robotic cleaner. I had a friend who recently busted out a handheld touch screen to control his pool. Do not buy that crap as it will break and cause headaches later, keep it simple.
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Ragoo
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In reply to TXAG 05 • 5:39p, 5/21/25
AG
TXAG 05 said:
Captain Winky said:
Do any home improvement projects have a positive return on investment? Why is this such a big deal on pools when a kitchen remodel costs more than the value it adds to your house?


Everybody wants a nice kitchen. Not everyone wants a pool.
nice kitchen to order DoorDash
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SharkinAg
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8:12p, 5/23/25
AG
We put in a fiberglass pool on 2021. Love it and the whole family visits most weekends in the summer so the kids can visit their "private pool." Let's the adults actually catch up and I end up bbqing. It's a lot of fun. I get in most weekends after working in the yard all day. I'll never get my money back but I'm actively working and don't care about the "lost" money. Sure beats taking care of a lawn I can't water.
Things I wish I had done:
Rectangle pool instead of free form. The robots struggle some with free form. Free form is also a little more difficult to walk around if not paying attention. Haven't fallen in yet but I've come close. Only a matter of time. Same for kids running around the pool even though we tell them not too.
Two skimmers. I have one and the pool guy didn't put it on the right side of the pool regarding predominant winds. Live and learn.
I'd do a gunnite pool next time. Yes it takes longer but my pool is about an inch off level and one step is at a slight angle and it drives me crazy. Plus gunnite are truly repairable. Hard to find people to work on fiberglass. The easy install was great though. My wife says we will do fiberglass next time we move. That's an argument for another time I guess.
Wish I had put in a pool with a hot tub and heater. Adding a heater this fall. 7500-10000 fyi.
Don't need a cooler. I like the water hot. We tend to swim in evenings. To pale to be out their during the heat of the day when I would enjoy cool water lol.
Don't wait on a good robot. It seems like an extra chunk of change but you'll realize they are worth it quickly.
I'm not worried about getting it back when I sell the home. I certainly wasn't trying to add value to the home when I put it in. It was for fun. No regrets.
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Pizza
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In reply to Maybe Next Year • 7:22a, 6/3/25
Find sales of homes with pools over the last 12 months.

Find sales of similar, comparable homes within the subdivision that don't have pools, from within the last 12 months.

With a decent sample size you can ballpark the contributory value of the site improvement in the area, which could be a positive or negative number. The range from the lower to upper end of the differences in sales prices should capture the contributory value of a pool though.

EX: Sale 1: Year Built 1990, Pool, 2,000ft^2 of living area, 0.2 acre lot, 3 car garage. Sale Price 290k

Sale 2: year Built 1995, no pool, 1800 ft^2 of living area, 0.18 acre lot, 2 car garage. Sale Price 230k

60k difference, however there are differences in GLA & garage bays to consider.

Ballpark an adjustment for GLA (gross liveable area) at 30% of the Price/Ft^2 for Sale 1. ~$45/ft^.

Adjust sale 2 upwards as it is inferior in size. $45/ft^2 x 200ft^2 of differences in GLA which yields an upward adjustment of $9k

Now the difference in the adjusted sale price of Sale 2 with respect to Sale 1 is 51k

Add an additional ~10k to Sale 2 for its lack of a 3rd garage bay.

Difference between adjusted sale price of comp 2 is is 41k.

So maybe the contributory value floats around 40k, in a Subdivision where pools cost 90k to install?

Note that contributory value for the garage bays, GLA and any other differences can all be accounted for in a similar manner, which allows someone to make correct adjustments. Fine tuning adjustments can be done by talking to realtors, or property owners in the neighborhood etc. who may have some additional support based on their interactions for your opinion of the contributory value of a pool.

All of that rambling is hypothetical, but anyone can do it.
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yocod
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9:50a, 6/4/25
AG
Curious if anyone (other than pool builders) have an opinion of fiberglass vs. gunite?
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Texker
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In reply to EclipseAg • 1:15p, 6/4/25
AG
EclipseAg said:
Had mine for 20 years.

