When one no longer wants/needs their pool

[billethkid]

We are frogs and plan to stay in this home......which has a pool.
While it is probably a long way off (we hope) there will come a time when we will have no use for the pool.

One option is to just maintain it for it's visual benefits and beauty.

There must be various ways to fill it and re-purpose the space....which we also would not need...there are some benefits to no longer having to maintain a pool.

I know there is a science to how to fill the pool and use as "garden" space....trees/flowers/etc....walkway/benches/etc.

Has anybody actually done this?

__________________________________________________

:censored:

[Two Bills]

Clean out Chlorine, and turn it into a pond and keep Koi Carp.
Watch them grow, and appreciate in value.
Better growth than Vanguard Mid-Cap Growth Index! :icon_wink:

[shut the front door]

Given that in TV, it costs over 60k to put in a nice pool, you'd be better off paying the maintenance and leaving it be. Your house will sell for a lot more given the price of pools, and nobody is going to pay more for a koi pond. Just because you think you might not use it someday, doesn't mean that will happen. Why spend money to lower the value of your house?

[CoachKandSportsguy]

Given that in TV, it costs over 60k to put in a nice pool, you'd be better off paying the maintenance and leaving it be. Your house will sell for a lot more given the price of pools, and nobody is going to pay more for a koi pond. Just because you think you might not use it someday, doesn't mean that will happen. Why spend money to lower the value of your house?

Fact check: true

I second the response

[BrianL99]

We are frogs and plan to stay in this home......which has a pool.
While it is probably a long way off (we hope) there will come a time when we will have no use for the pool.

One option is to just maintain it for it's visual benefits and beauty.

There must be various ways to fill it and re-purpose the space....which we also would not need...there are some benefits to no longer having to maintain a pool.

I know there is a science to how to fill the pool and use as "garden" space....trees/flowers/etc....walkway/benches/etc.

Has anybody actually done this?

__________________________________________________

:censored:

The best you can hope for, is your pool increases the value of your home by about 6%. That's for a fairly new pool, with minimal maintenance and updating needs.

The added value of pools has been decreasing for years, even in FL. Small, personal "spa/pools" are in style, large pools are not.

TV attracts notoriously unsophisticated buyers, so it might be a few years before the local market catches up with the regional market, but it won't be long before pools will be the worst home improvement investment you could possible make ... it's close already.

I've had 2 homes in Florida with pools. I was within a few days of filling in one of the pools, when I sold the house. The other house, I wished I filled in the pool. They both cost me a small fortune in maintenance, chasing leaks, fixing pumps, heaters, etc. It never ends with a pool.

[Normal]

Given that in TV, it costs over 60k to put in a nice pool, you'd be better off paying the maintenance and leaving it be. Your house will sell for a lot more given the price of pools, and nobody is going to pay more for a koi pond. Just because you think you might not use it someday, doesn't mean that will happen. Why spend money to lower the value of your house?

Try 140k with bird cage, irrigation etc. Some are now running 170k.

[BrianL99]

Try 140k with bird cage, irrigation etc. Some are now running 170k.


Probably about right. You;'ll probably get $25K-$30K of your investment back, when you sell the house.

[asianthree]

Given that in TV, it costs over 60k to put in a nice pool, you'd be better off paying the maintenance and leaving it be. Your house will sell for a lot more given the price of pools, and nobody is going to pay more for a koi pond. Just because you think you might not use it someday, doesn't mean that will happen. Why spend money to lower the value of your house?

Try 140k with bird cage, irrigation etc. Some are now running 170k.

