If we had a dollar for every time the issue of pool or no pool came up in discussions about buying a home in Anthem we would be off cruising the world instead of writing this blog! Most people searching for a home come down definitely on one side or the other on this issue and many have changed that position by closing day! The answer to this question is as personal as taste in artwork and lipstick color, and yet is profoundly important.
Thanks for checking out this, the 12th post in our “Frequently Asked Questions about Anthem” blog (and video) series.
Today’s question is: “Pool or No Pool?”
A quick search of the active listings today shows that 37% of the homes on the market today in Anthem have a pool in the yard. We are confident that this number is reasonably indicative of the number of homes in Anthem that have private pools, give or take 5% or so.
The thing is this, the decision to have a pool is personal. It depends on you, your family, and your financial situation. With this blog we will share the three things we think are the most important considerations when you are making this often difficult decision.
Before we begin, we also want to make sure you know, no matter where you live in Anthem, you always have access to our community pool! Anthem’s community pool is awesome. It has a lap pool, a hot tub, and a splash park with water slides for the kids; they’re going to love it.
Here are the things we urge you to consider before deciding to have a pool in your backyard:
Child (and Adult) Safety: We all know that kids love pools and of course their answer is going to be “Yes, we need a pool!!!” It can be a great way to escape the heat in the summer without having to pack up all your stuff and head over to the community center. Having a pool comes with great responsibility, however, and keeping the pool and pool area safe and supervised for children and adults takes diligence and constant attention both when the pool is being used and when it is not. Door latches and fences that will prevent children and adults who require supervision from getting too close to the pool are a necessity to prevent unsupervised access when you are not watching.
We are not big on histrionics or fear mongering, but according to the World Health Organization, drowning is a leading cause of unintentional death worldwide. We beg you not to become a part of these statistics.
If diligent supervision and safeguarding the pool area are too daunting for you and you expect children or adults who require supervision to be in your home and yard, then do not get a pool! The community pool may be a better option for you.
Cost: Pools can get expensive; the cost of regular cleanings, annual maintenance, and repairs add up quickly. You can save a little money by taking on the regular cleanings and the labor part of maintenance and repairs, but do not forget to budget for repair and maintenance equipment and tools costs.
How much will you use a pool? The most common complaint we hear about pools is not about safety or the cost of maintenance and repair, it is about the fact people do not use them as much as they thought they would. This means that they have a big dangerous water hole in their backyard that costs them several hundred dollars per year without really getting any benefit from it. OUCH!
We rarely hear this complaint from people who live in Anthem year round, it generally comes from our winter visitors who hail from colder climates. When they are buying their new home the thought of a pool makes them starry eyed. They had grand plans to be in the pool every day…until they realized that the pool is 70ish degrees and that it is too cold to hang out in during those precious winter months. Initially they think, no problem, I will get a heater! Then they find out that gas is expensive AND the pool still feels cold. If you are going to go this route, we strongly recommend solar heating for the pool, it costs MUCH less than gas in the long run. We once decided to heat our pool over Christmas. We had over 30 guests coming from colder climates and thought they would love it. Well, even heated the combination of the pool temperature and the air temperature was too much. The total amount of time the pool was used amounted to less than half an hour. We darn near choked when we received our $500+ gas bill for a week of heating the pool that was barely used!
Even if you live in Anthem all year round, if you know yourself and your family and you’re just not going to have the time or inclination to hang out in the backyard and use your own pool, maybe not having a pool in your backyard is a better decision. As we mentioned previously, you’re always welcome to join your neighbors at the community pool.
Now we want to know what you think. Do you have a pool at your place? How did you make that decision? Let us know below.
So that’s it for today’s post, if you want to stay up to date on all things Anthem, make sure you like our Facebook Page at ‘Wise Move AZ’ or subscribe to our Wise Move AZ channel on YouTube.
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Remember, if you or anyone you know is looking to buy or sell their home, please give us a call! It’s always the right time to make a wise move with the Wise Move AZ Team.
