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Ten Things to Consider Before Installing an In-Ground Swimming Pool
By admin | June 26, 2009
Having a pool installed in your backyard may or may not be a good idea. There are (at least) ten things you should think about before seriously considering hiring a pool contractor.
First off, do not kid yourself. It is a fairly expensive undertaking. The cost to have an in ground pool installed starts at approximately 10k and goes nowhere but significantly up from there. You have all heard it before and it is never truer that with swimming pool contractors - you get what you pay for. Avoid doing it on a shoestring budget.
Secondly, it is vital for you to take into account the impact of such a serious change in your homes value and resell ability. It does not follow that the amount you spend on the pool will in turn increase your homes equity position by that same amount. In fact, depending on where you live, you might actually reduce your home value by having one installed. People who buy homes with pools are a well defined lot. A house with a pool is either something a buyer is looking for or not. The relative number of - house with a pool - buyers decreases dramatically and corresponding to the shortened swimming seasons common the farther north you live.
Third, do not put too much pool in too little a backyard. If installing a pool in your backyard would completely eliminate your lawn area, consider a smaller pool. A pool is a thing of beauty when it genuinely complements the home. They are available in every size and shape imaginable and should be both functional and ornamental to your home. Do not hurry the process. Take the time to make good decisions that are well thought out. It will forever change your home.
Fourth, consider how long you plan to live in the house before spending such an amount. If you are subject to transfer or know you will be moving in two years or less, do not bother. If, on the other hand, you are well dug in and have no plans to move from the home for the foreseeable future - go for it.
Fifth, no matter what type of pool you are considering, do not forget that swimming pools have an overhead cost that lasts forever. You will have to commit to performing all maintenance duties yourself or hire it out. In either case, once a pool is installed it is both a commitment as well as a financial obligation to take care of it forever, or as long as you are in the home.
Sixth, consider all the various types of water treatment methodologies that are available in modern pools. Older designs often use older technology and often are less efficient or more expensive over time. Pick a knowledgeable contractor and do your homework on this, trust me. You want to target the safest and lowest maintenance approach using as few chemicals as possible as a general rule.
Seventh, pick your contractor carefully and do some research on them before making any commitments. Having a pool installed is the type of activity that contractors expect to be one of many proposals. Never feel compelled by anything the contractor may say that would hurry your decision - or receive a special price that's only good for that one offer. That's a warning sign - heed it. Do not forget all the other parts and pieces you will require too. Pools don't vacuum themselves. There is a dizzying array of vacuum types to consider. Material for another article I suspect.
Eight, do not forget to place enough emphasis on safety and security. This is particularly important if you have small children. If so, spend a few extra dollars to put a good childproof fence around it. Avoid choosing any dark decking material/colors, they absorb incredible amounts of heat on sunny days. Also, don't choose any style of decking that is slick when wet. Some surfaces are just safer than others. Some last longer. Choose carefully.
Ninth, you must not forget to consider the privacy and liability issues that are inherent with pool ownership. If you don't have a fence around your backyard and someone falls in and drowns you will be liable. If on the other hand you've a high fence with a locked gate around it - you have a good chance of mitigating such a liability.
Lastly, think long and hard about using any type of pool heating system. All pool heaters are intensely energy consumptive, costing incredible amounts of money when in use. Many can be measured by their dollars/hour rate. They also break down frequently and don't last very long typically. If you can't get enough heat via the climate you live in for a pool, reconsider having one installed. You can get good pool covers that double as pool heaters you can use each spring if your swimming season is shorter than most.
Interested In either an above ground or in ground pool? Take the plunge (pun intended) here.
Greg King is the owner and operator of the Backyard Steward website which is focused on power tools, outdoor furniture and decoration, as well as family fun & entertainment ideas. http://www.backyardsteward.com
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