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Costs of a backyard pool
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January 4, 2000: 6:10 a.m. ET
Installing an in-ground pool can make it tough to sell your home in the future
By Staff Writer Shelly K. Schwartz
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It may be all those things and more, but consumer advocates say anyone considering the installation of an in-ground pool should first find out the facts - NEW YORK (CNNfn) . The temperature gauge may read 20 below, but if you. re a parent in . suburb USA. the summertime cries of . Pleeeeeeeeease. from your children begging for a backyard pool still resonate in your ears.
You. ve got to hand it to them, what they lack in subtlety, they more than make up for in stamina.
. Of the people who install a pool, most do it for their kids,. said Suzanne Stearns, a spokeswoman for the National Spa and Pool Institute in Alexandria, Va. . Parents like it because it. s a recreational outlet for their children, it. s a good source of exercise and it keeps them home more..
- including the hidden costs of construction and the effect that such a luxury can have on the resale value of your home.
. As long as homeowners have realistic expectations in advance, a pool can be a great home improvement, entertainment and health amenity,. said N. ann Harp, president of Smart Consumer Services.
The pros and cons
According to the National Spa & Pool Institute in Washington, the average cost of installing a backyard pool is about $15,000 to $17,000.
The price tag, of course, depends on the region of the country you. re located and the type of pool installed.
For example, you. ll pay the most for a concrete-sided pool, while pre-made fiberglass shells can save you some money but can be less durable. Vinyl liners are one of the least expensive options on the market today and professionals say they can be the easiest to maintain.
As for regional differences, keep in mind that homeowners in Arizona and Texas, for example, where the ground is rocky, will spend the most on installation. That. s because the builders often have to use explosive materials and industrial-strength bulldozers to dig the hole.
In states such as Florida, where the soil has a higher sand consistency, construction costs will be lower.
Maintenance
As you might imagine, the annual cost of swimming pool upkeep -- including repairs, water and chemicals -- can also vary widely, depending on the frequency of use and type of pool you select.
If you. ve got lots of kids, or family friends and playmates expected to visit, you can expect to spend more on water-purifying chemicals such as chlorine, sodium bicarbonate, and algaecides than your neighbors down the road who only use their pool on a few times each summer.
Other variables can affect your pool. s chemical balance as well. For example, pools constructed under a deciduous tree are harder to keep stable since falling leaves can upset the chemical balance. The same is true if you allow your pets to take a dip now and again.
In all cases, though, it. s most cost-effective to keep your pool covered when not in use, since you. ll lose less water and chemicals to evaporation.
Dan Tygart, a sales manager for Majestic Pools of Orange Park, Fla., said homeowners who install an in-ground pool of about 15 feet by 30 feet in surface size and 3 feet to 6 feet deep -- the most popular size -- can expect to spend about $300 to $400 a year on chemicals.
Electricity to run the pumps will cost you another $20 to $30 per month. And if you use public utilities, the 20,000 to 30,000 gallons of water it will take to fill up your pool may cost you another $30 per year.
. There are a lot of different ways to maintain a pool these days,. Tygart said. . You. ve got automatic timers to turn your pumps on and off, automatic systems to skim the leaves and automatic chemical maintenance systems. It. s gotten extremely high-tech, but if you. re willing to pay the extra money you don. t really have to touch the pool at all..
Stearns noted that keeping an in-ground pool in working order, whether you buy the high-end pumps or not, is less hassle than many homeowners imagine. But you still have to spend your money wisely.
. This is not rocket science,. she said. . The chemical test kits are very easy to use and many consumers are opting for the automated chemical control systems these days anyway. In all cases, though, we recommend that consumers get more than one estimate from builders..
Words of wisdom
Smart Consumer Services offers a list of items would-be pool owners should consider. The first pertains to hidden costs.
According to the advocacy group, building a pool on a sloped site, one with restricted access for equipment or a site that turns out to contain water, heavy rock or utility lines in the excavation zone, will . add considerably. to the overall construction cost.
SCS also warns that permits, in addition to prerequisite site inspections, may not be included in the builder. s estimates. When you. re pricing potential contractors, you should always find out what is and is not included in the base price.
That way, you. ll be able to compare contractor estimates on an apples-to-apples basis.
Other tips:
Check up on your contractor. Look for builders with a long-standing track record and happy former customers. Good warranties are a good sign, too.
As always is the case, check with the Better Business Bureau or consumer affairs office in your area to make sure the builder is on the up and up.
Safety fencing requirements vary by state, but the SCS said you should keep in mind that a curvy-shaped pool may look nice, but they also require the additional expense of a fenced-in area to surround it, since automatic pool covers only work for square or rectangular-shaped pools. This is not optional.
Pay attention to homeowners. association (HOA) restrictions, especially those pertaining to setbacks, maximum fence heights and standards for play equipment, outbuildings or decking. These can be . very limiting and time consuming to have approved..
Lastly, the CSC said you should not expect to recoup the cost of installation at resale. Real estate agents say a pool can actually be a limiting factor among prospective buyers who don. t want the hassle of upkeep. You can, however, drain and fill in an in-ground pool if you decide to sell.
. The word on that, contrary to what many people think, is that you limit your number of potential buyers at resale, because a lot of people look at [swimming pools] as extra maintenance,. Harp said.
Differing views
Stearns, however, said informal studies conducted by her institute clearly indicate that pools are viewed as a popular amenity and aren. t the resale detriment some real estate agents make them out to be.
. A pool really does increase the value of a home,. she said. . It. s just the real estate agents who don. t know how to market, or sell, a home with a pool. It. s just like a gourmet kitchen. You won. t get a premium for that either if the agent matches you with a buyer who uses the microwave and eats out all the time..
Stearns notes . you. d be hard-pressed to find a high-end, luxury home in this country that didn. t have a pool..
No time like the present
The bottom line is that swimming pools can bring your family years of enjoyment -- but it. s best enjoyed if you. ve educated yourself on what to expect.
One final word to the wise: If you. re dreaming of barbeque splash parties next summer, you. d better get cracking now.
. As soon as the holidays are over, you should start calling builders and getting your estimates,. Stearns said. . That way you can get on their calendar and they can begin work as soon as the weather permits..
Installation can take several months -- or more depending on your state and local permitting process.
You may want to contact the NSPI as your first order of business. If you call 800-323-3996, the institute will send you a free brochure detailing all the ins and outs of swimming pool ownership.
The organization also provides a membership directory of installers, service shops and retailers. The list is broken out by region, making it easier for consumers to search. 
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