Buying a Home with a Swimming Pool in Ascension Parish

Ready for those hot summer days? How refreshing it would be to come home in the afternoons and spend your weekends out by the pool.

Purchasing a home with a pool can be very exciting. The thought of having
backyard barbeques and pool parties are what many home buyers envision when
they purchase a home, especially one with a beautiful swimming pool already
installed with the house. Financially speaking, it is usually much less expensive for
someone that wants a swimming pool to purchase a house with one rather than
building a new pool.

However, there are many questions that should be asked
about the pool, as defective pools and/or pool equipment can result in
unexpected and many times expensive repairs.
Before purchasing a house with a swimming pool, it is highly recommended to get
a pool inspection from a reputable swimming pool company. Most home
inspectors are not familiar with pools and pool equipment enough to inspect it
and therefore will not do so. A pool inspector will determine if your pool
equipment is functioning properly, especially if the equipment relies on
automation systems. It may appear as though everything is fine while the pool is
“on”, but a pool inspector should be able to determine if pumps turn on and off at
the selected times, whether all lights work properly and whether automated
valves open and close as needed. Some repairs to these items may be minor ormay require expensive electrical parts or computer components. Additionally,
the pool inspector may be able to find water leaks in the pool plumbing around
the equipment that can be repaired before a major problem occurs.

There are several questions to ask about the pool and pool equipment itself that
can aid a buyer in predicting any near-future repairs that can be expected. One
question to ask is who is maintaining the swimming pool. If a professional pool
company is doing so, ask how often the pool is maintained and ask to see a
maintenance record. It is important for the pool surface, especially a gunite
(cement) pool, and the pool equipment in general that the chemical balance of
the water be properly maintained regularly. The water chemistry should be
tested at least bi-weekly as improper ph and calcium balances can shorten the life
of plaster and pool equipment.

One should also ask about the equipment and find out the age of the pump
motor. Most motors last about 4 to 5 years. The cost to replace is roughly about
$500. Also, ask about the filtration system. What type of filter does the pool use
to filter the water? Sand filters require a sand change every 4 to 5 years and can

cost about $400. Cartridge filters should be cleaned at least twice per year and
new cartridges can cost about $500.
What kind of surface does the pool have to hold the water? If it is a gunite pool,
the surface is plaster and usually lasts about 10 to 12 years. However, poor water
balance can accelerate the erosion of the plaster. Resurfacing of a pool can run
from $7000 to $20,000, depending on the size of the pool and type of plaster. If
the pool is a vinyl liner pool, you will want to know the age of the liner. Liners are
usually changed every 7 years or so and can cost between $3200 to $6500,
depending on the size of the pool.
Finally, if the pool is a gunite pool and has ever “popped”, i.e. lifted out of the
ground from its original formation, even slightly, DO NOT BUY THE HOUSE. This is
going to be a costly repair and many times you would be better off building a new
pool!

In summary, it is a good bargain to buy a buy a house with a pool rather than build a new pool. Just be sure that you do your research beforehand. It is
expensive to build a pools and repairs are inevitable, so be prepared for those
expenses. Replacing equipment is just as expensive as the initial purchase of the
equipment, but you do save the initial expense of digging the pool. Not incurring that initial expense is quite a benefit!