[AngieT2]

Hi Fellow Friends and Neighbors,

We are moving from San Diego to The Villages in the next 3-5 months (we are building a Seabrook in the Pinellas section).

We have a pool currently in San Diego, with solar heat, and are wonding what type of utility bills we can expect, IF we decide to do a pool again in our new home.

Typically, our electric/gas bill runs about $350 per month, every month. If we have to run the air or heat, then it quickly jumps well into the $450 range.

I am wondering if anyone knows what the expected increase in utility bills are for a home WITH AND WITHOUT a pool. Also, any thoughts on what T & D charges for a basic pool/spa (nothing fancy) with birdcage? $50K? $75K? I know that when we built our new pool/spa in San Diego, you could not get ANY type of pool built for under $75,000. Solar was an additional $7000 and it truly only works OK in the summer (and we have a true southern exposure backyard, currently).

My husband, Tom, will be retiring from the San Diego Police Dept. and is excited beyond belief, to soon get to, "Live The Dream" with all of his new Villager friends!

Any and ALL pool/spa feedback most welcomed! Including thoughts on NOT using T & D during the home building process and going with an outside pool construction company after closing (does this save you any $$ on property taxes if the pool is not in your original sales contract?).

Thanks again!

Angie in San Diego (for now!!)

[raynan]

We had a pool for 30 years up north and chose not to build one here because access to pools in the neighborhoods was abundant. I do have a neighbor here who regrets putting it in. They are not here year round though. She said her electric bill increased by $400 to heat it last January. If you are not a very social person you may not feel comfortable at the neighborhood pools. To each his own.

[senior citizen]

Originally Posted by AngieT2

Hi Fellow Friends and Neighbors,

We are moving from San Diego to The Villages in the next 3-5 months (we are building a Seabrook in the Pinellas section).

We have a pool currently in San Diego, with solar heat, and are wonding what type of utility bills we can expect, IF we decide to do a pool again in our new home.

Typically, our electric/gas bill runs about $350 per month, every month. If we have to run the air or heat, then it quickly jumps well into the $450 range.

I am wondering if anyone knows what the expected increase in utility bills are for a home WITH AND WITHOUT a pool. Also, any thoughts on what T & D charges for a basic pool/spa (nothing fancy) with birdcage? $50K? $75K? I know that when we built our new pool/spa in San Diego, you could not get ANY type of pool built for under $75,000. Solar was an additional $7000 and it truly only works OK in the summer (and we have a true southern exposure backyard, currently).

My husband, Tom, will be retiring from the San Diego Police Dept. and is excited beyond belief, to soon get to, "Live The Dream" with all of his new Villager friends!

Any and ALL pool/spa feedback most welcomed! Including thoughts on NOT using T & D during the home building process and going with an outside pool construction company after closing (does this save you any $$ on property taxes if the pool is not in your original sales contract?).

Thanks again!

Angie in San Diego (for now!!)

Not sure about now.............however, when we lived in Florida (twice before) we were amazed at how LOW the electric bills were compared to up north.

We've already decided that when the time is right for us, if we can't find a resale with a pool / birdcage, we will make sure we find a home that has "room for a pool" and will have one installed. We always had an inground pool up north when we were raising our family and it's very nice when you have guests, whether family or friends.....visiting. It's nice to have the sliders right off the master bedroom to the pool area and also, of course, from the living room or great room area out to the pool area.

It also creates a great visual as you enter the home and can see through the great room out to the lanai / pool / birdcage area.

To us, it would be a central part of living in Florida.......so I would vote yes. Go for it. We received casual quotes and the prices were not as high as you have experienced elsewhere. Nothing at all even close to that.

When we rented a home in The Villages, the inground pool was a major plus and enjoyed by us, even if just sitting outside and reading on our kindles.......it was pleasant to just have it there......and listen to the waterfall...........and especially nice when our adult children and grandbaby visited over Thanksgiving weekend........it just adds to the pleasure of your new home.

Good luck...........

p.s. When we had returned home to Vermont, the owner of the home sent back our security deposit in full, even though my husband had "upped the temperature" on the heated pool for his own comfort.........it was a minimal rise in the electric bill according to the owner......so we were not penalized. My husband even cleaned the coping while he was floating around; went out and purchased the stuff to do it...........the pool guys would come and vacuum but never really cleaned the pool. He was used to pool ownership and didn't mind..........it gave him something to do.

[Sleeper]

Most of the monthly "cost" of maintaining a pool is for heat NOT for running the filter pump. We had T&D do a pool and spa....send me a PM or email and I'll send a few pics and share our experience.