But it's definitely a money sink.


This x12.
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JP76
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3:53a, 6/6/25
From a friend who has built many for others


"A pool is a hole in the ground that you continuously throw money in"

"That is the reason I build them for others and don't have one myself "


Lot of people do them for family time and memories, for those people I don't know if one can really put a return value on the expenditure.

As long as you understand upfront that it is a depreciating asset that will always cost you time and money for as long as you own the home then you should be ok with the decision. The one anomaly was during Covid pools actually made homes more desirable versus waiting for the backlog of construction that was going and combined with sub 3% rates had people paying a premium for them.

Personally I would never own one. Have seen too many people's lives affected by tragedies caused by them and it just isn't worth the liability risk in my opinion.




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JP76
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In reply to Captain Winky • 4:02a, 6/6/25
Because a kitchen remodel does not get hit with additional property tax every year as well as additional electricity usage, chemicals and additional mechanical parts that wear out as well as additional service fees and higher homeowner insurance premiums to keep it usable. Figure on $200-$400 a month in expenses for the rest of your time at the house when you put a pool in.
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Yesterday
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7:24a, 6/6/25
AG
My best memories growing up was our family home's pool. So many swim parties, so many days in the water etc. like with anything, it's worth it if you use it.

My kids are in our pool almost every single day from mid May to October. I probably clean it 2-3 times from October to April. Poop maintenance is easy when it's cold.
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Captain Winky
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In reply to JP76 • 7:58a, 6/6/25
A kitchen remodel does not increase your assessed value, thereby increasing your taxes?
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dubi
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In reply to Captain Winky • 9:36a, 6/6/25
AG
Captain Winky said:
A kitchen remodel does not increase your assessed value, thereby increasing your taxes?
You don't need a permit to remodel a kitchen if the plumbing, electrical, load bearing walls stays the same. Therefore the appraisal district is unaware of the remodel.
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Jbob04
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In reply to yocod • 10:03a, 6/6/25
AG
yocod said:
Curious if anyone (other than pool builders) have an opinion of fiberglass vs. gunite?

We have a fiberglass pool with attached hot tub. We love it, no complaints at all.
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bqce
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In reply to yocod • 11:59a, 6/6/25
AG
yocod said:
Curious if anyone (other than pool builders) have an opinion of fiberglass vs. gunite?
I was in the ready mix business and we supplied gunite for hundreds of pools. The best case scenario is no structural or aesthetic problems. Worst case - gunite mix wasn't right causing constant repairs. Crew wasn't trained to properly shoot the gunite lots of repairs. The setup with the steel wasn't correct creating structural cracking.. Also, the surface is really hard on the little one's toes.

I've owned 2 pools, both fiberglass. Had them for 40 years. The poster Yesterday can attest, we had very little maintenance issues and tons of fun. I wouldn't own a gunite pool. This was before diving boards were virtually outlawed, but those things can really make a pool worth having. Watching all those kids lined up to do their best cannonball or backward flip is really a memory maker.
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JP76
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In reply to Captain Winky • 7:57p, 6/6/25
Captain Winky said:
A kitchen remodel does not increase your assessed value, thereby increasing your taxes?



The CAD can not see kitchen remodels from the sky like they can your new pool. A change on the satellite image will usually trigger a field audit by an agent to access your new improvement.
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yocod
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In reply to bqce • 9:53a, 6/9/25
AG
I appreciate your thoughts. I know of people with fiberglass built the last few years, but have been curious about the long-term durability, cost of repair, etc . Thank you.
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Third Day Pools
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4:39p, 6/28/25
AG
Pools aren't an investment, you'll get some money back when you sell but you are putting a pool in for the lifestyle.
I'm not sure what people do with their kids in the summer without pools when they live in town. The pool is just an extension of your outdoor living space.
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rlb28
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12:57p, 6/30/25
AG
We are empty nesters and still love the pool.

Walk 4 miles after work, then jump in with a beer or slice of watermelon.

Finish yardwork around the house on weekend and jump in for a couple hours with Sirius blasting 80s music.
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