You are buying a new home, but the backyard swimming pool is a real fixer-upper. Should you go ahead or not? When purchasing a home with an existing swimming pool, always make your offer contingent on an inspection of the pool by a certified swimming pool inspector. You should have your home inspected, also, and some home inspectors may include the pool in their report, but they probably do not have the expertise to examine all components of a backyard pool.
You might think the pool is functional and the water is algae-filled because it hasn’t been maintained. You may be told the pool only needs a complete cleaning and was working perfectly a couple of months ago. Remember, a swimming pool is likely the most expensive feature of your future home. It is worth the cost of a certified pool inspector to determine if there is any reason for additional concern before you purchase to avoid spending thousands of dollars just to remove an unrepairable pool.
So, what will an inspector check? In a word, everything! The inspection will include the interior of your pool. Is the vinyl liner intact? Is it nearing the end of its life and will it need replacing soon due to wear and tear and thinning of the vinyl? If your pool is gunite, are there any cracks or holes in the surface of the pool walls and floor? If your pool has a tiled surface, the inspector will examine the tile for missing tiles or missing grout between the tiles. Are all the drains open and functional? Is the pressure equal from all ports?
The inspection will include all the pool equipment. Is everything working as it should? Is the equipment going to need replacement soon? Is it sized right for the size of your pool? Is the coping of your pool intact? The inspector will check the deck of your pool to look for cracking or heaving.
Is everything to code for your area? Each area has rules on fencing. Some require alarms. The inspector will know what the code requires for your area and if the pool and fencing comply with local laws.
These are some of the things you will want to know before you agree to purchase the home. Some problems you may choose to ignore, but some are very expensive to remedy, and you may choose not to go forward on the purchase or will want to ask the present owner to compensate you for the estimated cost of the repair or replacement.
Now that you own the house and the backyard pool, where should you spend your money that you allocated for the backyard and pool?
- Cleaning. The first thing you want to do is clean your pool. If your pool looks more like a swamp than a pool, it could be money well spent to have your pool professionally cleaned. It is one thing for a homeowner to maintain a pool and quite another for you to turn an algae-infested pool into the pristine swimming pool that you can’t wait to swim in.
- More cleaning. This isn’t the fun part, but it is necessary if you want your pool and the surrounding area to be one of your home’s best features. Power wash your pool deck and polish all the metal like the ladder and step rails. If there is landscaping around your pool, trim the bushes and trees if needed, pull the weeds, and refresh the mulch. Once you have what already exists back in shape, you can decide what you want to add.
- Furniture. You will need seating around your pool when people take a break from swimming. If you already have outdoor furniture that you can use poolside. Maybe just buy new cushions to freshen it up a little. If you enjoy outdoor dining, you will need a table with chairs as well. If there is no shade around your pool from trees or structures, then a couple of large umbrellas could be very useful.
- Equipment. Remember that inspection you paid for? Now is the time to upgrade your pool equipment. Even if the existing equipment is working, you may want to change to a more energy-efficient or more user-friendly version. Two-thirds of all new pools being built in the U.S. have salt chlorine generators. These saltwater chlorinators use hydrolysis, which uses salt to form chlorine. Changing your pool pump to a dual or variable speed pump can cut your energy cost by as much as half.
- Lighting. How about changing the underwater lighting in your pool? The current favorite is LED lighting, which is available in many colors and gives a deep color to the water. Use the color to reflect the mood you want.
- Plants. Especially if there is no landscaping around your pool, you need plants to soften all the hardscape. Use colorful pots in all different sizes. Keep all the pots in the same color family for a more elegant look or mix colors and styles if you want a more fun, casual look. If you use white flowers or plants with variegated leaves, lighting at night will reflect off the white for a stunning effect.
- Fire features. If you enjoy being outdoors in the evening, a fire feature near your pool, with the flames reflecting on the pool water, is a very romantic way to end your day. There are all different types of fire pits and fire bowls to compliment any area, and they keep you warm as the temperature drops after dark.
There are lots of ways to make your pool area a reflection of you and your family. Think of how you want to use the pool. Is it a sanctuary for your family to forget the stresses of life and relax and have fun? Do you want it to be a gathering place for you and your friends, and you expect to do a lot of entertaining centering around the pool? You can have either or both—just enjoy your beautiful pool!