About To Buy A House With A Pool? Here's What You Need To Know

If you are thinking of purchasing a home with a pool you could be in for a very special treat. One that can be an added means of enjoyment for you and your loved ones for years to come. Just thinking of the future summers already gets your heart racing. 

However, an inherited pool is a big responsibility. One that you’re not sure you might be up to. 

After all, a pool needs attention. It might take more work than a house with just a simple backyard. But it could be worth the effort with the right information. 

At J Designs Pool and Spa we have given existing and new homeowners the tools and guidance that they need to inspect, repair, or renovate existing pools on their property. After all, if you're going to have a pool, don’t you want to have the best pool? 

By the end of this article, you are going to know the steps to take before purchasing your home and new backyard oasis, along with the five elements that should be checked to ensure that the existing pool is running at an optimal level, and the relationships that you will need build before you start. 

Your new pool isn’t going to wait around forever, let’s dive in. 

What It Means To Inherit A Pool

So, you’re about to sign on the dotted line to purchase a house and in turn, adopt a pool.

But what would that mean? 

A huge weight off your wallet for one. Since COVID-19 the demand for pools has gone up exponentially. As the demand grew, so did the prices. 

Pool installations are more expensive now than they have ever been. People have discovered the magic of staying at home. Either by whim or mandatory state mandate, who can know for sure? The fact is, pools are hot. 

Installing a new pool is a very exciting thing, but can also be time-consuming and expensive. So by having one already plugged into your backyard, you’ll be saving yourself some stress already. Most importantly, money. 

If an inground pool is properly maintained by the previous owner, it cuts down on the time and money that you will spend on inspections and maintenance. After all, fixing a pool ain’t cheap! 

You need to know everything there is about your potential home’s pool before you buy it. That is why this first step is so important…

Get A Pool Inspection

If you’re not sure how healthy your pool is, or even if you are sure, when it comes to an existing pool, it’s best to contact a pool contractor. 

This is an individual who is specifically qualified, certified, and trained in all things pool and pool maintenance. 

Think Geek Squad, but for pools. 

They will come onto the property to give a visual inspection of your pool. From their observations, they will give you an assessment of its condition. 

Just a word of warning: Home inspectors are NOT pool contractors. Please do not confuse the two. A home inspection is a general assessment of the house and surrounding areas performed by several specialty contractors with experience in plumbing, roofing, heating, air conditioning, etc. 

Home inspectors are not certified to assess the physical condition of the pool. The only professional that can assess is a certified pool builder or contractor.

They will not observe any issues in your pool’s foundation or your plumbing or equipment. So don’t cut corners. 

If your pool is not inspected properly, there could be serious ramifications that could endanger lives, such as broken pool drains (suction) and pool lights that might not be bonded properly (electro-shock).

The report that your pool contractor gives you should be very detailed and include photos and any other descriptive information about your pool. That way, you will know exactly what issues need to be addressed for optimum pool performance. 

After the pool is given a thorough examination, there are five elements that your pool inspector will have in their report that will give the overall picture of the pool’s health. 

The Five Elements

When it comes to your pool, you should never be strangers. Even if this is your first time meeting. 

You should know your pool better than anyone. Not only for your enjoyment but also to ensure that it’s running at its most optimum level. 

Five elements should be addressed to make sure that everything is properly installed and up to code and that the pool is safe for you and your family. 

1. Water Integrity

If your pool is already filled, you should always make sure that your water chemistry is balanced so that the water is sanitized and safe. Water should also be at a certain level and be free of any discoloration and debris. 

2. Mechanical

You should make sure that the operational parts of your pool are up to code. This includes plumbing, conduits, and drains. 

3. Structural/Aesthetics

Is there a crack in the glass tile? Is the plaster delaminated, faded, or off-color? The overall appearance of your pool can heavily depend on the condition of the structure. Check to make sure that the materials that make up your pool are in good condition. 

4. Electrical/Gas

If your pool comes with an attached sauna it might be using gas to heat the water. If you have lights in your pool, electricity is a factor. For any additional features that your pool has, it is a very proactive idea to check the gas heaters and electrical circuits to stay on top of any issues. 

5. Safety

With pools in general, there is always a possibility that there might be something that could cause harm to swimmers: loose pebble plaster, contaminated water, and cracked foundation. Checking for any potential safety hazards eliminated any future injuries. 

The Pool’s Contractor

Just as important as your new pool is the pool contractor who originally built it. 

Unfortunately, the warranties from the previous owner will not be passed to you as the new owner of the pool.  

So if you want to know more about your pool and have information such as the original plans and permit, you will want to contact the pool building company that installed it.  You are also able to find this information in your city’s records too. 

Now, there is no way of knowing what kind of relationship the previous owner had with the contractor. So that is why it’s just as important to reach out to them and schedule a face-to-face meeting. 

There’s no guarantee that they will start working with you and fixing your pool for free. However, by having the information you need about the pool, along with a close relationship with the team who built it, you will be eliminating any future guesswork for yourself. 

Are You Ready To Adopt A Pool?

You have read the article, and now you know the next steps to take after you have bought a house with a swimming pool. You understand the five elements to check for with your existing swimming pool inspection, as well as the relationship that you might need with the original pool builders. 

At J Designs we want to educate our clients with the tools and the knowledge they need to make sure that the pool they inherit will be a source of pleasure for them, not frustration. 

We’ve been building and inspecting pools for 14 years. Being verified Watershape professionals, we feel confident that by having this information, you will be a driving force in keeping your pool beautiful and safe. 

Ready to dive in? If you want to speak with one of our consultants about a possible pool inspection, please go to our webpage to book an appointment. 

Still have cold feet? No worries. Click on these related articles to get more information on how you can make your adopted pool a star in the game!

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