Normal is on the correct side for 12x20 base pool with nothing fancy starts at $140,000… if you want water feature and have a big birdcage $180,000 and a 2 year wait with T&D

[tophcfa]

Normal is on the correct side for 12x20 base pool with nothing fancy starts at $140,000… if you want water feature and have a big birdcage $180,000 and a 2 year wait with T&D

Dam, that’s serious poolflation. T&D built ours 6 years ago after a 6 month wait. A 12 x 24 foot salt water pool with waterfalls, led lights, solar heat and a heat pump, a pool cover that rolls up inside the pool deck, an auto leveling water system, a Bluetooth remote control system, a very large birdcage with two doors, a hose spigot and two electrical outlets, and more, all for $62K. The job was turnkey including new sod and irrigation where necessary. The price you quoted above for a basic pool and birdcage is what we paid for our home 8 years ago. Glad we bought and built when we did!

[villagetinker]

We are frogs and plan to stay in this home......which has a pool.
While it is probably a long way off (we hope) there will come a time when we will have no use for the pool.

One option is to just maintain it for it's visual benefits and beauty.

There must be various ways to fill it and re-purpose the space....which we also would not need...there are some benefits to no longer having to maintain a pool.

I know there is a science to how to fill the pool and use as "garden" space....trees/flowers/etc....walkway/benches/etc.

Has anybody actually done this?



You might want to check with some of the local pool companies to see if there is a way to place the pool in 'hibernation' or something similar, that would maintain the integrity of the pool (for future use) and limit the amount of maintenance.
If you find a suitable solution (I would NOT completely empty the pool), you may be able to find a suitable cover ($$$$) that would give you additional space to use, but i am certain this will not be cheap.
Finally, you might advertise your home stating that you are looking for a SWAP for a similar house with no pool.
Hope this helps, good luck with your problem.

[HoosierPa]

The best you can hope for, is your pool increases the value of your home by about 6%. That's for a fairly new pool, with minimal maintenance and updating needs.

The added value of pools has been decreasing for years, even in FL. Small, personal "spa/pools" are in style, large pools are not.

TV attracts notoriously unsophisticated buyers, so it might be a few years before the local market catches up with the regional market, but it won't be long before pools will be the worst home improvement investment you could possible make ... it's close already.

I've had 2 homes in Florida with pools. I was within a few days of filling in one of the pools, when I sold the house. The other house, I wished I filled in the pool. They both cost me a small fortune in maintenance, chasing leaks, fixing pumps, heaters, etc. It never ends with a pool.

Covid changed everything. Pools are very desirable now. We put in a pool 3 years ago for 65k and sold the house 2 years later and made a small fortune due to the pool.

[TheWarriors]

The best you can hope for, is your pool increases the value of your home by about 6%. That's for a fairly new pool, with minimal maintenance and updating needs.

The added value of pools has been decreasing for years, even in FL. Small, personal "spa/pools" are in style, large pools are not.

TV attracts notoriously unsophisticated buyers, so it might be a few years before the local market catches up with the regional market, but it won't be long before pools will be the worst home improvement investment you could possible make ... it's close already.

I've had 2 homes in Florida with pools. I was within a few days of filling in one of the pools, when I sold the house. The other house, I wished I filled in the pool. They both cost me a small fortune in maintenance, chasing leaks, fixing pumps, heaters, etc. It never ends with a pool.


I don’t think most people have your point of view on pools here in Florida.

[Sandy and Ed]

You might want to check with some of the local pool companies to see if there is a way to place the pool in 'hibernation' or something similar, that would maintain the integrity of the pool (for future use) and limit the amount of maintenance.
If you find a suitable solution (I would NOT completely empty the pool), you may be able to find a suitable cover ($$$$) that would give you additional space to use, but i am certain this will not be cheap.
Finally, you might advertise your home stating that you are looking for a SWAP for a similar house with no pool.
Hope this helps, good luck with your problem.
Novel AND excellent idea!! Someone wants to install a pool for their nice house. Another wants to fill in a pool at their equally nice house. Probably going to be hard to find comparable houses (locations, style, etc) agreeable to both but, hey, talk about a win-win.

