Nothing attracts guests, including kids and grandkids, more than a swimming pool. If you have one, your home becomes a summer destination. But before you commit to a brand new pool, be sure you know what you are getting into.
Pools are expensive, whether in-ground or above-ground. Depending on size and materials, an in-ground pool can cost from $30,000 to $70,000 (or even more). An above-ground pool is much cheaper, but can still range from $1,000 to $7,000, depending on size and materials.
But those are just the starting costs. The expense (and time) will continue.
Owning a pool requires daily effort. Cleaning, sweeping, and managing the water balance can easily require 10 hours a week. Supplies can cost $100 to $300 a month, including the needed brushes, chemicals, poles, and nets.
You'll also pay for extra electricity — about $30 to $150 — to keep the pump running. For municipal water service, add another $60 to $120 worth per month. For rural water, your $4,000 well pump will need to work overtime, and will need to be replaced sooner. If you want a heated pool, expect to pay at least $50 per month, and much more if the pool is deep and large.
You'll need a safety cover for the winter at a minimum of $2,000, more for larger pools.
Your insurance premiums will increase, and you'll probably need to add a liability umbrella.
Every few years, a vinyl pool liner will have to be replaced. The costs include the liner itself (an average of $2,350, according to Angi.com) and labor at about $2,000.
Rick Good spent ten years in the newspaper business, including with The News & Observer (Raleigh, NC) and The Greenville News (Greenville, SC). He co-wrote, with Melinda Coleman, Rutledge to Riley: Governors of South Carolina, 1776–Present (Published by The Greenville News), and is the author of Mind Games Trivia #1 (Amazon). He has recently spent 15 years creating original trivia content through Sounds Good Mobile Entertainment and continues that with his new company, SGME Software. He edits The Smart Reader’s money, real estate, and business coverage.
