Add a Birdcage...
 

What would be the approximate cost to add a birdcage and pool to the lanai. I would be interested in the cost for a home the size of the Lantana or Gardenia.

Not looking for an exact cost.... just a ballpark number for my home cost calculations.

Thanks!

I know Holland Pools offers specials year round. For a standard pool with no special enhancements, I’d figure around $25k. Add special lighting, fixtures, finishes etc. and you’d be at $30k.

I would say more like $35,000. I highly recommend T&D because of their follow up. When they put in our pool there was a lot of construction going on in Amelia. The dust settled into the lining of the pool. T&D totally relined the pool and put on a new finish this week - 15 months after the pool was built. My neighbor's pool is over two years old and T&D is doing some maintenance at no cost to them although the pool itself is only warranted for a year. They also do a quality bird cage.

I would also recommend T&D and think the $35K estimate is about right. We have a 14' x 30' pool with a large birdcage behind our Lantana. The cost for both was around $50K and when we took out extra insurance for the birdcage the replacement value was put at $15K.

But price depends on size and I know T&D has a "spool" that runs around $12 - $15K with birdcage.

I know alot of people really do enjoy their pools and if this is something that you always wanted.... go for it. But given all the pools in The Villages and easy access to these pools, you may want to talk to a Real Esate Professional if it would be the best money spent IF installing a pool is just a passing thought you are now considering.

As a comparison, with $30,000 you can probably add approx. 300 sq feet (or more) of covered enclosed space under heat/ac..thats alot of extra space equivalent to two 12' X 13' rooms....if you need it.

We have been getting quotes on birdcages (but without a pool). One of the contractors that we are considering said he will be adding a cage and pool to a Lantana a few doors down from us. He said that they will be paying $50k for it. It won't be that large since the amount of space to the rear is quite limited. In fact they will actually have to put part of the pool under the roof of the lanai (perhaps this is what is driving up the price).

Basic Pool ??
 

I'm assuming $35k would be for a rather basic pool...no waterfall, hot tub, etc. Would that assumption be correct?

What is the construction of the pools in Florida?

My family had a pool in California, years ago and it was all concrete. I had a pool in Illinois [in-ground] and it had a liner that need to be changed every 5 years or so...

The $35,000 is for a small pool = 10 x 22. No hot tub. Does have waterfalls. The bird cage is very large.

Some thoughts on pools
 

We have had four homes in the midwest with pools. In every case we found we used them less and less as time went on, and the maintenence was relentless. The one we used the most, enjoyed the most, and required the least maintenence was the smallest one, a "sports pool". The other three were full size pools with a diving board and deep end. Now, in a climate like TV, one may well use and enjoy a pool more.

The other side of the coin is financial - I bought all four homes with the pool already installed, and I paid no more for any of the homes than I would have paid for a comparable home with no pool. In other words the $25K plus that the original owner paid for the pool netted them nothing upon resale. Again, that may not be true in Florida as it was in Missouri, but it also limits the market for the home when you sell, as many people want nothing to do with a pool. If you plan on staying a long time and know that a pool will enhance your enjoyment of life, I say go for it. But go for it with your eyes and your checkbook wide open.

Our pool is 14' x 30', has three waterfalls and cost around $35K, so obviously a smaller pool will cost less. Neighbors have installed a four person concrete spa for about $15K and another had a fiberglass spa put in-ground for about $9K.

A couple of items I would suggest to at least look into, if you indeed decide on a pool, is solar heat and a salt chlorinator. Solar heat can extend the season of the pool and when you do use it in the winter season it helps reduce the heating cost. The salt chlorinator greatly reduces your maintenance of the pool. We had an in-ground pool in our former home and the time spent maintaining that pool was maybe 3 times more than this pool with the salt chlorinator. Solar heat is about $3K and the salt chlorinator is about $1K.

As mentioned there are plenty of pools in TV but there are drawbacks to them also. Family under 30 years of age must go to a family pool. Pools close at dusk. In season the pools can get crowded.

One last item for you. Prior to installing the salt chlorinator we had a company attending to our pool every week. Cost was $70 per month.

Thanks everyone...
 

Thanks everyone for your posts and opinions. This certainly gives me some to "chew" on and I have a better idea of the cost of a pool...

On the maintenance side, I was hoping that would not be such a huge issue in Florida. In Illinois, I had to become a chemist every spring, as I tried to get the water clear again. It normally took several hundred dollars worth of chemicals and 2 to 3 weeks of the pump running to get the water usable again. Since you do not have to close a pool in Florida, I assume the opening expense would be gone.

Thanks!

Having moved here from Illinois I know how short the pool season is there. I hesitated about a pool here, but a friend of mine who had moved to Florida reminded me that the season is much longer and that there is nothing like floating in your own pool with a beverage in tow.

Tri-County Pool and Spa does the maintennance on the pool. They come once a week and check/adjust the chemicals, water level, remove any surface debris, and generally give the system a once over. The cost is $125.00 a month.