[drbmd03]

Given that in TV, it costs over 60k to put in a nice pool, you'd be better off paying the maintenance and leaving it be. Your house will sell for a lot more given the price of pools, and nobody is going to pay more for a koi pond. Just because you think you might not use it someday, doesn't mean that will happen. Why spend money to lower the value of your house?

New pools in the south end of the villages are running over 130 K

[coconutmama]

Dam, that’s serious poolflation. T&D built ours 6 years ago after a 6 month wait. A 12 x 24 foot salt water pool with waterfalls, led lights, solar heat and a heat pump, a pool cover that rolls up inside the pool deck, an auto leveling water system, a Bluetooth remote control system, a very large birdcage with two doors, a hose spigot and two electrical outlets, and more, all for $62K. The job was turnkey including new sod and irrigation where necessary. The price you quoted above for a basic pool and birdcage is what we paid for our home 8 years ago. Glad we bought and built when we did!

Amen to that! We built about 6 years ago. Had pool, slightly larger than that but no solar, built for 55k. From what I have noticed, a pool increases the value by $150-$200k. (Was 200k but I think prices have modulated slightly & probably temporarily)

[Papa_lecki]

The best you can hope for, is your pool increases the value of your home by about 6%. That's for a fairly new pool, with minimal maintenance and updating needs.

The added value of pools has been decreasing for years, even in FL. Small, personal "spa/pools" are in style, large pools are not.

TV attracts notoriously unsophisticated buyers, so it might be a few years before the local market catches up with the regional market, but it won't be long before pools will be the worst home improvement investment you could possible make ... it's close already.

I've had 2 homes in Florida with pools. I was within a few days of filling in one of the pools, when I sold the house. The other house, I wished I filled in the pool. They both cost me a small fortune in maintenance, chasing leaks, fixing pumps, heaters, etc. It never ends with a pool.

Totally makes sense - NO ONE wants a pool in Florida, but T&D has so much demand to build new pools that you have to wait 18 months to get one built.

[Ptmckiou]

South of 44 in the new area, the houses with pools run $100,000 more than the same model house on a similar lot without a pool. If you don’t want your pool, sell your house and pocket your $100K and buy a house without a pool . Problem solved.

We just built our 12x32 saltwater pool with T&D. It was $175K.

[Bay Kid]

I'm lucky that I have use of 3 pools within walking distance. I would have a pool company winterize the pool and place under cover.

[Papa_lecki]

I'm lucky that I have use of 3 pools within walking distance. I would have a pool company winterize the pool and place under cover.

That would work if you’re planning to sell within 6 months.
That would COSTt you money (a lot more than the operating costs) if you’re not selling for a few years. NO ONE will buy a house that’s been mothballed for a few years. You’ll need to open the pool to sell, then fix what broke.

[OhioBuckeye]

We are frogs and plan to stay in this home......which has a pool.
While it is probably a long way off (we hope) there will come a time when we will have no use for the pool.

One option is to just maintain it for it's visual benefits and beauty.

There must be various ways to fill it and re-purpose the space....which we also would not need...there are some benefits to no longer having to maintain a pool.

I know there is a science to how to fill the pool and use as "garden" space....trees/flowers/etc....walkway/benches/etc.

Has anybody actually done this?

__________________________________________________

:censored:
They’re just another big expense or something they have to brag about, House Ins. Is higher, constant chemicals, maintenance on pumps, then a lot of people just use them a yr. or 2 then they just sit & bankrupt you!

[Kenswing]

They’re just another big expense or something they have to brag about, House Ins. Is higher, constant chemicals, maintenance on pumps, then a lot of people just use them a yr. or 2 then they just sit & bankrupt you!

They bankrupt you? I take care of my own pool and it costs me About $300 a year between filter, chemicals and cleaning supplies. If I amortize the cost of a new pump I guess I could add $250 a year. I cant imagine $550 a year or even $1,000 bankrupting anyone. If money is that tight it might be time to sell the house with the pool. realize the gains then buy something more economical.

