Swimming Pools

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DAG_IHB

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Been lurking for about a year, but have decided to finally ask a question. I already own a home but I love the insights and discussion about Irvine and the surround cities. The question I have is, with all the talk in the media about falling home prices it has been suggested to invest in your own home with improvement projects, i.e. landscaping, bathrooms, kitchens, ect. I want a swimming pool. I have been swimming in the community pool but I would like my own backyard escape. I am not looking for validation; I have already pretty much made the decision, but would like to hear some of your thoughts.



Also any recommendations of builders from any pool owners in the group.
 
Landscape improvements are perhaps the worst possible way to invest in your home. Exterior improvements add $0.50 in value for each $1.00 you spend. You do exterior work for your own personal consumption, but don't fool yourself into thinking you are adding significant value. You may have noticed that builders never put in the back yard. This is why.
 
I added a pool in one of my homes, to the tune of 38K. I don't believe I even reclaimed 0.50 cents on the dollar..... If you are staying in your home for a long time, and want one....(and can afford it without a HELOC) go for it.
 
Keep in mind also that pools tend to be polarizing for potential buyers - either they really like the idea, or they don't and they won't want your house no matter what. It could shrink the potential buyer pool.





By all means get one if you want one - but as the others have said I wouldn't expect to cash in or anything.
 
Like I said, I have already decided to get one, but it is nice to hear your opions. I want one the same reason people by and RV or dirt bikes. Not for the invenstment but for the fun and memories you can create with your family.
 
It was in Corona, not Irvine....but my experience was perfect. California Pool and Spas...they have branches all around socal, so perhaps there is one near the Irvine area.
 
<p>Take two comparable houses in a recent development, one has a $50,000 pool and the other just has landscaping, I always thought houses in new developments with a pool get offers that recover the cost of the pool, but that isn't the case, the offers would be less than the cost of the pool? </p>
 
I'm guessing that some people that have little kids are nervous about it...others just won't want to maintain it, or pay someone to do so. Homeowner's ins will go up as well...
 
<p>Also, if your pool contractor screws up and your pool leaks water (especially if the house is on the slope), there might be a significant damage to the house. </p>

<p>And yes, many parents of toddlers would prefer not to have a pool in their backyard until the kids are older. </p>

<p>I think that having a pool makes sense if your backyard is big enough. A pool as big as your backyard (which means you won't have a backyard anymore) looks pretty sad. And somebody once mentioned to me that it costs around $100 to heat it up for a day in the winter...</p>
 
I can tell the rest of the forum doesn't feel the same about swimming pools that I do. That?s OK, it is good to here some thoughts about it anyway. I guess some people view pools they way they do an RV that is parked at someone?s house and only used 1 or twice a year. If you are not going to use it I can see it definitely being a waste of money. But if you love to swim and our family does than it makes sense for us. I can already see myself sitting in my spa every night.
 
If you like it, and are not concerned about getting the money back, then go for it. I know that my wife would like a home with a pool in the future. However, I also know that upon resale, the pool of potential buyers really shrinks, as families with young children typically do not want a house with a pool. If you are in an area that typically draws families (as opposed to just adults), you may want to think about that.



Two things that are a requirement if you go through:



1) An umbrella policy (and an understanding of the limits included in the policy in regards to pools).

2) An understanding that while children are in the yard, you have to be at the edge of the pool focused on them.



As a former pool life gaurd, I can't tell you how many times I saw parents turn their backs for a second, or pick up a book, or run to the bathroom, only to have their child (or their childs friend) walk right off of the concrete edge and into the pool. The other issue is children holding onto the edge, or a ladder, or some sort of floating object, while the adult turns their attention away for a moment. The child becomes fatigued, and slides under water, and the adult isn't even aware.



You need to think about the things that you like to do at the community pool, and ask yourself if you could do those things at the same time if you had to be the life gaurd.
 
<p><em>"with all the talk in the media about falling home prices it has been suggested to invest in your own home with improvement projects"</em></p>

<p>The media knows nothing about improvement projects or investing in your home. The media knows how to sell media. If you want a cool backyard, do it because you will enjoy it, not because it will be an investment. Whatever you do to your backyard will personalize your property and make it less attractive to a potential buyers. Landscaping and putting a pool in your backyard will probably bring a $0.50 return on every dollar you put into it.</p>
 
Let's say you have a nice late model $1.5 million dollar Irvine house with a decent size lot of say 8 or 10k square feet. How much would a typical pool cost for this type of house?
 
I have gotten a couple of bids, one from California Pools and one from Teserra. They were in the 50K to 60K range for flagstone, pebble coating and a couple of sheer water falls. One thing the salesman said is that you are getting more pool for the money right now. Pool companies are hungry because of the market so you can get good deals. I am leaning towards California Pools. They have a local office and Teserra is located in Palm Springs but comes out to Orange County to build. I also liked their design better.



You would probably need to get a bid. A lot can depend on exactly what size you want and what features you are looking for.
 
Trooper,

Someone told me recently that people in Corona with pools can't use them in the summer because of the flies. Is that true? I'm asking because I really, really want a pool of my own (I don't want to share one with all those 20 and 30-somethings with their beautiful bods!), and I'm crossing off areas where I wouldn't want to buy. So are flies a problem? I would probably live in the bloody thing in the summer. I'd get a king-sized float and just sleep out there. :-)

Terry
 
Sometimes I have noticed a ton of flies in a friend's backyard in Corona. Other times, it's been fine. I've also noticed this problem in RSM. None of these homes had pools so I can't comment on that aspect. My guess is that it is due to the heat. Do we have an entomologist lurking?
 
<p>Hi Terry,</p>

<p>I don't recall ever having a larger amount of flies than normal. I think they come from all the horse properties in Norco, which is adjacent to Northern Corona.</p>
 
Soul Brother Pool Analysis: We have a pool and spa-- and have for the last 18 years. I'm the only one who really uses them, and I use the spa 90% as much of the pool and it is probably 10% of the size. So, if you get it built, I hope you really use it.
 
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