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Buying a Home With a Pool in Tucson Wiling away the hot summer days in your new pool is a lovely fantasy, but taking care of one can be time-consuming.; test the waters before diving in.
If you’re thinking of buying a house with a pool, you are a rare breed. Many house hunters shy from homes with pools because of the maintenance and the potential for costly repairs if the pool hasn’t been properly maintained. Consider your resale value before you make an offer on a home with a pool.
However, pools can be great fun for a family. So if you can handle the maintenance, follow these tips to make sure your new pool is ready for fun.
Make sure to get a thorough inspection, preferably by a pool specialist. Some of the most important things the inspector should look for are:
Leaks. You can’t enjoy your pool if it won’t hold water. Leaks can come from various sources within your pool, including tears in vinyl-lined pools, cracks or loose tiles in and around cement or granite pools, the filtration system, underwater lights, the heater and the skimmer. Some leaks are relatively inexpensive to repair. However, other leaks can undermine the structure of the pool and erode the soil around it, which could be a very costly repair.
Functional equipment. Pool equipment and plumbing can be very expensive to replace. The inspector will check them to make sure they’re working properly and have been adequately maintained. Some inspectors may charge extra for anything other than a visual inspection, but the cost might save you money in the long run.
Safety. To prevent accidental drownings, many communities have enacted strict codes regulating pool safety. Some include the requirement of multiple barriers (such as fences) to prevent children from wandering into pool areas unsupervised. Your pool inspector can offer more detailed information on requirements in your community, as well as additional safety measures you can take for your family and neighbors.
In addition to an inspection, here are a few more questions to ask and things to look for:
Ask who installed the pool and who has been looking after it. Your REALTOR® should know whether the pool company is reputable.
Imagine what the backyard will look like in summer, or ask to see photos. Make sure it gets adequate amounts of sun and shade, and check for overhanging trees that will drop leaves in the pool.
Ask for a written assurance from the owners that all pool equipment works.
If there are signs of repair, ask what happened.
The water should be crystal clear. If it isn’t, ask why.
Review the operating costs. For an average 12-by-24-foot pool, the pump shouldn’t cost much more than $40 a month to run. The heating costs shouldn’t exceed $100 a month. And the chemicals should be approximately $400 a season. If costs are higher, it could be an indication that the equipment will need to be replaced soon.
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