[justjim]

Totally makes sense - NO ONE wants a pool in Florida, but T&D has so much demand to build new pools that you have to wait 18 months to get one built.

Supply and demand is why the cost to build a pool is close to double in the last five to six years. Much of the cost was brought on by Covid. Now that Covid has subsided and the cost of maintaining a pool has gone up substantially, some are questioning the cost benefit. Totally understandable.

[tophcfa]

I'm lucky that I have use of 3 pools within walking distance. I would have a pool company winterize the pool and place under cover.

Winterizing a pool works up north where there are long cold winters. Pools in the Florida climate need to have the pump/filter run and have the water balanced or they will quickly turn into a science project of nasty growth. Also, many pools can’t be completely drained or they will literally pop up from the pool deck because of the high water table.

[Snowbug]

We are frogs and plan to stay in this home......which has a pool.
While it is probably a long way off (we hope) there will come a time when we will have no use for the pool.

One option is to just maintain it for it's visual benefits and beauty.

There must be various ways to fill it and re-purpose the space....which we also would not need...there are some benefits to no longer having to maintain a pool.

I know there is a science to how to fill the pool and use as "garden" space....trees/flowers/etc....walkway/benches/etc.

Has anybody actually done this?

__________________________________________________

:censored:
It may be time then, to sell and relocate.

[asianthree]

They’re just another big expense or something they have to brag about, House Ins. Is higher, constant chemicals, maintenance on pumps, then a lot of people just use them a yr. or 2 then they just sit & bankrupt you!

If one can afford a $170,000 pool I don’t think few hundred dollars a month is a worry. If you add up a new build custom house, plus a pool, add in a view site, cost is upwards of $800,000 plus. Pool maintenance and insurance is drop in the bucket

[BlueStarAirlines]

Some of these comments are hilarious. The maintenance of a pool is largely inconsequential. I pay under $600 a year and do it myself. Even if you pay someone , its around $150 a month or $1800 a year. Some people pay more for cable tv than that!

The desire for pools are not waning, and can't wait for an authoritative link that backs up that wild fallacy! I lose count regarding how many pool applications are submitted every week for ARC consideration.

[Arctic Fox]

Our neighbors have a pool which they have never used and every week they have a cleaning service attend to it. We have lived opposite for over thirteen years so they must have spent quite a bit just keeping it going (for the once-a-year visit by the grandchildren).

I personally would rather use that space for something useful, even if just a sunken garden. Maybe a wine cellar!

[JSR22]

They’re just another big expense or something they have to brag about, House Ins. Is higher, constant chemicals, maintenance on pumps, then a lot of people just use them a yr. or 2 then they just sit & bankrupt you!

Not true. We put in our pool 9 years ago and use it constantly. They are not expensive to maintain. We have a weekly pool service for$130 a month that includes cleaning and the chemicals. My house insurance did not increase by much. What increased by a large percentage is the resale price of my home.

[tophcfa]

The best you can hope for, is your pool increases the value of your home by about 6%. That's for a fairly new pool, with minimal maintenance and updating needs.

Nonsense! We wanted a home with a private back yard and a pool and looked long and hard and couldn’t find anything close to our maximum budget. We were able to buy a very nice home with a private back yard and build a beautiful brand new pool with a huge birdcage and come in well below our budget. Pools add significantly to the resale value of homes in the Villages, especially homes that are not already very expensive high end homes.

[NavyVet]

I love my pool. We bought our third house here nearly 6 years ago. The only reason we had moved yet again in our 20 years in TV was to have our own pool. It was around 2013-14 that I gave up trying to get lap lane times at the 'sports pools' and trying to actually swim at the 'adult pools' was impossible. All these "pools" in TV are a joke. They are volleyball/water aerobics/walking/gossip pools. None of them are "swimming" pools. It was the one amenity I used before TV started getting so over-crowded.
The privacy is wonderful and I sure don't miss rude people stealing the lane you've been waiting in line for or driving across TV to find lap times.
We added solar heat to extend the pool season, a high quality hot tub, and a fire pit for the winter. No more having to travel, we now "stay-cation" in our own oasis. Worth every penny.
And yes, we still use the pool every day, weather permitting.

