Metro-Detroit Real Estate - Should You Buy a Home with a Pool?

First-time buyers want to get the most out of their new home, and tend to think big when it comes to amenities.  When picking through Metro-Detroit real estate, it's tempting to flag homes that have those "little extras" like a swimming pool.

Before taking the dive and making a purchase of Northville real estate or nicer properties in Oakland County to the north east, think about a few points with pool ownership that can alter the nature of your new investment.

Could a Swimming Pool Sink The Equity of Your New Home?

Most people love to swim, and pools are as beautiful as they are functional.  They can bring a lot of enjoyment but they can also be a liability and create headaches where maintenance is concerned.

On the up side of buying a home in Metro-Detroit with a pool, they're always popular when it comes to backyard landscaping.  If you take care of it, a pool is typically aesthetically pleasing.  They also promote fitness among your family and can make it easier to entertain guests when you have friends and family visiting.

The downside of course comes with safety and compliance issues, like not having a proper fence in place to keep children away.  Unless you devote your own time to taking care of the pool you will need to hire a regular pool service to keep up the maintenance.  Cleaning, monitoring the water, chemical treatments, part maintenance.

Then there's the change in homeowners insurance (up, not down).

Considering the Costs in Owning a Pool with Metro-Detroit Real Estate

Unless you buy a home in Metro-Detroit complete with inflatable pool, you'll find that most pools have a combination of several components that includes

• The basin
• Motorized pump
• Water filter
• Chemical feeder
• Drain(s)
• Returns
• PVC plumbing

As with any mechanical components, age is always a factor, with pumps needing replacement every decade or so.  This is why you should know the actual age of the pool when buying a home in Metro-Detroit.  There's a lot more to it operating properly than meets the eye.

Depending on the age and condition of the pool, you may have a significant amount of maintenance on your hands just to get the pool usable.  Ultimately, that maintenance comes down to what type of pool the home has.

If you're wondering whether or not the pool is a deal breaker while buying a home, or if it's worth what you're paying as an amenity, then consider the following

• Are pools a popular item in your local market or neighborhood?
• Are you comfortable with the "hot season" of Michigan only being a few months where the pool is usable?
• Does the pool compliment the home and exterior or does it seem to just eat up space awkwardly?
• Does the pool appear to be as well maintained as the home you're buying in Oakland or Wayne County?
• What's the age on the mechanical components - and are replacements available?
• Do the outdoor features currently compliment and support the design of the pool

Buying a home in Metro-Detroit complete with pool isn't necessarily a bad decision, but you need to discuss the pool with the seller in order to see the maintenance and repair records they should/may have on file.  When you get the home inspected, make sure the pool is included in that inspection.

If you're still on the fence, then remember to trust in the expertise of your agent.  They know the area well and can let you know if the pool you're about to buy into is a smart investment.