Swimming Pools 💦Maintenance, Costs + Buying a House With a Pool | MELANIE ❤️ TAMPA BAY

Thinking about buying a house with a pool? There's a lot you need to know about owning and maintenance when it comes to swimming pools. Fellow Smith & Associates real estate agent Travis Long is here to help, as he's also a licensed pool service contractor.
Living in Florida with warm weather most of the year, many buyers want a house with a pool, but it's not the right fit for everybody.
"There are lots of aspects and costs that come with buying a home with a pool," says Long.
There's weekly maintenance including cleaning, taking water samples, and applying chemicals to the pool.
You can hire this out to a pool service at costs estimated between $75 and $125 per month, depending on the pool size and whether or not the patio is screened. Then you don't have to worry about the hassle of pool ownership.
If doing the maintenance yourself, you can consult experts at a pool supply store about which chemicals you need and how to test water samples.
Pool equipment you need to maintain involve the pump (circulates the water), filter, and potentially the pool / spa heater. Replacing those components can run thousands of dollars.
According to Long, the average lifespans are 3 - 10 years for the pump, 10 - 20 years for the filter, and around 15 years for that heater.
When considering purchasing a house with a pool, the general home inspector is licensed to cover the home and will let you know if they see anything amiss about the pool. However, you may also want to bring in a licensed pool service contractor to do a separate inspection if you suspect something is wrong with the equipment or if there's a leak. That may run between $200 - $400.
Over time, your pool may require resurfacing, which can cost upwards of $10,000 depending on which finish option you choose.
Let's talk salt water vs. chlorine systems.
Long says having a salt system does alleviate some costs like purchasing chlorine regularly.
"It's taking the salt that you're putting into the pool and turning it into a sanitizing agent like chlorine," he explains.
While Long does consider salt water systems an upgrade in a swimming pool, it can cost between $1,000 - $1,500 to convert a chlorine filtration system into a salt water version.
How do you fix green water in a swimming pool?
"Generally, it's just a chemical imbalance with the chlorine and pH level," says Long. "Phosphates can be another ailment, with algae starting to grow in the water."
Testing the water and applying the proper amount of chemicals should correct the color, and turn your pool blue again.

Travis Long's top three things to consider for buying a pool home:
1) LIFESTYLE - Is a swimming pool something you and your family will use regularly and enjoy?
2) POOL INSPECTION - Get a licensed pool service contractor out to inspect the pool and equipment before closing on a house, so you can get a better picture of the responsibilities and costs.
3) MAINTENANCE - Weekly maintenance is key to owning a swimming pool

Thanks so much to Travis for joining me in this episode and sharing all of his knowledge!

*Prices and number estimates mentioned in this article/video may vary - please consult your local pool service contractor for the most up-to-date information.

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Melanie is a Tampa Bay area Realtor with Smith & Associates. She loves Tampa Bay area area, houses, and helping clients buy and sell real estate.

Email: [email protected]
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