[keithwand]

Hi Lou and Mary. Bet you are missing the warm weather right about now.
Go for the pool; you won't regret it.
Pumps are variable speed so pretty cost efficient.
Solar runs around 4.5K-5K. Our pool is 16X30 and we did have to add panels because of W. exposure for total of 12.
T&D did a nice job but their weekly pool service has reqd. a few calls to management from myself and a lot of my neighbors. Kid tries to only clean the filter every 3 months rather than monthly and it clogs up.

[l2ridehd]

I have a small pool about 12 X 28 I think. I have solar and gas heat for the pool. I use T&D weekly service to take care of the pool. I have a very accurate way to compare costs as I have a rental home with no pool about the same size as our home with a pool. There is a cost increase with electric, gas, and water. Also at least once a year some maintenance item to handle and painting the pool deck once every couple years. I budget $5000 a year for the pool. So far after 4 years I have never exceeded the budget. Usually actual costs are closer to $4000. Last year was the highest, but needed to replace the pool pump and with the new variable speed motor requirements that alone was $1500. When we are there I keep the pool around 87 degrees. So based on 4 years of cost, increased water bill, increased electric and gas bill, weekly pool service ($22 a week) and occasional maintenance items my 5K annual budget is very safe.

As to cost of pool installation it really depends on what you have. How big, number of water falls, how complicated the integrated falls and landscape is, gas or electric heater, size of birdcage, type of pillars and support structure, how much space your lot has to accommodate the various options, time of year you build it, do you also have a spa, and probably others I have forgot. I have seen costs as low as 25K and as high as over 100K. My guess would be the average for a decent size pool with some of the better options, but not overly extravagant, would be around 50K + or - 5K. Other more recent pool buyers may have more accurate install costs. My operational costs are very accurate, although I am sure there are those who would argue. But then they would argue about most anything.

[AngieT2]

Hi l2ridehd's,

Just a quick note to say THANKS for the info! That was very helpful and Tom & I really appreciate you taking the time to respond.

Warmest Regards,
Angie

[jimbo2012]

U can save a lot $$ if you do it after the build, T&D is not the only show in town.

They are good but most of their installs are very much the same old same old.

Also consider fiberglass they cost about half of concrete and can be built (installed) in a few days.

Average cost 10-15K plus cage.

Lower maintenance, short and long term.
Sun pools and San Juan are both made in FL.

Solar is the only way to go here IMO, about 3-4K, Jacks Solar does most of them.

[AngieT2]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

U can save a lot $$ if you do it after the build, T&D is not the only show in town.

They are good but most of their installs are very much the same old same old.

Also consider fiberglass they cost about half of concrete and can be built (installed) in a few days.

Average cost 10-15K plus cage.

Lower maintenance, short and long term.
Sun pools and San Juan are both made in FL.

Solar is the only way to go here IMO, about 3-4K, Jacks Solar does most of them.

Thanks!!

Are fiberglass pools able to achieve a similar look to a concrete pool, OR, do they have a distinctively different look to a concrete pool? I just wouldn't want to spend $$$ on this Premier Home and then, get killed down the road, if we had to sell, by having what some might perceive as a 'cheap' pool. Not saying that is the case, just asking (we don't have anything but concrete pools in San Diego, so this fiberglass info is totally new to me).

Thanks for the Jack's solar info. To have a warm pool is a must and I am glad to hear that solar is working great for most folks.

Angie

[jimbo2012]

Solar works best if you select the correct home orientation to the sun.......

The lanai should generally face south.

Also a solar cover is big help but get one on roller.

AS far the look I can tell that they are virtually the same if fact hard to tell.

Same decks, (concrete or pavers) coping, steps all that stuff.

Just saw a glass pool at the end of Defoe with pavers it IMO is the nicest looking pool here. The pool was made in a dark blu color looks like a lagoon.

I have seen others white that during the day look blue from the sky, pretty amazing.

You can also add a waterline tile.

[jimbo2012]

Oh one note on Jacks, he runs the pipes to the pump along the roof without concealing them well......in a more professional way.

He said folks don't want to pay the extra labor for that type of install.

I disagree, in fact mine will be concealed.

[shcisamax]

As for saving on your tax bill by building after market, it won't help. They have to file the building permits and they get you there

[jimbo2012]

But on the permit they ask the cost of construction.........hello!!

[Bonny]

I like having my own pool. We have been here almost 13 years. We are in our second home. We put a pool in both of our homes and have solar heat. Can't tell you about the cost as we put this pool in 9 years ago.
We used T & D to do our pool. They are great !

[shcisamax]

Originally Posted by jimbo2012

But on the permit they ask the cost of construction.........hello!!

You may save a little money from getting the pool cost lower but you will not avoid taxes by doing it after build. Hello!