[BrianL99]

Totally makes sense - NO ONE wants a pool in Florida, but T&D has so much demand to build new pools that you have to wait 18 months to get one built.

What was P.T. Barnum's famous quote?

A friend of mine just finished his new pool construction in Sarasota. 16' X 28' with a waterfall feature & a double Height Cage. Best of everything. $82,000.

Anyone who's lived in TV for more than 2 weeks, knows it's a captive market and prices for everything, are substantially higher than most anywhere else. Pools just happen to be a lousy investment, for a lot of reasons ... then again, some folks don't really care about the financial aspects and that's certainly their right.

[Pballer]

Some of these comments are hilarious. The maintenance of a pool is largely inconsequential. I pay under $600 a year and do it myself. Even if you pay someone , its around $150 a month or $1800 a year. Some people pay more for cable tv than that!

The desire for pools are not waning, and can't wait for an authoritative link that backs up that wild fallacy! I lose count regarding how many pool applications are submitted every week for ARC consideration.

Does that $600 include the cost of heating the pool?

[BrianL99]

The desire for pools are not waning, and can't wait for an authoritative link that backs up that wild fallacy! I lose count regarding how many pool applications are submitted every week for ARC consideration.

Here you go, with the most recent statistical data for the State of Florida. Pool construction is down, in every part of Florida: Florida Swimming Pool Construction Quarterly Report: Q3-2022 | HBWeekly (https://blog.hbweekly.com/florida-swimming-pool-construction-quarterly-report-q3-2022/)

Is that the proof you wanted?

Here's a little more information, for those who think pools are a smart investment or that $175,000 is what it should cost to build a pool.

Swimming Pool Statistics (2023) (https://www.rubyhome.com/blog/swimming-pool-stats/)

Just a moment... (https://homeshows.net/cost-to-build-a-pool-florida/)

[billethkid]

I don't think most of us were concerned about whether a pool was a good/wise investment.......no more than getting a new car....itsa personal decision!

It is no mystery to anybody that pools need to be maintained....by somebody or DIY....like so many other things we choose to do or not do.

Economics, affordability, want, need......all relative.....hence no right or wrong.

____________________________________________

:censored:

[JSR22]

South of 44 in the new area, the houses with pools run $100,000 more than the same model house on a similar lot without a pool. If you don’t want your pool, sell your house and pocket your $100K and buy a house without a pool . Problem solved.

We just built our 12x32 saltwater pool with T&D. It was $175K.

Does that $600 include the cost of heating the pool?

We use solar. Paid for it upfront. No monthly charges.

[Babubhat]

It’s outdoor useable space year round and convenient. Not just a pool. South of 44 there is a gold rush for pool companies. Mine will add an easy 100k in value above the cost

[Pballer]

We use solar. Paid for it upfront. No monthly charges.

What temperature can you get the pool up to from November through February?

[TheWarriors]

What was P.T. Barnum's famous quote?

A friend of mine just finished his new pool construction in Sarasota. 16' X 28' with a waterfall feature & a double Height Cage. Best of everything. $82,000.

Anyone who's lived in TV for more than 2 weeks, knows it's a captive market and prices for everything, are substantially higher than most anywhere else. Pools just happen to be a lousy investment, for a lot of reasons ... then again, some folks don't really care about the financial aspects and that's certainly their right.

If you can’t afford the cost of an oil change for a Ferrari, why worry about the cost of the Ferrari?

[WingedFoot78]

A pool is a hole in the ground you keep pouring money into.

[Cobullymom]

I don’t think most people have your point of view on pools here in Florida.

Agree, everyone I know loves having a pool. We maintain ourselves, not a big deal..

