Why a pool
 

It seems every time I see a listing for either a pre-owned or new home on a lot I like it has a pool. I really don't think I want a pool. A swim spa maybe (I could put a cover on it) but a pool. They have to be maintained and I don't like the smell of chlorine it gives me a headache. I take an antihistamine when I go to the pool by the post boxes. Plus going there is more social.
I understand some people who want one put it in but why is the developer putting them in. It seems to me that it is a personal thing that should be left to the buyer. It seems if the yard is big enough (what I want) they have stuck a pool in it, plus they tack on 40 to 50 grand for it.

Does anyone else feel this way.

NO!

No as in you don't feel having a pool is negative or No you don't think they require work or No you don't understand why the developer puts them in rather than letting the buyer decide what style or if they want or No - No opinion.

Yes, I agree with you. It's funny how little you see many of these pools beng used when you drive by them. its not something I'd want.

I have had homes with pools. They were enjoyable at the time. My children and their friends used them. i swam a few laps most days of the week. One was covered so we used it all year long.

Yet at this point in my life I do not think I would want one although I do have a hot tub which I enjoy. Maybe a salt water pool....

Never swam in a salt water pool are they hard to maintain? Could a chlorine pool be converted?

If your pool is salt water, Can you raise Grouper in it ?

I had a pool in S.Florida before moving here and enjoyed it but was much younger then and didn't mind the maintance and expense.
Now you couldn't give me a free pool. I'd much rather take a 2 min golfcart ride to the neighborhood pool, enjoy more than a dozen folks that frequent the pool every day in the summer and when I leave, there will be someone that will clean the pool and bring the chemicals up to where they should be. No fuss or effort.
Now of course if you like skinny dipping that's another story.....

i have also noticed that some of the pools built with the houses are prefab pool. dropped into a hole and not built with cement or whatever.... watched one being delivered one day.

cheaper i suppose... than using rebar and concrete, definatly quicker to build. but they do come across as looking cheap as well......I think anyway...

But after all is said and done, i love having my own pool.....swim when I wanna, day or night, and also clothing optional.....

Never had a pool before. Would not live here without one. Each to his own. When we moved here I absolutely did not want one. Two years later complete 180o

I wonder how many pool-owners do the maintenance themselves? My guess is probably the same number as do their own lawn care. :)

The "bacteria at public pools" contingent would be in favor of a private one for sure.

A spa seems nice, especially for my creaky old muscles and bones, but aren't those work to keep up as well? My ideal relaxation would be a steam shower, but then, how much would I really use it during the summer months. So here I continue to sit with none of the above.

I don't know what they are using now-a-days but they used to put in a fiberglass shell for a pool which was cheaper and not nearly as good.

Works for us
 

Having your own pool is a personal decision. We knew we wanted a pool when we moved here as we had one up North where we used to live. It was a ton of work for about 30 days, at the most, that it was swimable due to weather. Knowing in Florida we wouldn't have to cover and winterized our pool, it was a no brainier for us to put one in. We had ours built when we built the house, it's a concrete pool. As for the maintenance, you can get a pool service for about 20.00/month so you don't have to fuss with it. We have a salt water pool so we don't smell chlorine. We can only use it about 8 month out of the year but the other 4 we enjoy sitting by it and watching the sun sparkle off the water. We don't bother with a solar cover.....way too much work as our pool is larger than most and a cover would be too heavy and cumbersome to put on and take off. So, we enjoy our private pool 8 months out of the year with little to no work on our part. Worth every dime to us. Our friends enjoy it too!

I have a pool and love it. Walk in it, swim in it, have it maintained (yes it costs money) by TD Pool and has no chlorine smell as it has a salt generator. Also heat it with solar panels which costs more money. Regarding your swim spa comment. Are you a midget? Easy solution is if the home already has a pool, don't buy it if you don't want it.

Actually we are short however it is my understanding a swim spa lets you swim in place against the push of the jets but I really wouldn't know as I have never tried one.

My point is a lot that will take a pool gives the buyer the choice to put one in if they decide later they want one but with the developer putting pools on most of the lots that will take one the decision is being made for you. So have a small lot or you get a pool. I guess now one can buy the lot and put the house on it if you can decide within 90 days what you want. But most of the new construction on the market right now with sizable lots have pools.

We had a saltwater pool in my home in Texas. It was wonderful and no chemicals and easy to maintain. I would never want a chlorine pool. I am glad the pools here are saltwater. Much better for your skin and hair. Still I do miss cocktails IN the pool and skinny dipping too

We've had two pools in our lifetime, You couldn't pay me enough to have another one.

?????
I have a pool with a chlorine generator. It is a saltwater pool.
I have to maintain a chlorine level the same as someone who adds chlorine to their pool.
There are chemicals to maintain.
Maybe things are different in Texas.

we have a salt water cell.....computer something or other that connects to the pool pipes near the pump....turns the salt to cholrine. that is a salt water pool.

we add 2 bags of salt every 4-6 months....never cholrine.....as that would hurt the cell and when we have to replace it...twice in 15 years, the cell cost $700 and hubby can replace it himself which saves on labor charges.

we do take the water to the pool store every other month or so and they give us chemical ph up and down and stabalizer and such.
and thats all the care the pool needs with the baracuda vac the skimmer and the birdcage

cost a little but having our own makes up for the costs.