[PoolBrews]

Fact check: true

I second the response

You can double that number - most pools will start at $120K+ now. The same pool I installed for $65K just 3 1/2 years ago now costs $130K to install.

It doesn't make sense to spend $10K-$20K to fill in a pool and lower the value of your home by $100K. That same $$ used to fill in the pool will take care of maintenance for a long time.

The listed study doesn't break the data down by region. A pool in Michigan costs far less than a pool in Florida - mainly due to demand and labor shortages.

With regards to value, my home jumped by more than $100K after installing the pool. The value is consistently listed as $75K - $100K more than other homes of the same model in our village.

The big factor in The Villages is that there are only so many lots that can even support a pool, and even less lots for a CYV. This makes them a hot commodity with a higher resale value.

[JRcorvette]

Sell your house and make money then buy a house without a pool. That’s what we did.

[Chi-Town]

They bankrupt you? I take care of my own pool and it costs me About $300 a year between filter, chemicals and cleaning supplies. If I amortize the cost of a new pump I guess I could add $250 a year. I cant imagine $550 a year or even $1,000 bankrupting anyone. If money is that tight it might be time to sell the house with the pool. realize the gains then buy something more economical.

I felt the same way in the beginning as far as the reasonable monthly amount even inincluding the pool service that I use. But that was then and this is now. Having replaced the computer boards, gas heater, lighting system, filter pump, salt cell, blower for spa, pool vacuum, and remote over the last few years has taken the reasonable out of the equation.

But I have enjoyed the pool from day one. It is a part of the Florida lifestyle.

[Papa_lecki]

Our pool completely transformed our outdoor space - which is usable all year round in florida.
We added 1000 sq ft of usable space.

I don’t see it as a money pit.
It costs us $130/month for service and chemicals and about $70-80/month for electricity.

The opening and closing of pools in the north (and equipment sitting idol for 9 months and the cold weather really beat up the equipment. Ill have to replace the pump in 5 years

[tophcfa]

A pool is a hole in the ground you keep pouring money into.

True, but a lot of pleasure comes out of that hole in the ground. For many the value of the pleasure outweighs the cost, for some not so much. Same thing with owning a fishing boat or other expensive toy like a high end sports car.

[Bellavita]

just sell the house

We are frogs and plan to stay in this home......which has a pool.
While it is probably a long way off (we hope) there will come a time when we will have no use for the pool.

One option is to just maintain it for it's visual benefits and beauty.

There must be various ways to fill it and re-purpose the space....which we also would not need...there are some benefits to no longer having to maintain a pool.

I know there is a science to how to fill the pool and use as "garden" space....trees/flowers/etc....walkway/benches/etc.

Has anybody actually done this?

__________________________________________________

:censored:

[krick093]

Try 140k with bird cage, irrigation etc. Some are now running 170k.

I've built and renovated 4 pools. Including a lanai, I've never spent more than $60K. You must be thinking a Mara Lago pool....or your out of your mind. I do want to be your pool salesman though.

[BrianL99]

I've built and renovated 4 pools. Including a lanai, I've never spent more than $60K. You must be thinking a Mara Lago pool....or your out of your mind. I do want to be your pool salesman though.


There is no one easier to take advantage of, than a "know it all".

TV'ers are the World Class Know it Alls.

$170,000 for a residential? You're right, I'd love to be the company that sold them bill of goods.

[Reynoka]

I had so much fun with family and friends when we had a pool. It makes every get together feel like a party. When the economy crashed, my Husband got a new job and that pool was the only reason our house sold. We broke even but we were able to sell at a time when no one’s house was selling. That was priceless to keep our family together. Now that the kids are grown, I want my house to have an edge on other houses so it will sell fast if our kids need to sell it. Swimspa and great views should get it sold before anyone else’s in the neighborhood. Plus we enjoy our new home every day. I’d keep the pool. It just feels relaxing, even if you’re not swimming anymore.

[jump4]

Sell the house with the pool. Buy a house w/o a pool.